The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-09-04
MR.. WHYT'S
WIFE'S SISTER.
BY MARION HARLAND.
COPYRIGHT, 1901
CHAPTER yI-CoSTrSrEp.


IcoPYRIGuT 1901
CHAPTER yL-CoNTINUED.
The main body OF the audience could
not withdraw their eyes from the mar
rator OF the telling anecdote Of the
drummer-boy OF Gettysburg. The sto-
ry was new to all there, although he
had assumed their familiarity with 1t.
It was graphic: it was pathetic to heart
break: 1t thrilled and glowed and cor
ruscated with self-devotion and patriot
ism; 1t was an inimitable illustration
OF the point just made by the orator
who was carried clear out of himself by
the theme. And not one person there
not even March Gilchrist, fierccly dis
trustful of the man and all his works
suspected that it was an original incl
dent, homegrown, homespun and home
woven. Write it not down as . sin
against the popular pastor Of the Fair
hill First Church that the Gettysburg
hero was twenty-four-year-Old child OF
the speakers brain. II the will of the
Press, and the foundry Of Tradition
can not turn out illustrations numerous
and pat enough to suit every subject
and time, private enterprise must supply
personal demand.
Il think young Gilchrist was i'll in
church to-day observed Mr.. Wayt to
his wife that afternoon, as she fed him
with the dainty repast he could not go
to the table to eat.
He lay on the settee in the wide, cool
ball, supported by linen covered cush-
ions. She had brought him, as . per-
suasive first course, a cup OF delicious
bouillon, ice-cold. and administered it
to him, spoonful by spoonful.
"He changed color, and seemed to be
in great pain for an Instant" he con-
tinued, after another sip. His mother
looked very uneasy, and. apparently, adj
yised him to go out. judged from his
fluctuations OF color that it was vertigo
-or severe pain in the head. He
would not leave until the services were
over. Ihave few more attentive hear
ers than March," Another sip. "If
should be tho means of bringing him into
the church, it would be happy day for
his pious mother. Should my headache
abate in the course OF an hour or so. /
will look in and inquire how he is. 1t
would only be courteous and neigh
borly."
In the adjoining dining-room, the
door of which the draught had opened q
few inches, the family-circle of the So
licitous pastor heard every word Of the
communication, although his accents
were subdued by pain.
SUPERINTENDENT Perry winked 1T
netty.
'.He won't find Mr.. March Gilchrist,"
he mouthed in fashion invented by
himself, to convey pert speeches only to
the person for whom they were invented.
He went to New York on the five
o'clock train. saw him. He said he
was going to dine with friend. heard
him. A man asked him. Another slice
of beef, please. Hetty! Rare, and bit
OF fat! Some gravy on my potatoes,
too.'
Hetty had Stunned the orchard since
the day Of the last sitting. Seated be-
hind the shutters OF her chamber
window, she had seen, almost every
day. Thor bound across the grass
in pursuit of figure partially
hidden by the lower branches. Since
March frequented the spot, it was no
resort for her. She had no time for
play, she told Hester, gently, when she
pleaded for a return to the pleasant
lounging and talk under green-apple
boughs." Homer could draw the car
rage down the garden-walk and through
the gate and leave the cripple there
with books and color-box, whenever she
wanted to go. Hester often brought
back stories of chats and readings and
painting-lessons with the brother or
sister sometimes with both. Occasion
ally. March came to the parsonage with
message from his sister to the effect that
she had taken Hester home with her for
the day or evening. and would return
her in good order. He was apt to insist
upon leaving the message with lefty,
If Mary Ann or one Of the children an
swered his ring. Mr.. Wayt's wife sis
ter would obey the summons in person,
but she did not invite the bearer in.
She ran down in her simple morning
gown, or almost rs plain afternoon
dress, without waiting to remove her
sewing-apron, heard what he had to
say gravely, and replied civilly, as might
servant or governess. And, day by
day, he marked the lessening round Of
cheek and chin, and the deepening OF
the plat between the brows. She could
not know that he Went away, each time
plying and loving her the more, and
furious at the cruelty Of the demands
upon her time and strength. She could
not have altered her behavior, unless to
grow more formal, had she OWNED all.
But for the orchard outings Hester
would have had but dull summer Of 1t.
As ID was, it was the happiest Of her life.
She actually gained flesh, and her
cheeks had the delicate flush of sweet
pea blossom. She mellowed and molli-
fed in the intercourse with the sound,
bright natures Of her new friends. Pros
pcrity was teaching her unselishness.-
Hctty had proof of this after the
Sunday dinner was eaten, and there still
remained long hour of SINFUL day
light.
u have a charming book which Miss
May lent me yesterday" she said, as her
custodian inquired what she should do
fouher entertainment. And now, thai
mamma has set the children to studying
their Sunday-seho. lessons for next
week. you ought to have breathing
spell, my poor dear. You are bleaching
too fast to please me. You can't plead