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

old Tom an oYer. Well, neighbof Ben,
it's MY advice that YOU accept the offer
good. night" and he walked hastily out,
shrewdly divining that they could talk it
over more freely alone.
Ben, Anderson and his wife sat up late
that night discussing the subject pro and
con- He saw that she favored going-he
did not know that she. always had-and
for her sake, because her brother was
there, and for the sake of his boy, whom
he knew he could not keep long If he staid
where he was, he said perhaps it was best
for them to CO." But, o, how in that hour
his heart chung to the old home! How
dear grew the thought of the wooded
hills, and the golden sands; and, o, how
infinitely dear the wooing voice OF the
beautiful sea. There, too, his dear ones
slept, and no other land, be it ever so rich
or fair, could be to him what this bleak
New England coast was.
There was little said about the proposed
change before Ralph or Viola, but Ralph
knew that it was being seriously con-
sidered by his father, and he told Viola,
privately, that he "hoped they should go,
for he was sure his cousin Blanche was
the most beautiful, and the incest girl in
the world, and he guessed she knew q
great deal by the way she wrote; and she
was so anxious he should come, tool"
~ don't want to go; and don't want
to see her, and don't like her = broke in
Viola, impetuously.
"Well, what now, Wildfire?" he asked,
opening wide his eyes in surprise. mother
says Blanche will be an accomplished
lady by and by, and she is rich, and pref
| ty, and should like to know why you
| should say such spiteful things of her
when you never saw her." he said, in an
| injured tone, looking down very severely
| at the little flushed face and quivering
lips.
81 don't never want to see her, and I'm
going back to Madame! I'm not rich, nor
nice, nor beautiful; and don't know q
great deal either, and you won't love me
any at all when you see her." and the pas
sionate voice grew suddenly tremulous
and the little bosom rose and fell with dry
suppressed sobs: -
pleased glow flashing into the boyish face.
It was rather nice to have two girls like
him! But, with true masculine tact, he
saw it would never do to let her know
that he thought so. So with nonchal-
ance that would have done credit TO q
much older head, he exclaimed:
"Nonsense why she's my cousin, and
fellow is expected to think good deal
of his cousin, especially if she is nice and
| pretty, like Blanche But | shall love
you all the same for that, little Wildfre.
l don't believe she Is any prettier than
you; and anyway ! shall love you best"
always, Ralph-always, SO long as
you live y she cried, eagerly, looking up
into his face with shining eyes
always, as long as live" he repeated,
smiling
But she did not smile; the small face
was preternaturally grave, and the great
black eyes had dreamy, far.away look
in them, as if some picture in the far-off
future shone vaguely and dimly through
the long vista Of years-a picture shaded
and lined with some impalpable pain-fx.
ing and holding her gaze. Possibly the
Angel of Futurity LEFT for moment the
gate ajar, and the young eyes caught .
vision Of the struggle and pain beyond. =.
That night, after Ben Anderson had
prayed - usual for all classes and condi
tions Of men, that He would send His
Spirit out after them, and snatch as many
perdition," he added the following petit.
tion;
1--WE ask, also, O Lord, that Thou
would'st 20 with US and bless us in the
new, as Thou hast in the old home. Keep
our hearts pure before Thee, and let no
worldly gain or desire usurp Thy place,
but let the Spirit which kept our fathers
as they emerged from their homes 60 with
us to the fair land of our adoption, and
keen us there, as it did them here"
Then Ralph knew for the first time that
his father had decided to 60. The next
day it was very generally noised about
that "Ben Anderson WAS going to sell Out
and 20 West" Everybody talked abOu,
it, and some prophesied he would be
back within year, if he wasn't too poor
to get back" and others again said that
they wished they were going, and ap
plauded his resolution. Among the latter
was Ned Bradlee, who always thought
he should like to see the big pastures they
Dragged 80 much Of"
"Why not go with us, Mr.. Bradlee.s p
said Ralph.
"Wall, now, Squire. you've just hit it
why not? You are bright boy to think
Of it, for I'll be hanged If l ever should
II wish you would go, Bradlee," sale
Anderson, earnestly.
"Yes, do, Ned; I should be so glad Il
have YOU" Mrs. Anderson added, warmly
"You wouldi Lord then I'll go. A
man O. my gallsntry could never stand out
against woman's wishes, no matter wha,
they asked" he said, with q jolly laugh.
"Not II they wished TO marry you ?
asked Ralph.
"Wall, perhaps not, Squire, II they
wrote me fine, wonderful letters on yaller
edged paper" he said, with comical grav.
ity. ~ think that would fetch most any
teller that had any feelin' about him, don't
your"
Ralph colored to the temples with shame
and annoyance Everybody who has
been young knows with what halo OF
sacredness these "first' letters are invest.
ed, and how it hurts and shocks the young
heart to have some rude hand swoop
down through the beautiful aureole, and
hold up to laughter and ridicule the pre-.
cious treasure. To this day feel stir
Of indignation whenever I remember q
certain afternoon, when, coming home
from school, / heard peal after peal OF
ringing laughter issuing from my bed
chamber, and upon coming upon the scene
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