The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-08-14
MR.. WHYT'S
WIFE's SISTER,
BY MARION HARLAND.
lcoPYRIoHT, 1901
CHAPTER Iy.-CoNT1yrEp.

CHAPTER Iv.--CoNTISuED.
Now that the strain OF the weeks
suspense and sittings is over, and the
result Of our joint labors is a pronounced
success, am little tired. The spring
is trifle crude as yet, too she sub
joined, speaking more glibly than
usual. by the time the sun reaches
the tops OF the trees. we begin to feel
the dew-fall. Hester. we must go in.'
March took the handle of the wheeled
chair from her. THAT is too heavy for
you on the thick grass. May. will you
abide by the stuff until come back?
On every other afternoon. Homer had
come down at five o'clock to roll the
carriage up the ascent. Hester Law
among the pillows. her eyes again shut,
and the reflection of the happy secret
upon her face. Hetty walked mutely
beside her. March liked the fine re-
serve that kept her silent and forbade
her to risk another encounter OF chances.
She was all-womanly; refined in every
instinct. Crushing the young grasses
with foot and wheel. and bowling under
the stopping branches, they made their
way to the gate in the parsonage-fence.
Homer shambled hurriedly down the
walk 10 meet them.
Nov" he stammered, laying hold
Of the propeller OF the chair-..l'd a
bin yere sooner, but he'd to go down
town on an arrant-"
That's all right said March. good
naturally. Il was happy to bring Miss
Wayt up the hill. Goodbye, Queen
Nab! May ! have the honor of taking
you to my home-studio to see the picture
when 1t is vanished and framed?'
She replied by gentle inclination Of
the head, and tho same joyous ghost OF
smile. She was like one lost in a
dream. SO deep ami delicious that he will
not move or speak for fear of awakening.
March raised his hat and stood aside
to let the carriage pass. As lletty would
have followed, his offered hand barred
the way.
Zone moment, pleasc." he said, in
grave simplicity. Il have to thank you
for some very happy hours. May l, also.
thank you for the hope of many more?
! should be sorry il our acquaintance
ship were to fall to the level of social
conventionality. We have always been
intimate with our pastors family. and
mean, unless forbidden, to remain true
to time-honored precedent"
II he had alarmed her just now, he
would prove that he was no love-smitten
boy, but purposeful man who under.
stood himself and was obedient to law
and order. IIetty gathered herself to.
gether to emulate his tranquility.
II especially want to thank you. on,
OF her hearing, for the great kindness
sou and your sister have showed to my
dear little invalid. She will never for
get 1t, nor shall |. 1t has been the hap
piest week OF her life. think. but 70,
your offer to lend her books, and Mis-,
Gilchrist's promise to keep on with he
painting lessons, that the end Of oul
sittings would be a serious affection t.
her. Please say this from me to Mis-.
Gilchrist, also: good evening"
He ran lightly back to May and "tht
stuff" He had not obtained permission
TO call, but neither was it refused. IL,
liked dignity in woman. As h
phrased it, 1T furred the peach ant
busted the plum" lie was entirely will
ing TO do all tho wooing.
May innocently applied the last toucl
TO his unruffied spirit in their famil,
Capitalization in the library tina
evening.
THAT Hetty Alling is one Of tn,
most delightful girls ] ever metz sh,
asservated, emphatically.
I'm what respect?" inquired her ju
dicial parent.
''She has Northumberland of tn,
best sort. She is intelligent, frank
spirited, and with these sterling quail
tiles. as gentle as saint with poor littl,
Hester who must be a great care to on,
so young as Hetty. l mean to do all
can to brighten the monotonous exls
tence the two girls must lead. From
all can gather without asking in.pertl
nent questions, they are thrown almos
entirely upon one another for entertain
ment and happiness. 1t ia an oadly-as
sorted household, taken as whole
Talking OF originality" observed
March, after meditativc puff or two
~
~ sad that such mind should bt
crowded into the body of dwarf. She
dotes upon books. II You will look up
dozen or SO that you think sheer Miss
Alling-would enjoy, will take then
over tomorrow.
His mothers attitude changed slight
~. although her face was unaltered
She seemed to hold her breath To listen
her whole inner being to quicken int
intensity of interest. March, stretched
luxnriously upon the rug, in his usua
post-prandial attitude, felt her sigh.
do tire you, mother, dcar?" hs
asked.
"Ncver, my boy"
Nor ever would, although. within tn,
hour, and with throe that tested he
reserves Of fortitude, she had surren
dered the first place in his heart. Tn,
blow was unexpected. The orchard
paintings and her children's interest il
them had seemed entirely professional
to her. March had sketched dozens O
girls, and fallen in love with none O
them. With all his warmth of heart
and ready sensibilities, he was not sus
ceptible to feminine charms. As boy
he became enamored of art too early t.
have other flames. Perhaps, with fatuit,
common to mothers, she reasoned that,
with such a home as his, he was no,
likely to be tempted by visions of do
mestic bliss under vine and fig.tree We,
to be planted. 1t is grievous problem
to the maternal intellect why men who
have the best mothers and sisters living
and eager to spoil them with much
serving, should be the earliest to marry
out of certainty into hazardous uncer.
tainty.
When the Judge had gone to a politi,
cal meeting, and May to entertain WIS.,
itOrs in the drawing-room. Mrs. Gil.
christ OWNED the purport of the i'm.
pending communication. Her fair hand
grew c.ammy in toying with the short