Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-04-26

fair-night-- an then we'll see.'
They ran away laughing, carrying
Alice with them, though she looked
back and evidently would have spoken.
But Margurth had turned away, and
was walking sadly homeward. So this
was what it all meant and unless
Alan was there before fair-night she
shuddered to think what her life
would be after that. until he should
come, with pointing fingers and cruel
sneers following her wherever she
went. And if he should never come!
| Her heart stood still with sudden fear.
you'll come to me, Alan, dearie.
dearic!' she half sobbed, under her
breath So intense was the pleading
in her voice that it seemed as though
he must hear and answer, were he at
the other side of the world. Involun-
tarily she put out her arms, seeing
nothing hearing nothing, in the an
guish of that sudden doubt. Sudden
| ly she ran against something, unseen
through her binding tears, and u harsh
voice exclaimed: What mean We,
| girl, rinnin' against peaceable folk in
such manner! Haze We no e. en- your
head? Gea hame to your guide aunt
an tell her DR.. Mackenzie says she's
neglectin' her duty. I'm hearin'
strange an wicked tales O. We,
Margurth.
1t was dusk when she reached the
little cottage. How long she had wan
dered in her crushing grief, she did
not know. The door stood open, and
as she crossed the threshold her foot
touched PROSTATE figure. 1t moaned
as she bent over it, and Margurth cried
in sudden horror, "Aunt, auntn'
By great exertiou she succeeded in
| getting her on the bed, and then she
threw her little shawl over her head
and started back to the village. The
| way had never been so long before, yet
| she had never gone so fast At last
| she stood before the house of the Eng
| lish doctor, who had recently come
there, and hurredly rang the bell. She
could not 90 to Dir. Mackenzie, who had
dosed her aunt with harmless pills for
years. The doctor was at home, and
| looked sharply at her as she made
known her errand.
..You are cold and tired, my GIRL"
he said, .'come in and rest
ma, ma, canna,'' she cried breath
| lessly Haste, guide mon, oh, make
haste she's like to deen' It seemed
to her almost as though she was in
some way to blame for her aunt's seiz-
ure.
The doctor shook his head when he
saw the patient. She might live a
month, he said, and she might live
only till morning. He gave Margurth
same medicine for her, and then went
away, promising to look in again the
next day.
One week, two weeks passed and
then the stern soul was forever at rest.
1t was not until after the funeral that
Margurth had time to think of herself
and her own future. The events OF
that afternoon had SO faded before the
tragedy that followed. that it was not
until now that she remembered how
near faii-night had come. Her mind
was in an agony OF hope and fear, be-
lief and forebodlng. Her days Were
full Of waking terrors, her nights, of
fear-some dreams The minister called
to advise with her as to her future, and
was willing enough to receive her into
his own family, her aunt having left
her all the little wealth accumulated
by years of toll, but Margurth seemed
scarcely to hear him. and only said,
"Wait wee, sir an lat me speir wi
myself afore l say 'ay' or ma.
II am fearful, Marrurth, that what
the evil tongues say hac some founda-
ton O. truth. | will return to YOU
when you are acquent wi your own
mind,n said the good man. half angrily,
as he took his leave. / shall send my
sister to be wi you, till you haze de-
cidit.''
Twas fair-day, fast sinking into night,
All day long knots of girls had gathered
among the gay booths or under the
trees at the edge of the grounds. dis
cussing some project which seemed to
cause mirth for all, and to which
one fair-haired girl cried 'shame!'-a