Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-05-19

- 49, - 49, -
,hyly, his eyes sought Blanchs'ss and be |
Fancisd shb tooscelufea jast . little. He
felt more vexed and annoyed than ne
wouli have believed II possible Tor him 70
(eei anox 10 siynr,ie thing. ;stsii1 =. 'i7f5ft
fhen Miss Mbnt1brd Sid, ysmifinglY,
looking on the fair, handsome y !! Yogng
day. with q, little, qpick. fond look 5yr]
"Captsin Anderson this j. my young
he came ! forward -. with easy. genial
frankness. ana cxeendsd HI, hand. There
was something peculiarly sweet and win.
ming about the 6oyish iAce, for he did NOT
look his twenty-one years. And the little
twinge of Jealousy that had just tremblcd
across Ralph's consciousness, shrunk away
out of sight before the pleasant smile,
and warm hand shake Of this youngest
and fairest of the house Of Monttord.
am so glad to see yOu," he said, cor.
daily. "Blanche has told Us 90 much OF
you; and then your sea voyages have
seemed something so wonderful TO me-
10 you know that you are sort OF Rob.
inson Crusoe to my admiring fancy r
laughing pleasantly.
nave no NAH cENuy, NaiPn S0iu,
.Nof No matter. But we win omit
the part Of Friday. am so glad you
came up" he said again, with naioe
fr8nkness 1.rf
Whatever one said Of Mr.. Montford, or
his daughters, or his confidential agent,
Mr.. De Vries. everybody was unanimous
in declaring Victor MontfOrd . "tip.top
fellow" High.souled, chivalrous, gentle,
sweet tempered and open.hearted, 10 at
least was worthy to represent the" gentle
blood" the M0ntfords boasted.
"Mother," Ralph said, thoughtfully,
after Blanche had left him and driven
away, ibid you ever think, or try to
think, how Viola would have looked If she
had lived!"
He came and sat down before her, and
looked wistfully in her face, his own grave
and thoughtful.
Eyes Ralph but cannot think of her
AZ anything but child. She will always
be child to me. Perhaps the dead grow
old, but always think Of my baby rs q
baby still, and Viola always comes to me
as saw her last. She stood on tiptoe,
holding open the door little, and kissing
her hand to me with q light, ripping
laugh. There was sunny sparkle in her
beautiful eyes, and remember that her
hat was on one side, and her hair was
lying loose and tangled about her neck:
can see every motion and gesture
have been over them SO many times-as
If it were but yesterday, even to the pre-
else pattern of the embroidery on her
crimson merino dress. You remember the
dress, Ralphry She bad it on the night Of
the wreck. The salt water didn't hurt 1t
bit, though remember thought It
would, and that should have to wash It.;
but just rinsed it up and down in some
clear water, and hung IT up without
wringing, and 1t looked as nice as new.
She never wore 1t again till we started to
come out here. What q comfort she
would have been to as when you are
away, Ralph, II she had lived" y
She sighed, and put her hand up over
her eyes. ia }eJis 4h' F
b II suppose lit Is all right" she said,
still shading her eyes with her hand; ~
suppose everything is, but / can't always
see IL Is your father does. am sure
try, and know tie 80, but things seem 30
dark somctimesi They did when your
grandfather was drowned"
: 81 will tell you," said Ralph, "what
had In my mind when asked you II you
ever thought. how our lost Viola would
have looked II she had grown 10 woman
hood. have often busted myself fancy
ing the sort OF woman she would nave
made, and how She would have looked.
Well, you know l have been up 70 mr..
Montiord's to-day, but you wonder what
that has To do with It see Dy your lace
what transparent face you have GOT III.
tie mother" And getting up, ne came
and stood behind her chair, and leaned
over and took her lace In ms nands ana
drew " DacK ana KISSED w. ~ wisn
could read biancnes NC ~ easily - ,San
yours. nc aaoeo, iusnWauE, S1u .I.u
Laughing 20 Turn J" o. "ha' . l1ce 'ua'
gifi mas gotF - aa"
Shc IS very nannsome
les; put ~ ism ' Juss 'na'' : iAoan'
ne interrupted ,.l O.
;. II think blanche s'xes you, halpn, anu
f-you think-that she sIammeIeu
confusediy, N you two snouia Ike e "a
other Wen enough tn,-to marry some uay'
u would % spiendld ...,
70 mother! blanche Is TOO eleganL anu
accomplished LOT ieilow IKE me 70 s cia.
Oh, ne said qepr9Atlne,y, oot AM
smile soitened ms ups ana eyes, la.n.,
Dreamy smile, wnlcn snowso ,.ne lnousn'
WAS rak0et Dlc0A8Qt t000S OLuGEWl66s