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


proud OF having killed him"
1T took silver load to get it,
though remarked Tracy.
"What do You mean?' said Dale, with
quick look. do you mean to insinu-
ate that ! bought it?'
I'VE will defer the discussion until
after dinner" "naid Tracy. And as soon
us dinner was concluded the gentlemen
met outdoors to take smoke, and rs
soon rs they were ont Maurice COM
mcnced the conversation by saving TO
Tracy, "You must bc confounled jeal.
Gus to spring such a thing on me-"
Maurice Dale said Tracy, stopping
and looking at him sternly and con-
temptnously, "can yon explain how you
killed the turkey with buckshot, when
We none Of MS had any2"
Maurice grew pale with anger and
fear, and, seeing that he was caught,
determined to play bold game, and
he said, with menacing look toward
Tracy, whoever says / did not kill
that turkey lies!"
Il shall not resent your words" said
Tracy, "only to lay the facts before my
friends, and to cease to associate with
YOU in any way whatever"
He then told the gentlemen What he
had heard. TIE hired man was called
and confirmed the story, and the mat
ter began to look grave indeed.
Mr. Fields said: "Mr. Dale, the eyi-
dence is certainly against you, and You
certainly know that / could not toler-
ate such thing. Now, if you wish to
have the matter sifted further, we will
send for the man who claims to have
sold you the turkey, and ii yon would
rather it were dropped, We will say
nothing further about it, and you can
cut your visit short and take your de-
parture Mt your earliest convenience. !"
Your day will come" said Dale,
with a look Of hate toward Tracy. Il
wilfremembcr the turn you have done
me, ard will repay you. Yes, repay
you with interest. And YOU, Willard
Moore, will remember that you are
one Of this lovely trio. And You, my
charming, ,hospitable relative l will new
er entirely forget you! And now, gentle
men, as You can do without my COM
pany, I will bid You farewell And
he walked away to the house, his
face distorted by smile Of hate and
defiance. As soon as he could get
ready he started for home. In taking
leave OF the ladies', who were much sur
prised at his sudden determination to
leave, lie said: i will not attempt any
explanation to you. Your excellent
gentlemen friends will do that for me,
and You will no doubt believe their
story"
They were utterly amazed, and i'm
mediately besieged the gentlemen for
an explanation. Mr. Fiells told them
all the circumstances, and how it, Of
course, was impossible to treat such n
man with courtesy.
"Oh. how awful. how mean were
the indignant exclamations of the girls.
The subject was the universal theme
of conversation, ut leass for the re-
maindcr of that day. In the evening
Mr.. Fields and Jack Tracy were in the
sitting room talking over the events OF
the day, when the former remarked:
L don't like the look the fellow gave
us. l an persuaded he is capable of do
ing something reckless, and We had
better keep our eyes open. He may
seek an opportunity OF doing us an i'll
jury"
The pleasure of the day was destroyed
for them all, and they sat throughout
that Christmas evening gloomily silent,
or what was more painful still. discuss.
ing the details OF Maurice Dale's dis.
grace. But by the next morning they
had regainel their wonted cheerfulness,
and the remainder of the week passed
off pleasantly enough.
Willard Moore had, the previous
evening after retiring, thought long
and earnestly about his feelings toward
Hester Fields. She seemed to him the
fairest and sweetest girl he had ever
met. She was beautiful, accomplished,
and withal had such good common
sense, and she certainly gave him some
encouragement, for her manner was
gracious and kind. and she was much
freer in her way with h m than with
Jack Tracy. Yet, somehow, Trac,
never entered room where she was, OF
came near her, but she seemed at once
to feel his presence, and the color would
softly come to her face. and a brighter
light to her eye. and such actions
puzzled him, for he was no reader ol
women's hearts, hut simply great,
strong, earnest, honest man, with a
capacity of loving devotedly, or suffer.
ing silently. He lay and thought every
thing over; how it would be almost like
heaven to have this beautiful woman
always at his side, always near him,
and his heart throbbed with happiness al
the thought. II will win her if it is
possible" he said, "but there is Tracy
in the way. Well, | will strive all tho
harder"
Jack Tracy. meanwhile. lay tossing
and tumbling i'll bed, trying to make
ont whether lie was more favored thar
Willard Moore, and he too determined
to win Hester If possible. 1t was plair
to lockers on that while both young
men were infatuated, Hester was no
indifferent to either, and to all appear
anccs she did not vet know whicl, hal
the larger share of her growing affec
tions.
Notwithstanding they were rivals til,
young men had continued to be warn
friends, each recognizing in the othe
the elements of true gentlemen, an,
neither sought to take any advantage 0
the other.
After few days they all returned
home, having spent memorable
Christmas, bpt they We're still Otter
together, for fine snow fell on New
Years day, ami it was soon magnifcen
sieighing. There were balls at farm
houses over the country, which the,
attended. There were drives to th,
country town, flourishins little city
to attend theaters, concerts and snel
entertainments, and in tbs way winte
passed and spring set in.
| Tie story Of Maurice Da.e's disgrace
was soon spread about, and he Vas no
invited to any of these winter amnse
ments. Once Tracy met him on tn
road, hat Dale did not give him an,
sign OF cognision; and meanwhile
Tracy Was in suspense as to his success
! nxifl II star fhaaaoh ha hnIipNaI La hn,