The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-11-21
WHOLE NUMBER 1868.

she had said in answer. '.and shall write
you when to come as you desire" Then
added, after q moments hesitation,
..about the holidays look for letter Of
| invitation"
Well, John Anderson walked on air
until the time Of the expected letter.
People remarked how bright-looking he
had grown to be; hc could hardly be
called plain John" any more. But
some Of the mothers of tho neighbor-
hood who had manageable daughters,
guessing at the reason Of this change,
were cruel enough to wish that he might
never hear from that '.city fiirt" again.
And the years rolled on, and the letter
never came. The envious matrons We're
satisfied, and the girls Of Folly Mill so
ciety nodded and smirkcd, but plain
John Anderson grew palmer and fart.er
| away.
Once, only once, Bessie had grown
cross and said hard things. He was
speaking of his great passion for music
and his longing for higher aspirations
than to only sow and reap and nothing
more; and she had reminded him that
he had '.tried once TO fly higher than
his honlcly wings allowed Of
Wincing under this sore thrust, he
never mentioned the subject 50 near to
his heart again.
Well, he must 60 TO the village TO
night. OF course they wouldn't have any
guests tomorrow, but he ani Bess gen.
orally received Thanksgiving letters, and
she set SO much by getting them the
| night before. '.Thank-offerings' she
called them.
Going quietly downstairs and shut
ting tho hall door noisclcssly behind
him, he tried to avoid Bessie. He didn't
care to see her just then; there we're
painful memories keeping him company.
Ills sister meant to be kind always, he
! thought, hut she was sort of strange
sometimes.
| Nevertheless. halfway down the walk,
under the great pear tree which stretched
its naked arms up toward the silent,
cleaning heavens, she met him.
Going over to the yillage?" she asked,
in voice kindlicr than usual. and John
paused while he answered in the affirma-
| tive.
Bessie came closer to him then and
looked into his care-lined face intently.
Something she saw there appealed to
her sisterly affection. She put her arms
about her brothers. neck and whispered,
brokenly: Never mind, John; it will
be all right by and by
s.Bcss pities me!'' almost sobbed the
great, strong man. as the wicket clicked
behind him and he turned into the or
chard path.
| Perhaps Thanksgiving memories had
been crowding in on Bessie's heart; per-
haps the thoughts OF something sacred,
of which John never dreamed of, . ring
and promise unfulfilled, had something
| to do with the carcss under the gray No
| vember skies.
/ CHAPTER H.
It wasn't far to the village. just over
there beyond the little white church
where, four years ago. Muriel Trowbridge
played the Thanksgiving anthem.
And he would walk across the mead.
ows; he wanted to be alone with neither
beast nor bird to see. Out there beyond
the hills the sunset burned and hared
like huge bonfire against the Novem
Der sky. and the winds tossed the dead
leaves about his feet with shivcrine
moan. The sleepy quail piped i'll tho
stubble in monotonons way, but Johr
Anderson didn't mind.
4 When he came to the stilc hc sat dowI
to dream bit. Somehow Bessie's part
ing words, together with the western
cleaning. had lighted up his twiligh'
honr amazingly.
His eyes wandered away to the grca
white farmhouse showing up through
the shadowy valley. Yes. She loved
music. Muricl did, and sang 50 ,wectly
Hark. Was that a little melody sht
used to sing coming up across the brown
deserted meadows? No: il was only ;
memory. and he remembered that HI
gray, cold twilight of Thanksgiving
Eve.
Bessie went slowly into the house aft
or she heard the wicket shut behind
her brother and knew that he was or
his way 10 the village. She did not re
turn to the sitting-room fire and tn.
book she had been reading. however
no, she went directly upstairs, took
box from her secretary and, going Owe
to the window in the cleaning, sa
down.
May bc Ashley is dead,' she said
sadly; may he the lndiaman went dowl
somewhere with all on board, as wa
rnmored; may be it did,
The ring CLEANED family in the dusk,
light as she put it on her finger. BE
true, Bessie; be true,' the bit of papel
said. Il shall always remember tina
my love is waiting for me with hear
as brave as my own.'
Bessie didn't read the crumpled not
tonight. There was no need; she kne,
every word by heart long ago. For 81.
long years they had lain, the note an
tho promise, waiting their vcrification
After few minutes thought Bessi
returned her treasures to their hiding
place, and, brushing away few tear
bravely and hopefully, went down-stair
to wait for John and the letters.
. Up the well-worn pathway leading tc
ward the valley home came a pair Q
light, flying feet; but John Anderson Iii
not hear, 50 he kept on dreaming.
BY and by a lady wanted to pass. ii
rose and stepped aside, hat in hand
For moment the woman paused on til
stile, and then, with glad cry of recoe
! milton, fluttered right into his arm.
|, 20 John!" and Muriel Trowbridg
buried her face on her lovers breast.
The long. desolate four years role
| away; the fact that she had been silcr
fell back, and nothing was remembers
but that she had come, his own, daint
Muriel.
'Muriel,' said he, rapturously; IN
long-lost love-"
Il have run away from guardy," 81
said, in q frightened tone, clinging ,