Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-11-23

consciousness of other peoples iiscon,
fort, and the way in which she sngbbed
and scolded her miserable and equally
wet pa" Ii was All his fault. she de-
/ ciared; he was always getting her into
/ such scrapes; he ought to be ASHAMED
of himself. The luckless old gentleman
bore these reproaches with the stoicism
peculiar TO the American parent. Now.
Setty now, Netty.'' he said. feebly.
once or twice; but when the TRADE I'm
ally ended with burst of tears, he suc-
cumbed utterly, ciasped his hands be
hind his dispirited old back. and began
to walk up and down the room in De.
jected silence | assure you our hearts
all ached for him.
Meantime. like the rose Just washed
in the shower. nv peerless little Boston
ian only shone the brighter for being
rained upon Before We guessed what
she was at, back she came from some
where with an arTnfnl of wood, and was
down on her knees before the fireplace.
coaxing il 10 burn. Then it was, "Nettv.
your boots are soaked: pull them off,
dear
But Netty pouted and refused. So her
friend attacked the shoes, unbuttoned
them, and fairly pu: the sulky feet to dry
in the glow of the fire. Next she found a
chair for spa" helped him off with his
wet overcoat, and seated him comforta-
bly,. Then saw her in a quiet way go
ing about among the rest. A pleasant,
cordial glow appeared in her manner
which was not there before: she grew
bright and easy while caring for others
Every one felt the charm: even the awk.
ward country help seemed to move
quicker when she spoke, brought tea,
bread, milk, and buzzed and flew about
her sunny looks as flies do in warm
window-pane when it rains.
Meantime the storm was getting to be
something tremendous. ] never heard
anything like the wind trees were blown
down, the crazy house shook and trem-
bled, the Peinigewasset was reported
rising, the bridges in danger, and all
chance of getting away was evidently
over for the night Every one was fright
ened more or less, and only too glad of
shelter, such as it was; so We proceeded
to make ourselves comfortable as best we
might be where comfort was none. The
one carpeted floor was given up TO the
ladies Miss Doubleday, rolled by her
friend and anxious parent in every con
ceiyable wrap, was deposited in corner,
from which from time to time plaintive
whines became audible Her long-suffer-
ing pa, poised on two legs of his chair,
slept. finally nored. didn't even try for
slunbcr-bcing a wide-awake by nature
but lit a cigar, and amused myself with
watching the dear little sprite from Bos-
ton as she fitted about, planning, con
irving, settling people in good places,
and taking care generally of everybody
except herself Something about her
face and manner reminded me of my
mother. Jack You remember her, don't
you? You saw her once.
Some time after midnight | lost sight
Of her for while, and growing restless,
/ wandered out into the hall. There she
sat on the staircase with baby in her
arms, and tired-out woman sleeping be-
side her, with head in her lap. The baby
was asleep too, luckily, for otherwise we
shouldn't have had the talk we had.
Boys, il was that talk did for me 4! 1t had
been brewing all the evening, but some
how the things she said-not remarkable
things but nice and womanly and sweet,
the sort Of things fellow wants his wife
and sister to say-and the look OF her
eyes and the weary expression OF her
dear little face went right to my heart.
Talk of balls and parties indeed, as places
for young people to get acquainted
Why, you might dance round dances with
"a girl year in and out, and never get so
near or find out what she really was halt
SO well, as | did in that one nights vigil
BY morning | was over head and
ears. OF course we went up together to
the Pro file, and equally Of course didn't
leave her there but followed on to Craw
ford's, the Glen, Conway, and finally
here It's only two days, however, since
the actual denouement took place, and
Roses mother says that was shamefully
premature. But don't know what fel
low is to do who has got to be back al
his business by the 18th except be prema
ture. Any way, Rose don't think so
and the matter is all settled.
Boys, wait till you see her. In
weigh as much as you like over my de
lection only see her, and I'll bet my
head you'll "defect" yourselves on The
next opportunity. / have told her al
| about you and our-wcll, preposterous
association, and though it made hel
laugh great deal, she's quite prepared
to be the best of friends, if you meet hel
| halfway. You should hear her laugh
| just like little bells and she's real Bos
ton, | can tell you, and up in all thu
ologies, in spite of being so sweet ant
Jolly.
Write, both of you, and say if haven
made out my case. Yours ever,
FRED DELANo.