Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-01-08

too much of this junketing and gaddin'
goin' on in the neighborhood now.
said to Miss Pratt, the other day: Pm
sure, can't see where you expect Sarah
Matilda to go to, with her hair frizzed, and
dancin' and flirtin' and the like: but
call such doings the way to the Pit.
She says oh Mrs. Ives. 1t seems to
me young people really need some little
amusement But / told her that such
sportin' on the brink of eyerastin' woe
considered both sinful and shameful. She
hadn't a word to say in reply, and no
wonder. And now, Mr. Ives, since we
are on this subject, we may as well have
it settled once for all. Pm only Milly's
step-mother. My word is n0thin', of
course, and everything do is hardship.
But you're her own father, and | wish
you'd speak out Do you wish to have
Milly goin' on in this foolish way, or
not?''
"But, father" interposed Milly, in a
timid voice, 81 never did go on in any
way. l can't think what mother means.
l never did go anywhere-not to any par
ties or sleigh rides or anythipg-and l
wanted to go just this once very much !;
but mother said" here her lips culver
ed, and as a sudden peal of sleigh bells
rang down the valley, she fairly burst
into tears.
Mildred, I'm ashamed of YOU" said
Mrs. Ives, in an acid voice, while "Tut
tuttut" was the only protest poor Mr..
Ives could think of.
"And now" went on his wife, sanguine
of victory, "just say, once for all, is
Milly to conform to my views, or is she
not?'
Poor Mr.. Ives. The embarrassment of
deciding between wife and daughter was
not a new one. Some natural relentings
there were for his child, but the other
scale was too heavily weighted to allow
of hesitation.
"Of course, my dear; of course. Milly,
you hear what your mother says" and
then he retreated again into the shadow
Of his newspaper. Millys sobs grew
louder. This was dreadful.
Pretty soon she got up, still sobbing,
lighted candle, and, mumbling an al
most inarticulate good might" departed
to the little room she called her own. The
world looked forlorn enough as she put
her pretty cheek on the pillow; but sleep
came speedily-as it does to the young
and her woes were forgotten.
She woke with that blessed oblivion
which slumber brings, refreshed and
frightened with the hopefulness of the
new day. 1t was a sparkling morning
dawning on tip-toe, as it were, and full of
life. The air was like wine. For all her
heaviness of heart she could not keep
dancing as she went about her work.
eve had such splendid time" said
Sarah Matilda Pratt (the young lady
aforesaid, who sported on the ledge of the
Pit') catching Milly as she was loading
her slender arm with sticks at the wood
pile 'We went to Steadman's, you know.
They do make the most elegant egg nog!
We danced till we were just as warm
as toast-such fun! And Jim Allen
came home with me, and once we got al
most spilled out ! had my mouth full of
snow when we bounced up against big
drift; and we laughed till it seemed as if
we should go off. 1t was such pity you
wasn't there"
ooh! / did want to go. did want to
so much" said Milly.
"N ere going to have a dance ourselves
New Years Eve," went on Sarah NATL
da. "To see the Old Year out, you know.
do wish you could come, Milly. Can't
you, possibly? It's such shame not to
dance the Old Year out. And it's bad
luck, too, people say. Wouldn't your
mother let you, if you'd ask her, don't
you Think"
ooh! no." said Milly, with her lips
trembling. 81 have asked her again and
again, and father, too; and they both
say" and here she sat down on log and
began to cry.
@Don't Milly, Oh! don't" cried the
other, almost in tears herself, from sym
patty. at is too bad. | declare it is.
You're the only girl anywhere about that
is kept SO strict. | VOW, | wouldn't stand
it, if were you. say" IA sudden bright
plan striking her. 1--WE thought of some
thing, Milly. I've got it! You can come.
And you shall, if you'll only do as tell
YOU"
"What do you mean?" wonderingly.
"Why, come without asking leave
that's ALL Nothing's easier, Your ma
goes to bed early, don'tshe?'
eyes"
"Well, you just slip up stairs a little
before her, and fix yourself; and, as soon
as she's asleep and the house is quiet,
creep down again and out by the she'd
door. You would get to us by half past
nine, and Jack'll see you home. None of
the doors are ever locked at night, are
they"
Hardly ever Sometimes they are; but
not often. But, Sarah, shouldn't dare"
Nonsense Not dare There's nothing
to be afraid of If your own ma was alive,
she'd let you come in a minute; for they
say she was the greatest favorte anywhere
about, and went TO everything that was
going on. And you've a perfect right to
come, if you want to. You're of age, you
know"
mo" said truthful Milly, Not quite.
Ny birthday isn't till April"
ats just the same thing" persisted
her irrepressible friend. "You can come,
if you like. OH Milly, promise you will.
DO, darling do / shall think you don't
love us if you DON'T" And so on, in the
midst Of which appeal Mrs. Ives was
heard calling, " Milly, Milly!" and, gath
ering up her wood, Milly flew with guilty
haste toward the house.
"The woman who deliberates is lost"
Milly deliberated. She resolved and
re.resolved, and at the end of all, New
Years Eve saw her before her glass, put
ting the finishing touches TO her dress:
1t was an ugly, old-fashioned gown, of
light green merino, and the white roses
i'm her hair looked queer enough with il |;