The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-08-07

VIC Oy1Os
Mrs. Wayt bore . panied and heavy
heart to the nursery and her mending-
basket. She loved Hetty fondly, and
with what abundant reason no one
knew so we'll rs the heroic wife OF .
seldshly-eccentric man. She trusted
ter sisters sterling sense. and, in most
instances. was willing to abide by her
Judgment, but there were radical diff
ferences in their views upon GER
tain subjects- The very pains
Hctty took to avert open dis
cussion Of what lay like carking
blight upon the spirits OF both. caused
friction and rawness, and the feigncd
leyity with which she closed the door
upon the topic would have been insult
from any one else. She had no alter
native but to submit: no help but in
the Refuge Of all pure souls, tempted
almost rut Of measure by the sins and
perversities Of those dearest to them.
Upon the knees Of her heart she be-
sought wisdom and comfort. and-sweet
satire upon the pious duty Of self-ex-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for her intoler-
ance OF Others foibles!
Baby Annie was building block
houses upon the floor. and filling them
with dandclions Homer had brought
q small basketful up to her just before
Mrs. Wayt was summoned to her visitor,
and had helped the child erect castle
whine the mother was below. Upon
her entrance, he shuffled out Is sheep
ishly Us II she had detected him rifling
the pockets Of her husbands Sunday
clothes. They lay over chair by her
work table. While she prayed. her
fingers piled the needle upon ) ripped
lining and two loose buttons.
"Hee, mamma" entreated the little
one. "Ho many dandeyionsl Annie
make house for dee papa!" The
mother stopped to kiss her; tear
splashed upon the mass Of willing gold
en- disks packed into papa's treasure
chamber. AT the same age Hester had
prattled OF dee papa" and was his
faithful shadow wherever he would al
low her to follow. He had been too
busy Of late years and too distraught by
various anxieties to take much notice OF
the younger children, but he had made
. pet of little Hester. lie used to call
her .Lassie with glory crowned" as he
twincd and FURNISHED her sunny curls
around his fingers. Annie was loving
little darling, but neither, SO sprightly
nor So beautiful as her first-born ut the
same age. She worshfped her father.
and he was beginning to recognize and
H. pl.ased by her preference.
Poor Percy"
Papa hick?" asked the child, startled
by the ejaculation.
NO. my darling. Papa Is very we'll.
Mamma is only sorry! sorry! sorry!"
''norry! horny! horny! Mamma horny!
horny! horryi" While she crammed the
yellow flowers into the castle. the baby
made the words into song. catching in
tonation and emphasis IS they had es-
capped her mothers lips.
Dandelions dying were rs fair to her
as dandclions golden-crisp in the
meadow-grass. A drop Of blood red
from the heart wolld mean no more
than coral bead.
Al three O'Clock. Hester's chair was
drawn by Homer into the orchard. The
painter. his sister, his dog and his easel
were already in place. March had
sketched in the arbor. and indicated the
figures sufficiently to reveal the pur-
pose of the picture.
Blossom-time is short. but fortunate
~. the weather that week Was phenom-
enally equable for May. In eight days
the painting was finished. The reader
may havc noticed II 1t the academy
exhibition the next winter. where II
was catalogued as The Defence. .
Hetty's portrait and pose were admira-
bly, rendered, and the bound OF the big
st. Bernard was dercely spirited. Blu,
the wonder ct the group was the oc-
cupant Of the low wicker carriage.
My baby-daughter!" faltered Mrs.
Wayt. on first seeing 1t, and no more
words would come.
To herself and to March, later and
confidentially. Hetty spoke Of it as
"Hester glorified." At times. she was
almost afraid to look at it. 1t was the
face Of an infant. but an infant whose
soul had outleaped the limitations oi
years. The filmy gold Of her hair lay,
cloud-likc, about her. her perfectly.
nodded hands were clasped in the
fearless delight OF ignorance Is she
leaned forward to welcome the enemy
her custodian was ready to beat Oh. !,
was Hester in every Eneament
Even the baby knew 1t. But 1t was
Hester as her brothers and sisters would
never see her unless among the fadelesa
blossoms OF the world where crooked
things will be made straight.
March Gilchrist was not poetical ex.
cept with his brush. 1t was his tongue.
his song, his story. Through it, Hetty
Alling first learned to know him, yet
they were never strangers after that
earliest meeting In the orchard. She
was . capital sitter. and be fingered
over her portrait IS he dared not over
Testers for fear of wearying her.
While Hetty posed. and he painted. May
and Hester became warm friends. Miss
Gilchrist had her own sketch book. and
March improvised an easel for it which
was attached to the wheeled chair. In
desk-fashion. Under Mays tutelage,
Hester made study Of apple-blossoms,
and another Of plumy grasses which
the ovcrlooker praised with honest
warmth. and promised to keep forever
as souvenirs Of the ''pink-and-white
week" The robins were SO used to the
sight Of the social group that they ex-
changed tender condolences freely, over
head. as to summer plans and prospec-
tive birdlings. Thor's massive bulk
fattened. daily. the same area Of sunny
turf, and he may have had canine
views as to the folly OF working when
tho sun was warm and ting sod soitest.
The orchard, where every tree was Q
mighty bouquet, was m. impervious
screen between the party and the streets
and such windows as commanded the
slope.
ut Is paradise, with rows upon rows
Of shining. fluffy angels to keep out the
rest Of the worldl" said Hester, on the