The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-01-03

I'VE will have waltz The first
dance said Maurce Dale, with sig
| niticant look toward Hester.
AT which remark Willard looked still
more disconnected. and Jack looked
daggers, and Hester lookcd-not
| pleased, for Dale was acknowledged to
be the best shot in oil the country
round.
They drove In strong spring wagon
for some miles into the woods, th,n
halted, fastened the team securely, and
| started along the foot Of the bluffs,
scattering some and occasionally coming
together. But the forenoon passed away
without finding any game except mn un.
lucky rabbit or quail occasionally.
| By noon they returned to the wagon,
built cheerful fire, and did ample
justice to the dinner they had brought
with them.
Soon after dinner they started again
in quest of game, separating md each
going hi, own wny. About o'clock
Mr. Fields came in with nothing to
show for his hunt but few small
birds. In few minutes Jack Tracy
came in with nothing but nm old owl,
which, for lack of something better, he
had slain. Soon Willard Moore came,
carrying young turkey and wearing
happy smile.
II guess you've got the Dance said
Jack, gloomily, and eyeing the luckless
owl rs if, were it to do its duty, il would
immediately. for his benefit, transform
itself into much larger and more pal
atable b ri, "unless Dale has had extra
good luck
(which I have had" remarked that
gentleman, coming among them, swing
ing huge gobbler.
by George!' said Willard, "that is
a fine one! Where did you get him 2"
I'm the woods said Maurice, lacon-
ically.
"Ah! Pardon the doubt implied by
my question: said Willard, sarcastical-
| "; "but / did not know but you might
have captured him at the village store"
A contemptuous shug of the shoul-
ders was all the answer vouchsafed that
speech.
They then hitched the horses to the
wagon, and in an hour were at home
again, warmly welcomed by the girls,
who had been busily engaged preparing
tho tree. Hester was, OF course, anx-
ious to know who was entitled to the
first dance with her, and frown passed
across her face when she found it was
Maurice Dale, but she gave him a pleas
ant smile and said, "To the victor be-
longs the-dance." The quartet of
hungry hunters soon after sat down to
a tempting supper, after which they re-
| - Ahas %s,. Il f.,r
the evenings pleasure. During the
supper Maurice Dale gave n graphic de-
scril ton Of his finding and shooting
the turkey, dwelling particularly on the
fact that he had killed il at long range,
making one Of the best shots Of his life.
Presently all gathered in the parlor
to witness the unloading of the tree,
which ceremony went off in fine style
and with much merriment, each one
being the recipient Of numerous
beautiful presents, and the gentlemen
receiving some remarkable sells that
the girls had fixed up during the day.
Among the beautiful presents Hester
received was handsome ring inclosed
i'll note, which, on opening, she found
was pc ,nsd by Maurice Dale, III which
he again offered her his love, and asked
her to accept the ring as an engage
ment ring. Soon after this the expect
eel visitors began to arrive, and as the
music started up in a sweet, dreamy
waltz, Maurice and Hester arose and
went gliding around the room with
easy, perfect step, for they were both
excellent dancers. At least two pair
of eyes watched them jealously, though
the owners tried to appear indifferent
to that first dance. Jack Tracy devoted
himself to Miss Lilly. and in few min
utes they too were slowly turning about
the room.
During the dance Hester found an
opportunity to slip the ring into Maui
rice Dale's hand, saying, in a low tone,
Il am very sorry, cousin, but can't ac-
cept it in that way" A dark flush
passed over his face and his teeth were
tightly clenched, while there was a
gleam in his eve which made Hester
shujder, when on looking up suddenly
she saw the expression of his face. He
whispered in her ear Let those other
two fools beware! They shall never,
either of them, win you!"
"We will stop, if you please" she
said, "and never presume to address me
on this subject again" and with iil-con-
cealed wrath. and most ceremonious
bow, he returned her to her seat. say
ing, a thousand thanks for your kind
ness; will never forget it, The re-
mainder of the evening passed off with
out anything further worthy Of note.
and ut n late hour good.n;ghts were
sa:d, and the company went away with
expressions of reglet that the evening
was not longer.
On the following day Tracy rode
over to the station after mail, and while
there he overheard conversation be-
tween two countrym.n, one Of whom
was telling about killing turkey the
day before. After lie had told all about
finding and killing it, he said to his
companion, Il intended hayin' you an
your ole woman come over an help us
eat it to-day, but as ! was carryin' it
home / met feiler that wanted to buy
it: told him / didn't want to sell it,
but he insisted, and finally offered me
two dollars for it, so let him have it,
/ guess he had had bad luck huntin'
aud didn't want TO 60 home empty
handed"
"Who was the man 2" asked Tracy.
Il don't know, and guess oughtn't
to have told it, was the reply, "as he
asked me not to mention it to any one T"
1T was down in the Hurricane creek
bottom, was ii not?s asked Tracy.
Well, yes: as yon seem to know NIL
about it, said che man.
"What sort of looking man was he p
asked Tiacy.
He was fair-sized man, with a
black mustache and black eyes, and lac
looked at a feller sort Of sharp like, as
il ha was tryin' to look through you,
and he smiled once, sort of Moiiisll
smile, that male one half afraid of
him."
Maurice Dale, by George" said
, Tracy to himself.