The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-07-30

day guess its that bonnet she had
from Dayton does it.
Bnt Grace knew that her friends ra.
diant looks were due TO a heart full o1
the sunshine of thankfnlncss, SO she de.
murely replied:
Mrs. Bc.ant always looks younger
than her years. but to-day she is partic.
ularly bright and pretty. Perhaps the
contrast Of this morning with the day
when last she sat in churcl. with Frank,
may have something 10 do with her
checrfulness.
ooh. yes. remember when she made
snch fool Of herself Well. p'r'aps you
are right. for. indeed. it il natural she
shosld feel good over her boys splendid
luck. II is not every widows son that
goes to the war who comes back n
Colonel
"Iuck. Franks luck. aunt;c, DO YOU
dare tn call the reward Of heroic deeds
luck
Yes. ] do. child. 20 rou needn't
snap my head Of. Look nj poor James
Lawson. who entered the army the
same day he did. and never rose beyond
the rank If private. But who is that
distinguished locking man shaking
hands with the Bcsantsa Just come by
train shouldn't wonder. breaking the
Sabbath. but he's a fine. handsome man
for all that. Hurry, up. Grace, and we II
get introduced
Int as the stranger joined the Besant
part Frank and his cousin fell back to
the Miss Brentwooas. leaving Mrs.
Bcsant to proceed to Walnut House with
their new companion.
who is your friend in the silk hat.
Frank?" Miss Ruth asked. in her abrupt
way. when they had shaken hands
Colonel Hopkins, Of Ours, Miss
Brentwood"
.'Oh. what do yen mean by Ours"
"Why. OF our regiment. 1t is a way
we have of speaking"
Are there two Colonies to a rcgi-
ment?"
NO: only one"
Then, You arc not a Colonel after
alla"
"Ies am. lie resigned in my favor
just before we were mustered out"
.Oh. he resigned. did he? What made
him so eager to sacrifice himself for
your interests"
IL am sure / do no not know" Frank
laughed, unless il was to encourage
merit"
'.But do. Young man: if he is the
person ! take him to be. and I'm not
I r.,
more than twenty years: but if he is,
know quite well why he dropped that
pretty plum into your mouth
"Would it be indisc:ect to ask why,
since you are SO well informcd?"
''Oh. ask your ma. P'r'aps she'll tell
you and p'r'aps she won't
And with that parting shot Miss
Ruth started up a path that led by a
near cut TO the parsonage and left the
young people to themselves.
Il am sorry aunt was 50 rude to you,
Frank" Grace began. in lame apology.
''Pshaw. my dear. don't let that
worry you. We all know and make al
lowanccs for Miss Ruth's ecccntricitics:
but do wish she wouldn't be SO con-
foundedly cnigmatical."
Then Kate Lester interposed.
IF you will accept me as the reader
of the riddle" she said with "A laugh.
that showed two rows of teeth like
pearls, Il should say that Miss Brent
wood means to insnuate that you found
favor in Colonel Hopkins eyes because
you were your mothers son."
And why not. They were friends of
long ago"
''Ah. why not'" and the young lady's
eyes CLEANED with mischief.
Meanwhile the Colonel and the widow
were vending their way towards Wal
nut House. side by side, utterly uncon-
scious Of the remarks they had excited.
II could not wait for your answer to
my letter. Mary" he was saying, when