Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
he Return of Tim
othy

the Point where the old shipyards had
been. to the shore of the salt river in
to which they launched themselves
with hilarious squallings. Days pass
ed, but they gave no sign of going
back. At low water they padded hap
ply in little pools on the muddy flats,
kissing defiance at the trolley car as
| it crossed the bridge above them and
waddling back with rejoicing cries to
their icy bath when the inflowlng tide
filled the inlet again.
Miss M'keiver surprised Grandmoth'
, er Winchester by walking into her
kitchen early one sharp morning, and
surprise deepened into anxiety at the
unnlistakable tremor of her lip.
Nothing but shawl over your head
this cold morning, HARRIET cried
grandmother. She pushed the griddle
to the back of the stove and put her
visitor gently into the squire's big
chair before she asked George Is. to
run out and bring in some fine wood
"some O. those dry alders over in the
further corner"
When the boys long legs had dlsap-
neared, grandmother turned to the
e1,est but Miss M'keiver was able to
force smile though she wlnked nara
two or three times before she SAD:
"Its Just those miserable geese, Mrs.
Winchester. Nobody seems to know
how to get 'em and want 'em to fat.
It's the third OF December. though a
little moneys dreadful handy to have
in the house, but there's Til, and you
know I've never denied her anything
since mother died" Miss Mkeiver
turned her face abruptly toward the
window. 80,
Mrs. Winchester drew the griddle to
the front of the stove again ana peat
the cake batter into bubbles.
you've been everything a sister
could be- she said as she carefully
put a spoonful of batter on the smok-
ing iron. What do you s'pose the
reason is they don't come homer
cts lust that Timothy's pig headed
ness" exclaimed Miss M'keiver, reviv-
ing under the influence of pAteful OF
griddlecakes we'll soaked In butter and
maple syrup "Timothy's good crea.
ture. good hearted as ever lived, but
he's set as a fence post and now that
he's got off, off he means to stay.
But what do they eat?''
ooh, I s'pose they pick up things in
the mud-little clans and minnows
maybe in the water. See 'em now
diving and bobbing and kicking up
their heels in that puddle as if"-Miss
M'keiver hastily put her plate on the
table and crossed to the east window
where she could look down on the salt
river and the renegades taking life as
they found it. She wiped her eyes fur
lively.
won't they freeze in?" pursued
Mrs. Winchester, peering over Har'
riet's shoulder.
'No-o-o, they keep place open pad
ding, but you see, the ice isn't strong
enough to go out on, and it's too thick
for boat-at least, that's what the
men say. Where's the squire?'
Gone to Hallowel]. It's trustee
meeting at the Asylum today"
|, There was pause The griddlecakes
sjzzled and sent out delicious odor.
Mrs. Winchester once opened her lips
to suggest boys" but remembering
George B. she retreated to the stove
again and turned a cake in prudent
silence. Miss M'keiver still watched
her geese.
Seems as if boy could get EN-
somehow" she said. Sometimes l
think boys amt what they used to be
as IL so much schooling sort O. stops
doing but there / s'pose I'm old-fash-
toned and don't know"
She pulled her shawl over her head
again resolutely. and her tone was al
most gay as she said: Il feel better Tor
the flapjacks. Mrs. Winchester. hadn't
stopped for bite and Til wasn't up
when I came out / must run back now
and get the house warm What you
can't do you can let alone, and ] guess
that's nv stent." Her smile was steady,
and she stopped at the gate talking
with George 3 SO long that grandmoth- :
err had almost finished her breakfast
when her grandson came in.
| He spoke for the first time as he
| buttered his seventh griddlecake. rs
| she poor?
"shey Harriet M'keiverr' returned
grandmother with difficulty bringing
| her mind back from a church supper.
| mo. oh. no. They won't suffer if she
loses the geese. Still it's a good deal OF
money" she added thoughtfully. 1T
may pinch her-and there's TIL
That's Just what she said" George
| 3. held the syrup pitcher high over his
plate and stared at his Srandnother.
who's TIP
Mercy on us, child" cried his grand
| mother. Took at the syrup! Til-why--
J Matilda she's the lame one. You must
| have seen her at the south window.
She's always there, reading or working,
and smiling and waving her hand at
| everybody that goes along
Doesn't she ever go outF'
Not very often in the winter She
has to use two clutches and that makes
it bad when it's slippery"
Mrs. Winchester began to gather up
the dishes and George b. helped himself
to a doughnut
Say, grandmother" he mumbled
between bites. Il b'lieve I could get
those geese. She said she'd give two
dollars. but of course ! wouldn't take
anything if she's poor" A tuft of red
gold hair stood upright on the boys
head. and beat time to the vigorous
motion of his jaws. His grandmother
put down the teapot and looked at him
sharply.
You can't so out in a boat" she
said.
There's only one thing / ask OF you,
grandmother" returned George B., i'm
pressively, and that is, can ] come
home from school today at II o'clockF
For the gecse?'
''Vae'rn -