Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-09
Then, at last, Mrs. winslow and Darrell

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barrels mother.
$50 glad, I'm sure" murmured Mrs.
Winslow. effusively. Always delighted
{. NEE. our clergy. Hayes, did you say'
! And where"
/ Vesey interposed. II would never do to
chill the air, already frigid, with theologi-
cal differences Mrs. Winslow was a
stanch churchwoman. Paul. she knew,
was Of another faith.
Let me wheel your chair to the fire.
| There--so." She seated her in triumph.
| The gentlemen gathered in knot at a
little distance.
And YOU really go home tomorrow -
| Vesey said, sitting down beside her.
| "Yes. | have done all my shopping.
| My mauve poplin came home to-day.
| There is nothing to wait for now; and
| Darrell does not care TO stay. The opera
season is over, you know.
SO it was for the gayeties of the town
he had fingered week after week, she
| thought, with a sudden sinking of the
heart. Oh, how blind she had been!
| His careless laugh came across the room
| just then, as if to mock her.
you'll not come back before another
| season." She could not hide the pain that
quivered in her voice But the limp little
woman crushed into the depths Of the
arm chair by her side did not heed il.
NO." she replied, simply, II suppose
not
The gentlemen Joined them.
"Sit down here by me-" said Mrs Wins
low to Paul, motioning TO the chair at her
side
at is of no USE" whispered Vesey to
Darrell, with historical sound between a
laugh and q sob.
"What is Of no use?' lie followed her
away from the fire.
"Trying to avert grim fate. Your mother
Is determined to discuss church affairs with
Mr.. Hayes. What will she say to find he
is not in the succession at all? That he
simply cares for the souls Of our butcher
and baker, and"
Candestick maker" suggested Darrell.
ayes, for aught know. have tried to
keep them apart, but"
EXTREMES will meet believe there is
an attraction between the poles But what
does it portend, this invasion! Are you
about to assume stuff gown and plain
bonnet? Or do you propose to bring him
into the true church? Not bad addition,
l should say" fixing his eyes upon Paul,
who had won the respectful attention, at
iCdot, Va hio idbuVi
in the arm chair.
"What were you saying?" Vcsey asked
absently. Her eyes had followed his.
=" How he CHANGED to be here? Oh! father
has met him occasionally, and so asked
him to dinner. was sorry he came to-
night"
"Ah" Darrell looked down upon her
with conscious air. She had spoken truer
words than she intended. She went on, as
though she had not heard bim---as though
the color was not flaming her face.
because knew you would have little
in common, and thought it might be
awkward for us all 1t does not matter"
Nothing did or ever would any more. A
gray wall seemed TO shut out all beyond
this night.
But am not to be defrauded Of my
rights. am to take you out TO dinner, am
not You surely won't throw me over mt the
last, Vesey?" He bent his head close to
her face.
/ don't know; you can sit upon one
side and Mr.. Hayes upon the other. if he
will" She moved away towards the
Others leaning over his mothers chair
she pretended 10 listen, smiling assent to
what she never knew. She was thinking
how pleasant She had hoped it would be,
with only Darrell and bis mother here -
they four around the fire in the twilight,
Darrell by her-of the words she had
thought he would speak. There was
ring hanging upon his watch chain 1t
fitted her finger. He had tried it once in
jest.
"Vescy" called her father And then
she knew the others were rising-that
dinner was announced.
81 hope you and Mrs. Winslow have be-
come friends" she said to Paul, as they
were going out.
"One hardly gets so far as that in half
hours chat he answered pleasantly.
"And just before dinner" added
Darrell, from the other side. "That's the
time to make enemies, Miss Vescy."
"Then do hasten to be served, gentle
men, lest you quarrel"
"And the causes" qucried Darrell in her
car.
She turned away from him to Paul.
And yet what should she sayg What do
people say to ministers? she asked her
self helplessly. And to young ministers
above allY Oh If he had not come! Ifhe
would only 60! If they would all go,
and leave her alone with her disappoint-
ment and shame!
How she passed that long dinner hour
| she never knew. She talked of trivial
| things, rs we all do, though beneath the
outward calm our very souls are seething
She dared not speak of others, lest she
break this crust. Paul judged her. She
has found her lowest depth, he said, when
she CHANGED to name ribbon. Her
spirits rose; buoyed by her light words
and laugh perhaps. When they were back
in the drawing-roonl, and the others fell
into tho quiet. desultory chat that follows
dinner, she alone could not be still.
Her cold hands refused to lie quietly in
her lap, as shapely white hands should
Her feet beat an impatient waltz under her
gown. She glanced at Darrell. He had
thrown himself back in an easy chair, his
hands under his head. There was no
feverish glitter In his eye. He looked
simply bored. He yawned furtively. She
pushed her chair back. "How stupid we
arel It's the fire, think. 1t always dulls
everybody but itself. Will not some one
sing or plays" And she sat down herself
before the piano.
She struck a quick, sharp chord. II
could dance to night" She had forgotten