Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-12-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
A wOxAN'S WAY.



THx sunshine shImmc-1ng through the
summcr air; golden vapor resting dream
ay On field AID river; silvery nipples run
uinc through the ripe rye; the barley
Acsas swinging heavy and yellow; the
MEADOWS emerald green the home lot
white with daisies; the brown gabled, red
SDoied, old farm house, mellow tinted in
Tie enchanted atmosphere; the wide river
creeping lazily by; the glistening white
beach shelving down TO it--this was the
sr1ne on which Jcssica Dale looked from
heT scsi among the branches of the ancient
Aah tia; stood on the riverside. A little
wsy down the river a schooner lay close
~ 70 the black wharf that stood tipsily on
~ haifrotien piles; and. on this wharf
JoNics's eyes al last found resting place.
Hhe locked long and earnestly at q group
of men on il; few sailors lazily transfer
rinc baskets of vegetables and firkins OF
butter from the wharf IL the vessel;
Sew lank- secdy-looking men sitting on the
wharf posts and empty barrels swinging
thcsr legs. On a pile OF planks mans
figure was stretched at full length, and he
Was apparently placisly gazing up at the
white clouds slowly forming and dissoly-
ing In the blue sky.
The apron that Jessica was making fell
cut Of her hand and rustled down among
the daisies. but her thoughts, as well as
her eyes were busy ON the wharf They
were not pleasant thoughts il would seem,
for she puckered up her pretty face into
numerous wrinkles, and curled her red lips
In very coniemptuous manner. Jessica
was rightly considered beautiful girl,
brown a. n berry from exposure 10 wind
md sun, with sweet, thoughtful gray eyes,
wavy brown hair, small, regular features,
and the rosiest OF lips and pearliest Of
s>c.h. and trim, graceful figure. She
ercp locked pretty when she was cross, as
then, in the ash. tree.
The man on the planl<s soon turned his
head in such way that he probably caught
. glimpse of her white dress among the
icsses. for he instantly sprang lightly down
from his restilg place, and walked swiftly
across the meadows towards her, vaulting
the fences on his way As be drew nearer
4 became evident that he was young man
of fine physique, with wcll-shaped head,
good, though irregular features, and great,
Rcepy, brown eyes. AS he crossed the
'Aa meadow Jessica sprang down from her
perch just in time 10 prevent the old gray
winged gander from shipping piece out
q her new apron. She met the young
man al the stile by the pollard willows
am 80 Gerry glad 10 see you, Jessica"
he mid, fervently, as he helped her over
the stilc.
For what reason, Bernardo You seem
wonderfully in earnest"
why, no reason, except the pleasure of
bcing with YOU
mo. having seen me Since nine o'clock
- night"
But you are always q fresh and bcauti-
~ aght. / have been wondering what
esuld do with myself this afternoon, and
boh0ldl Fate sends me YOU"
II wonder you are not sun-struck lying
ihsSc on the wharf in this hot, broiling
0aL"
II don't mind the hot sun. 1t never
hmts me-"
"And yet, the coolest day last winter,
yoa worked out Of doors all day, building
thas noe palace for me-"
II enjoy the cold, too, and take the sea-
acns a. they come. Heat and cold are
sY0u don't mind storms, either, /
sAould judge, from your walking fifteen
miles In the worst one we had last spring.
fnr no purpose, ] believe, but just 70 show
ihsa you could do it,"
sYes, can walk any reasonable dis.
tnoe in any weather." said Bernard. care
lessay, but secretly much pleased that his
remembered all this.
Does anything make you sick. Ber-
mrdSs
sNo; nave not had days sickness
s3mo0 WAS ten years old"
Fl should think, Bernard, you might be
= much a. six feet high" she said, meas
ssing him with her eye.
very near the mark !; am five feet
sWell," said Jessica, stopping under.
ncslh the pollard willows, and surveying
her companion from head to foot, here Is
. young man, Ave feet eleven, broad shout
d0rcd, never sick, who minds neither sum-
mrs heat nor winters cold, nor terrible
storms, and yet who can ind nothing in
II this wide world to do on this long sum-
mor day but lie ON pile of planks, or
lounge I'D and down the river bank with
girl"
The young mans brown face flushed
crimson. But what can do, Jcssica ?"
Help those sailors down there on the
wharf, and perhaps you will put little en-
@xy into them"
And what would be the use Of my
doing THAR
Juat for the sake of doing something.
Are you going to live this lazy, useless life
III your daysw
@You know very well my uncle won't
Aslp me tn get into any business, or rather,
% can't, for he never has ready money"
e Uy<ln vOrpoo1f than "
Show can !, without money! Unjust
AeyU q little to start with"
sPut yourself in as capital, and use
Mt muscles. They are big and strong
-, am sure. Such weights = they