The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-05-21

too old for you-. but, don't know-she
doesn't look half her age-and, oh,
wouldn't it be nice, II :"
A roar of laughter from her h,ls band
interrupted the currcn. of her remarks
WELL he cried, If that isn't the
boldest flight Of feminine imagination |
ever listened to! Why, Mark, Mrs
Besant Is forty. ii she is q day, and
much too sensible woman TO cncour.
age a Irritation with man younger
than herself, even II you were epr,,
/ with her undeniable charms"
Now this comes Of visiting pair OF
spoons like you two" Henderson said,
with assumed regret u can not ask o
simple question about a neighbor, but
off you fly into the realms OF romance
and matrimony. See, didn't even ask
after the widow at ALL said the he
SAINTS, as plain as could speak. Now
do you think you can come down from
your stills long enough to tell me who
the Besants arc?'
But, Mark. there are no Besants
but Mrs. Bcsant," Mrs. Burrows
pleaded.
'She is widow with some means, :
her husband explained. "who lives 10
the best house in the village, and is de.
cidedly the person Of the place. as you
will find out before you have been here
very long. She has only one child. a
son, who Is now covering himself with
glory on the battle-ficlds."
YES" Henderson interrupted. II
spent the evening with him few nights
ago at Sedalia."
WHAT" Mrs. Burrows CALCULATED.
.'You have been all night in the house
and never told us this. Why, Mrs. Be-
SAINT will be wild to see you Get ready
to 60 with me at once. sir. Or shall
never be forgiven for having kept her
50 long from seeing you"
u object" ruthlcssly declared DR..
Burrows. Mark is an invalid and
wants rest" Then. seeing the pont on
hiswifc's pretty lips, headed: but II
propose an amendment to yonr propo-
sition. We've never attempted TO give
q party since we were married Now,
suppose you go to the Walnut House
and invite Mrs. sesant 10 tea tonight
You can then trot round to the parson-
age and ask Mr.. Brentwood and his
women-foik, and"
won't that he perfectly splendid"
Flossie Burrows cried. and as Mark la
zily accepted the plan it was forthwith
carried out.
But Mark Henderson was fated to
meet Mrs. Besant before the evenings
festivities, for in the early afternoon a
note came round from Walnut House
to say that that lady's niece had just
arrived from Chicago, whereupon the
accommodating officer was commits
stoned by his sister to call and induce
both ladies to honor them with their
presence.
you know didn't dare to say that
you were friend Of Franks this morn
ing, or we should have had the widow
down here long before this, interrupt
ing my immense preparations for sup
per-simply an army officer, my dear
boy-so while you're there you can
just let the flood-gates of your informa-
ton flow, or you'll be boring us to death
this evening with it ALL" the volatile
little lady suggested
'And this niece-do you kno,, any
thing about hero"
"Oh, | suppose she is lady who was
visiting Mrs. lsesant two years ago,
whom ] met at the Rrentwoods. when
first made llarry's acquaintance-no;
at all good looking and rather passe--
not a bit your style. my dear; but. as
she'll be up to her eyes unpacking, yor
may rely on having the fair widow al
to yourself"
Henderson was fine, handsome fei-
low, with a distinguished military bear.
ing. and had often been the cynosure Of
admiring eyes on the parade-ground
and in the drawing-room, but he had
never known what it was to be stared
at as he was by the gaping rnstics on
his way through the village. and well
they might feast their eyes or his gal |
liant figure; for Mcltonburg was one OF
those delightfully."- primitive villages,
where, If you had an egg for brcakf;.s., |
there was not an old maid in the place
who did not know which end yon had
broken it at before dinner-time, and
consequently Marks arrival had been
heralded from house to house
His doughty deeds had been carried
on the wings Of gossip from Preside to
fireside, and the patriotic editor of tho
Weekly Advertiser had primed them
with double-lcaded description of the
glorious cavalry charge at Springfield
I'm which the brother-in-law OF our
talented fellow citizen. DR.. Burrows"
took SO noble part. Nay, not half an
ha - A.
had come out with the announcement
in bold type that 1.-The hero OF the bat
tie Of Springfield is among us, visiting
Doctor and Mrs. Burrows II is pro-
posed to give him public reception be-
fore he goes back to gather fresh
laurels." a piece Of information whi~,
Marks sister rcligionsly kept out Of lHs
sight, for she felt sure if he saw il he
would be off to Dayton by the first
train. So the villagers stared their fill.
Women ran to their doors to gaze after
him as he passed. men gathered on the
sidewalks to discuss his martial bear.
ing. and more than once the little boys
got up feeble cheer, which was sup
pressed by their elders If he had only
entered store, how they would have
crowded in after him and solaced them.
selves in true rural fashion with
hearty hand-shakc, but he kept right
on up the main street till he reached
the garden gate Of the Walnut House,
where he was lost to the gaze of his nd
mirers
neat maid servant, all bushes and
CYCLES, received him. Yes, Mrs Besant
was at home--would he be pleased to
walk right in, and she would call her
mistress?