Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-06-07


ing up her scarf went into the Hall followed
by the other ladies, while Fred and the Judge
aew of down the street as II stung by the
same torpedo. A crowd Of pretty questioners
met Belle as she entered the room, for she
was as popular as her husband. Y
AIRS. Field, is not the room decorated nice
ly"
"Give us some advice about this table, Belle.
"Cousin Belle, how shall we -arrAage the
flowers? Don't you think one largeseue for
each table would be better than several
smaller enes 2" a.
There was 10 be Soldiers Reception the
next day, the Fourth Of July, and the ladies
were experimenting the arrangements for o
dinner that was to be given. j
The above important questions being ans
wered, each one went to work but brisk
conversation was kept up on various subjects
by old and young.
.Girls, what are you wrangling about?'
said one Of the ladies, to party that were
engaged over huge boquet Of flowers, but
had stopped work in the heat of their discus
sion.
We are scolding Halle King for flirting
with Birkctt Ames, she knows that he is en-
gagged
"Fie, Halle, seid Belle jestingly.
'"Oh, Mrs. Field, you need not take me to
task" retorted the saucy girl, II had just a.
much Of q Irritation with Fred Field when he
was engaged to you.
"Had you? replied the impcrturbable Belle.
'Then all can say my dear, is, that when
girl shows such a fondness for the property
Of others, there is little Likelihood Of her ever
having any possessions Of her own.'
Halle reply and the triumph Of her COM
panions were checked by a crashing noise
and cries of terror in the street. They rush.
ed to the windows and saw u broken buggy,
horse lying fat on the ground and a terrified
man carrying o scnseless pc, son into the
news depot. opposite.
Who is it q several asked
"That is Charlie Fishers horse"
NO. i, is not, it is Mr. Miller's buggy and
his man has been tkrewn out and killed
"Ycs it is his black man Sam said Bessie
Maui. She turned and faced her cousins
wife, Who looked as II trans formed 10 stone or
chalk. Bessie was a kind little wo,nan,
though SHE wonld tease Belle once in while
"Frad's wife she would say, ALPHABETICALLY
is such tantalizngly coil creature. she pros
vokes one"
But now every warm emotion of ler nature
was stirred up.
1t is Mller's black Sam, sic repeated,
''indeed it is, Belle
"No' said the yoang wife in a moaning ton e
that made them all shiyer, SIT is Fred saw
him! -
She rose up from the seat to which she had
tottereI an instant before, AMI putting on her
hat aud scarf, left the room before the start
led women could say word.
'If she did see him. screamed dozen
voices, chow should she know him such
mangled face. Why one could hardly tell if
it were white or black T.
"Did ever any one see so cool woman as
Mrs. Field p asked another. II believe the
Millennium might burst on her without de-
sturbng her equanimity.'
"Oh, don't say that cried Bessie, sobbing
as if her heart would break. She feels more
than all Of us put together. And with this
confession of faith in .Fred's wife the lAtle
impulsive woman rushing out Of the room ran
down stairs, filled with one idea to help Belle.
As she reached the Hall entrance, she saw
her son Frank driving his cousin Belle up
the hill toward her home.
II told her she had better get out Of the
crowd said Bessie's brother, Capt. Hale. She
can do no good. We are going to take poor
Fred. right up"
ut is Fred. than, Oh, Harry, is il 50 bad T.
s'very bad Bessie, am afraid he Win never
revive.
Bessie plunged impetuously through the
crowd into the news depot.
"Come out, little wife! There, there, do
not sob so bitterly. He is breathing, and
Uncle Hale thinks if we can get him home
he may be able TO save him, said Mr.. Maull
as he helped Bessie out Of the crowd, soothing
and quieting her. ayes, yes, dear he is not
dead. Go tell poor Belle. But do not walk
up that hot hill. You will kill yourself"
His wife made no reply, but still weeping,
aew like . bird up the steep hill, to carry the
good news Of Fred's being alive to Belle, IS
some little atonement for her many teasing
acts which now came back on her remorsefal
conscience with redoublcd force,
Poor Belief As Frank Maall drove her
home, she seemed to grow colder and colder.
I'VE parted in anger" was all she could
think. She said not . word, uttered no moan,
shed no tear, but sat upright, gazing straight
before her, out Of eyes that looked like glitter
ing blue ice.
ITO my dying day said Frand Maull af>
forwards, 81 shall remember cousin Bellies
face. l gave only one leok back at her-that
was enough. She was worse than dead wo-
man."
Bessie Maull found Belle standing deathly
still in her bedroom. Her startled maid was,
putting away the hat and scarfe in.the ward
robe, looking sideways, with keen, ques-
tioning eye at her mistress, whose strange
paleness and cold eyes alarmed her She
whispered to bessie, as she passed her.
'sWhat is the matter, Mrs. Maull2 Mrs.
Field has not spoken word since she came
i'm
nOh, it is not as bad as We thought. Dclle.'