Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-07-14

ARA time what poor little beeeAs you've
been all these years, unbeknown 70 you.
I'll wait outside, and you'n cone down
and ray goodbye before ! 90 sisogeeher.
vnn I'm far too vretched creature mot
10 Ike that frock best. I'll not keep You
: minute. Do you understand :"
Dot nodded. 1T was diflcult 70 guess
what was passing through her mind.
"Now," said he, tenderly, go 70 I'D.
The time win pass quicker sleeping pan
any other way"
drew near the old man and threw der
arms round him without word. ltyas
impossible to discover what lay behind
those sober brown eyes. Tom statiaed
himself beside her till she fell asleep.
The firs died out but the moonlight
streaming through the small window shone
upon his motionl6ss form In the small
place. Night passed, and the gray dawn
appeared. yet he never moved, nor closed
his eyes. He could not bring himself 70
leave her. When she swOke, his ace Wa
the first sight that greeted her.
"Dear," he said, cheerily, only lew
hours now. Aren't you very happy
Their scanty morning meal, consisting
OF the remains OF last nights supper, was
taken in silence. When finished, Dot put
on her shawl and arranged her shabby,
threadbars garment to the best advantage.
Tom watched her without word. The
two then descended the stair into the
street. Suddenly he turned, and, point
| ing to the house, whispered to her:
"Don't It seem impossible, now, You
could have been happy In such place!
and strange that you didn't know you
were miserable there till last nightr
When they reached the POstmaster's
house she left him. He followed her
eagerly with his eyes Til the door was
closed.
II shouldn't wonder" he muttered, ~
he paced up and down, :" II she were to
forget me after al 1t would be only natu-
raj, wouldn't it p and he appealed TO him
self a. TO second person. Receiving no
reply, he continued: ut would be very
wrong II she didn't like what's warm bet
ter than what's cold, and what's beautiful
better than what's Ugly! Very bad taste !!
I couldn't grudge 1t TO her, could l /"
BY this time he was again In front OF
the house. He stopped Involuntary, and
closing his eyes, stretched out his hands
toward II, saying:
"God bless little Dot, always"
When he looked up she stood by his
side, and the door was shut. He bent
over her with infinite tenderness.
"My darling" he said, "Yll not keep
you. Say one good bye, and then Co."
But the child had slipped her hand into
.Just little way up the street." she
said.
"No, really ~ exclaimed he, delighted.
They reached the corner, and he turned.
"A few steps further" persisted she.
mo, really p repeated the other, aston
tshsd.
81 want" she said, ~ they drew near
the house " =. Just to 70 up and give . last
They mounted the stair and he fingered
ct the door.
"Why should you - he urged, sorrow.
fully. "Wouldn't 1t be better TO ray
goodbye heref"
She pushed gently past him and en-
tered.
"Yes," said he, sadly watching her face
"you didn't know till now how wretched
1t was, did your"
Dot turned TO him and hung her head
without speaking. There was evidently
something she wished but was ashamed
TO say.
dad" she WHISPERED at length, "there'l
no help for IT, / was born o miserable
beggar, and must remain 20, please Ill
lie pointed silently to the few asheg In
the CRATE and the broken loaf on the table.
She understood.
NO." she pleaded, gently, ~ haven't
forgotten, but Ia rather be cold and hun.
gry-snd stay"
Receiving no answer, she knelt be-
side his chair and put her arms around
him.
"Are you disappointed Are you sor.
ryw she exclaimed, anxiously.
The old man took the small face In his
two hands without word.
II see," she said, "you couldn't believe
It Of me, could your" and you're very
"Child," said Tom, slowly, .."did show
how hated the place, and grudged
your goingi"
| Dot hung her head.
"No," she answered, sorrowfully; ut
wasn't You, nor nobody bat my own mean
beggarly self"
"Then you choose to remain here :"
eyes," she whispered, looking very
much ashamed. II don't wonder you
can't believe It,"
A light cleaned over the worn, pinched
features Of the old man. For the sake OF
this moment, ell the past years Of accum-
ulated miseries were 20 nothing.
"Oh, Dotw he murmured, tremblingly.
"Oh, Dot, Dot"
But he could say no moro.
The P0stmistress greeted the child on
her temperance with . smile.
$50 It's you," she said, kindly; IL
thought you'd be back soon, but you
needn't have run yourself out Of breath"
"Please, ma'am," said Dot becoming
inc0hcrent In her cagernesA and thank
you oil the same, but I've been thinking I
shouldn't like Dad to call when I'm not
within reach TO hear him, and may be he
might feel the room little strange with
out me, after being accustomed TO zee me
In IT.; 20 thank you, mA'am, al the same,
and I'd rather not"
"Not Gomez" repeated the other, sur.
prised "Do you really mean III"
You see" said the child, her nee
| flushing, II couldn't feel warm with him
cold, nor satisfied with him hungry and
know he'll lie awake at nights-not be-
II =