Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-09
Miscellaneous.
WILL SHE RIDE OR WALK.
BY MISC TgAFTON.

THE center Of the city is like the palm
of hand. From it the long fingers
stretch out one over the mill-dam an
other along the fats the longest Of all
bridges the rivei, and then going on and
On, the straight wide street steadily rising
until 1t overlooks the bay, suddenly bends
like the crook Of finger, until its tip
touches the water.
1t is a ladder-a hill of difficulty-to the
dwellcrs at this end Of the town, most OF
whom began life at It's foot, in the dingy
shops and tenement houses there, and have
slowly struggled up: some to the long
blocks of comfortable dwellings; others,
going on on still father, have reached the
most pretentious point Of all-that lying
close down to the water upon the other
side.
There is an air Of ncwness, flavor Of
JOnahs gourd about the Italio- Chinese
pagodas with French roofs here.
They seem, indeed, TO have sprung up in
q night, the dampness Of the mold
still clinging to them. There is strain
ing after pinnacles and towers and top
knots in arcbitecture--after effects quite
dispropOrtioned TO means in landscape
gardening, and, in fact, an evident attempt
to crowd TO their utmost capacity the
present limited space and time.
This Is the foundation built upon rock
gold. Another generation will develop
the fine arts and possibly the sciences.
In the mean time will tell my little
story.
Paul Hayes was sent here to preach the
gospel, for there are churches. Some of
them, even SO soon, are beginning TO pride
themselves, not upon their sanctity, but
upon the high social position OF their
members-in other words, upon the dis
tancc at which they live freH The foot of
the street, which Is their social scale.
Fortunately, Paul's church was not
among these. II one has to deal with ig
Dorant people, 1t is better TO take them in
the rough Iron in its natural state holds
wonderful possibilities. But iron-spoiled
In the smelting-what can one do with 1t 2
His church was only mission chapel,
supported by richer society Of the same
denomination his people-the men aud
women to whom one goes with ungloved
hands. But he was young and strong,
and believed himself called Of God, which
Is the best preparation for any work. He
threw aside his books and read men.
There are a few exceptions to the houses
have described in the more aristocratic
part of the town. One will suffice to
prove the rule. II stands away from the
street Just below the staring white hotel
that crowns its rise. 1t Is square, Of stone,
and painted white Upon one side ia a
pleasant garden. Possibly it was built in
colonial times, when the salt, salt wind
swept In here from the sea, unbroken by
anything save these walls and a few scat
tered remnants OF forest trees. Ii has 80
far caught the spirit Of modern times as to
don a mansard root, but the tall Corinthian
pillars still remain, as well as the wide
stone steps, with lion couchotnt upon
either side.
ii.
Vcsey Welles stood upon the hearth-rul
in the long low drawing room, awaiting
the coming Of her guests. Ordinarily she
might be q trifle palc-quiet, possibly
though with depths quickly stirred by
the dropping of careless stone. To
night she was flushed, tremulous, ex
cited.
"By the way" said her father, pausing
at the door as he passed through the hall
Il met that young ministcr-Hayes, you
know-this morning. and asked him up to
dinner"
"ButI don't know" responded Vesey
- he passed on, her eyes growing wider
and wider In dismay don't know him
ut all. And tonight Of all nightsl" sh,
halfsobbed, pulling at the flowers in tn,
porcelain vase before her, until the one rex
rose dropped all its petals at her feet
It was to be the last of the pleasan
evenings that had frightened all the win
tor. Darrell Winslow and his mother wcr
coming to dine with them once more be
fore going home. They had been board
Ing at the kotel just above, two or thre
months. Vesey had built SO many hope
upon this evening. But now
She was fastening bunch Of daphne
sweet-scented, lvet-leafed-into her belt
when Paul entered the room. Passing
FART" he said to himself, at glimpse o
tho bent head.
"The Rev. Paul Hayesr announced tn,
servant. She turned quickly, not catching
the name, bearing only the sound Of fee
and the opening Of the door, The mala
dresse with which she hesitated and ther
came to meet him was something strang.
In Vesey-graceful, self possessed.
ell am Miss Wellcs," with rather un
necessary frankness. my father will b,
down In Q moment He was UNUSUAL,
late from town tonight" The last word,
we're uttered with her grandest air, in hel
efforts to compose herself
"But naughty and cold" Paul addei
mentally, as he turned away to meet he
father.