The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-10

the hearts OF honest. struggling NOR
tails, and the faces of the pioneers she'd
the cloud Of fear and doubt that had
hung over them like dark mantle.
John Green was among the more in
dustrious and persevering OF all the
farmers in his section. lie began work
early, and every day he was in his field
blowing a. d planting. lie had double
incentive to work, for his family must
live and that debt on the farm must be
paid. He went at it cheerfully. and as
he trudged to and fro across the field in
the long burrows, singing blithely, no
one would have guessed what pangs OF
trouble had racked his soul all through
the long. tedious winter. lie was not
of brooding disposition, and even I'M
der the most trying circumstances he
could feel cheerful SO long as there was
ever so dim ray of light before him.
He had work to do now, and there was
prospect of good results, SO he felt
confident once more, and in the thought
of the bright future which his fancy
painted he lost sight of the hardships of
the present.
1T is a long lane, Mary" he some
times said, that has no turn. and be-
lievc in our case the turn is near at
hand We have had long siege of mis-
fortunes. but / think we have about
reached the end of the list. The pros
poets are fattering for an abundant
crop, and with the amount of stuff l
have in cultivation we only want a fair
yield to enable us to pay off the mort
gage and have plenty left to tide us
over the year. Well come out all right
yet. and within short time be COM
fortably fixed with good home and
plenty of everything to live On. Why.
what's little hard times, anyhow: 1t
don't amount to anything and is soon
over, and it don't hurt us any. but only
makes us appreciate our good fortunes
all the more when they do come. In
side Of two years we can look back on
the past few months and laugh over
our privations and wonder what it was
we fretted about. Well come out all
right"
And John went off to his work sing
ing as happy as king, and Mary
looked after him smilingly, equally as
confident as he.
Paul, too. applied himself to his work.
and as he plodded after the pillow he
dreamed Of the future. Of the time when
he should be q doctor and have n coy
little home with Louise for its mistress.
Ambition or love ought either to be suf
| ficient to urge a man on to his best en-
| deavors: but when they combine, as
| they did in Pauls case, there is no tell
ing what strength they will put into a
mans arm nor what determination into
| his heart.
Thus it was that among all the set
tiers on that great level plain there
were none that devoted themselves
more sedulously to work than John and
Paul, and as the season advanced and
the spring months gave place to
those of summer, there were no fields in
all the settlement that looked more
fiourishing or promising than theirs.
And each of these men, sanguine ma
tured as they were, counted the victory
won, and each in his way made his
plans for the future and constructed in
Vulnerable castles in the air.
Every Sunday now Paul came to
John Green's house, for it was distinct
| ly understood ell around that Paul and
Louise were to marry by and by,
though not a word relative to the mat
ter had passed between their parents.
Often the young people read from the
same book, as they sat on a bench out
side the house, and on such occasion
they seemed to have vast amount of
difficulty in making out the words. for
they brought their eyes close down to
the page, their faces almost touching,
and the words they sometimes pro-
uounced were not printed on the page
at all. But every person who has
courted knows how that is.
One day Paul and Louise went for a
stroll on the prairie. 1t was a clear,
calm Sabbath, such as summer Sab
baths usually are, and a misty haze
danced about near the green earth.
They walked on and on, mile after
mile, and at last coming to the road
that ran over toward Paradise Park,
they turned into that and went on to
the east.
About the LIST of September" Paul
was saying, Il shall be ready to 60
back to school. There will be year
of separation, and it will seem long,
but when it is passed will come back
and build UP home, and then we will
marry and settle down in it to live as
happy as can be-"
Louise gave little start, and after
casting hurried glance at Paul. looked
down and blushcd. Paul noticed her
manner, and thinking 1T due to embar-
rassInent went on:
| Il have not forgotten, Louise. what
| you told me your mother said, ard do
not ask you to promise me anything
not until the year is out. | am quite
satisfied without it, for | know that you
love rae, and it requires no words to re-
veal your heart to me. and no promise
to make me understand that you will be
my WIFE
Il Go love you, Paul" Louise said
with all the fervor of my nature. and |
will never love you less. You are SO
good and noble. But, Paul, you
What is it, Louise?" Paul asked.
II don't know" Louise replied
II suppose l am. foolish, Paul, but l
can't help it. | am SO common and in
significant, and you will be thrown
among SO many women who are beauti-
full and accomplished"
For q moment Paul was unable to
understand the girls words, but after a
time light began to break on his
mind, and with a light, cheerful laugh
he drew her closer to him and said;
And SO you think / will be SO
blinded and dazzled by the beauty and