The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-08-07
PEACE ELLITAoRPE.
BY LILY CURRY.

by LILY CURRY.
The sunset light, which had fingered
on the river by the boat house and
upon the greenness of the shore beyond,
had deepened into the dull purple Of
twilight; and now the moon, rising
over the shadows Of the bluffs. had
flung q golden bridge across the wide,
smooth waters. Mia-stream, one boat
swung softly to the dip of oars and the
song Of the rowers, who were moved,
perchance, with an impulse to round
the completeness of the midsummer
night.
Peace Ellithorpe and Louis Gordon,
standing in the shadow Of tho boat
house, listened intently for time.
"How sweet" the girl said, pres
emily.
Gordon's eyes were fixed upon her
pure, pale face, with its halo of red
gold hair, its long-lashed violet eyes.
"'The Soldiers FAREWELL - he an
swered. 1T is always beautiful. His
thoughts, nevertheless, might have
been more Of the beauty OF her coun-
tenance-there, where the moonlight
crcpt upon the darkness as timid
lady to her lord.
And now he had stepped down into a
boat, and was reaching up his hand to
assist her.
"All right?' he asked. And when
she had answered half gayly, he pulled
away from the landing out into the
stiffness and delight Of the waters.
L am SO glad to have You back" he
said, by and by. 1T has seemed q year
since you went"
Il am glad you missed me-" she re-
sponded. "Yet it was only month. "
And passed rapidly with you, no
doubt, among scenes Of gayety." He
spoke in Jealous tone.
Il have not said So" she answered.
There was much to occupy, much to
amuse me; nothing to compensate for
our separation"
There was no coquetry here. Not
once in NIL the six months Of their en-
gagement had she hesitated to speak
the truth concerning her regard for
him.
%, well,' he said, as if half-ashamed,
when he has to stay at home and let his
sweetheart go thousands of miles away
from him. But now you are back, you
must tell me everything You saw, every
place you visited"
AS if had not already done SO in
my letters
In general way, You did. Iwould
like particulars"
"Where shall begin? The Springs,
or the country? spent two weeks al
Saratoga, and one at the seaside, you
know; then did seven days penance
at Brockton. ., such a dull place,
Louis. Duller than Western towns OF
half its size. Not thing to see, not a
place to go, except-you'll laugh when
tell you-except the State reforma'
tory"
She paused, for he had suddenly lei
go the oars. He bent again in mo.
ment, and, taking firmer hold of them,
began to pull very hard against the
current
what is the matter, Louis?'
He answered breathlessly, after his
exertions.
Nothing. We--were getting too fal
down stream. Go on, Peace; you were
saying that you visited the State re-
formatory."
"Yes. it was very interesting. Were
You ever there?"
Gordon laughed family.
"Was / ever there? Oh, yes; wa.
there once. Well, how did it strike
you?"
Il don't know what you are laughing
at," she said; land don't believe yo,
| were there either, so I'll tell you al
about it, for really / liked it very mucl
liked the idea, you know. In tn,
first place, it is built upon hill, ant
the entire grounds are surrounded will
a high brick wall"
In the shape of n square,, suggest
ed Gordon, with a sentry tower a
each corner, and watchman inside o
each tower, with loaded gun and in
structions to shoot down any ono caugh
trying to escape"
Exactly" said Peace, with som,
| animation $50 you have been there
and you know all about the workshops
the clean corridors, the grades, ant
the night school. There is one illum
mated text upon the chapel wall, whicl
l think most beautiful: Look not un
mercifully upon the past.
Gordon repeated it after her, with {
sigh.
"But it is impossible not to" he said
wearily.
Impossible not to look unmerci
fully? Why do you say that? Why
nearly all the prisoners were boys
mere boys, placed there for SOM
trif,ing oliense instead of being thrown
into prison among old, hardened Grim
inals."
There isn't much difference" h
said, moodily. "Once you deprive
man or boy of his liberty. for any faul
committed He broke off sudden
ly, and cried, "Pshaw! Why are yo1
talking of such things?'
But she was not ready to abandol
the subject.
"You speak as if you did not believ
in reformation.
do you2" he asked quietly.
"To be sure do, and most eifectual.
"Wait little" said Gordon. "Yo
couldn't think as much rs any on
who had been an inmate OF such a
Institution. even for the shortest time
as yon could OF one who had neve
broken the law in any way, could you
THAT would depend entirely on hi
after-eonauet, she answered promptly
If he were disposed to do right i
every respect, no look or word Of min
| shnull recall tha mast
Il would like 10 see You put to tn
test in this" he said, incredulously.
Il would like to be. would like I
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