The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-12-25

.bsLrd with his straightfaced SINGER.
ity; dc you know that think man
very laughable who il 50 terribly in
earnest You shall see his present
carelessly neglected IN some odd cor
ner and the place Of honor given to
Frank Rand's, yonder. DO you know,
he is positively jealous Of Frank? lin
tend to refuse him; 1t is always better
to refuse man at first, you know; he
appreciates one more afterwards. OF
course, intend to marry Walter event
ually; he is SO awfully rich and not
half bad-looking."
Grace, feeling indignant at such
sentiments and guilty at having over
heard them came forward, forming a
sorry contrast to the daintily -attired
butterflies OF fashion, and startled the
girls, who each gave frightened little
shrek as though an apparition had ap-
peared among them. Collecting herself
and commanding her voice as best
she could she explained her busi-
ness. while the wrathful beauty, irri-
tated at the intrusion. hastily tore the
bundle and shook the folds Of the skirt
SO that the light from the chandelier
shone remorselessly on the tell-tale
blood stain.
An ugly and malicious look crossed
the face of Ethel Winter. She fixed her
angry, cruel eyes on poor Grace. who
shrank with fear, and whose lips were
vainly endeavoring TO form words of ex-
planation.
"Wny have you dared to present your
self here at such an hour and on such
day?" came harshly from the mouth
that looked made only for kisses, land
why have you returned my work spoiled
utterly and absolutely spoiled? Mon
ey? Did any one ever hear of such in
science! No, indeed, not one penny;
rather do you owe me for my ruined
linen. And let this be the last time
that you apply to my maid for work.
Here, Adele. show this person down the
servants stairway"
Grace felt suffocated. She reached
the stairway somehow, and, staggering
forward, would have fallen had not the
prosperous-looking maid ito whom
Christmas was evidently gala day. SO
far as generous tips were concerned),
detained her with gentle hand. and,
with tear OF compassion in her eye.
thrust something into Grace's hand.
which, when she reached her humble
quarters. she found to be money.
That simple act of kindness melted
tho pent-up sorrows and emotions OF the
young girls heart and, throwing her
self across her couch, she wept as If her
heart would break.
Grace Tremaine was dreamer. All
day long, IS she sat and sewed, she
would weave strange fancies and almost
unconsciously form them into verse or
prose- On stray bits OF paper, on the
backs Of boxes, on the fly leaves Of old
books the singings Of her soul found
outlet as freely and as easily as a bird
trills its note simply because the music
is in his soul and must break forth.
When the story OF her grief had
passed. she threw open her low window
| and leaned far out into the sharp. frosty
!, air. The streets were ablaze with
| lights, distant music and happy voices
reached her ears, and she contrasted
with bitter feelings her own sad fate
with that Of the joyous circle assembled
in the magnificent residence from which
she had been SO harshly elected.
As she thought, she wrote: and when
she had finished her writing. by q sud-
den impulse. she signed her name.
Some strange fatality surely must have
guided her hand; for as her head fell
back, overcome by sleep, unconscious Of
the biting air, a gust Of wind snatched
/ the sheet from her loosened fingers,
and. passing it from one gale to an
other, waited it-who' knows whittier?
/ Almost at the time when Grace
Tremaines sorrows were forgotten in
sleep q young man was to be seen half
reeling down the steps Of brown
stone mansion on Fifth avenue. and the
| light from street-lamp revealed hand
some features. but pale and with a
dazed look, as though stunned by q
blow.
| "By Jove! Walter, old chap, you
look all broke up" exclaimed fault
lessly ly.attired young fellow, who ac-
costed him as he reached the sidewalk.
Il beg you to excuse me, Mr.. Rand.
l." and Walter Fletcher would have
passed him rudely. with bitterness at
his heart toward the man who had
70 bbed him of the woman he loved. had
not the other intercepted him.
''Isay. old chap, do you think it is
quite right to treat fellow like this?''
continued Frank Rand. with look oi
genuine compassion in his eyes, and .,
the same time extending his hand with
frank sincerity. 'You have been Civ.
ing me the cold shoulder for some time,
and know the reason why. You are
being played with by an arrant firt
and she has let you 60 this time, only