The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-09


and signs. ..Thirty.-Well. suppose
IN old maid is useful in family
laugh. Il am not an old maid yet,
papa
..Noo'
His mild interrogative tone is certain
ly provoking: my own tone has some
thing. admit, of spinster-like sharp
ness as reply.
II feel quite as young as ! desire to
feel"
That is satisfactory. 1t is not every
one who at thirty still feels herself to
be an ornament in the matrimonial
market
turn away silently: but my silence
serves no purpose.
IAN ornament-but relocated To the
shelf" continues my stcp-father. in
musing tone, with contemplative
smile.
'Age has. at all events. its adyan-
tages, papa. Sarcasms at thirty fail to
touch one"
He Processes not TO hear me. AS far
as can see, my dear. Barnet seems to
leave you to grace that shelf.
nave NdTTltu tIt ,
ing TO distant window. l. too, profess
to be deaf to the words which will not
lhear.
Let me give you credit for one vir-
tue" the smooth voice continues. You
are patient. You have smiled Oh Barnet
for thirteen years and still are unwill-
ing to regard the task as hopeless
l have said that sarcasms no longer
have the power to hurt me: but the
boast is vain. In spite OF my thirty
years | turn away now With burning
cheeks, with childish anger and with
tears springing TO my eyes.
l take my work into the garden. The
garden is quiet. for the children are in
the school-room al their lessons and my
own sisters are all married and gone.
The lawn is closely shavcn, smooth as
silk; the box borders trim as ever: the
beds are guiltless of weed. | take
the path which nine years ago took
with Alice, and ! stop now as ! stopped
then at the little rustic summer-house
beside the pathway. lean in muslng.
pensiye mood against the framework of
the entrance and look absently before
me at the dancing branches. wet with
rain. at the moving patches Of light and
shadow that the branches cast upon the
path. at the lilies-of-the-valley beneath
the wall, at the bed where by and by the
sweet peas will blossom.
The sweet peas were biossoming on
that morning, nine years ago, when Ned
and l stood here together. My thoughts
travel slowly back across those nine
years, recall their history, and slowly
return to dwell upon the present-the
joys and sorrows of to-day.
"Many happy returns of the day to
YOU"
| start and turn my head. Round the
path behind the summer-ho Ned had
come suddenly upon me, he stands close
beside me, holds out his right hand and
smiles in calm, friendly, unembarrassed
fashion.
Thank YOU. You remember m,
birthday, then?"
"Yes. My memory is very good, you
know. 1t is part of my equipment as q
scientist"
Ned stands. as he stood nine year,
ago, in the doorway facing me. Mn,
years have aged him. lie is nearl,
forty; his thick hair is turning little
gray, his short bushy beard is sprinkled
with gray threads here and there, his
frank eyes seem to have receded further
beneath the grave, thoughtful brows
his figure has grown more square, more
set: the truth must be told, he lodk
middle-aged!
lie looks graveiy and quietly at me
His manner this morning is very differ
ent from his manner on that far-awa,
morning of nine years ago. Now Their,
is no suggestion of love-making: Iii
voice takes no tender modulations, hi
glance does not linger long with. sof
meaning on my face. ! am thirty; he i
approaching forty-we are grown pro
sale!
Prosaie?-are we? | can. not speal
for him: but can speak for myself
Nine years ago my heart never ached $
badly, fever beat SO quickly. rs it ache
and beats to-day. l stanf.Aa< a quie
pose, my hands loosely claspef'befol
me. and perhaps look as calm as he
but the calmness is surface deep-n
more.
We stand and chat quietly abou
many things. For the last few week
he has been from home: and he asks m
about the small events that have hap
pened in. his absence: and ask hin
about the visit he has paid. 80,
=! am not sorry to get back again. h
says: but he says it in that sober, ma,
ter-of-fact tone which admits of no.. fial
tering. personal interpretations IN
'You'are tired at last of travelling
Not of trave'ing-but of eountr
house visits" he replies, with gray
yet humorous smile. 'Yes. believe yo
are right" he admits, after momeE
smiling quickly but graveiy again, .
am tired of wandering"
The African explorer is settling
down into stayathome countr,
squire" answer.