Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-10-04
BY MUTUAL CONSENT.

Mr. and Mrs Messenger were simple,
unaffected people, devoted to their
children and to Nancy, Mr.. Messengers
young stepsistcr.
One sunny afternoon in early sum-
mer Mrs Messenger sat at the open
bay window of the drawing-room read
ing. Tho door opened presently and
Nancy came in rather slowly. She
came over to the window and seated
herself in low basket chair with an
air of constraint.
II have letter from Jim," she said.
"Docs he say when he is colning?"
Eyes; he came by the same steam
ship as the letter. lie will be here to-
morrow, I suppose"
Nancy! really?" asked Mary, look
ing almost excited. "Arc you not de-
lightcd?'
'I-I-havc confession to make"
snid Nancy, nervously, looking out
over the sea. II thought loved Jim
when he went ont to India five years
ago, but was only seventeen then,
and did not realize what love meant
We had known each other all our lives,
and mistook our friendship for love.
II have felt it dimly for year or
two, but what made it all clear to me
was Jim's last letter, saying that he
was coming home. 1t filled me with
dismay and fear. felt that simply
could not meet him as his bctrothed
wife, so wrote last mail and asked
him to release me from my engage.
ment."
And what does he say?" Mary asked,
anxiously.
He is delighted" said Nancy,
Frightening. He says that his feel
ings have changed too
you never limited at any change be-
FORE" said Mary, little rcproach-
fully.
81 only knew it dimly or might
have done So" replied Nancy, gently.
And since wrote to him have been
silent to spare you any anxiety. My
letters have never been from the pres
cnt Nancy, but from the Nancy as
could remember her at seventeen. In
fact, have been writing down all the
time to the level Of his intelligence as
shown in his letters, and that level is
|
painfully low"
| "lle would be much more likely to
| object if he once saw you," said Mary,
frankly, "for these five years have
done wonders with you in every way"
"Oh, he's so boyish that he will think
me strong-ninded, and therefore dis
like me-" said Nancy, laughing. And
did send him my last photograph, you
know"
! ibid you send that hidcous thing?"
asked Mary in surprise.
"Well," confessed Nancy, rather re-
luctantly, II believe had some secret,
unconfesscd hope that he would offer
to break off the engagement if he once
saw that hideous caricaturc."
A day or two later Nancy started for
her usual afternoon walk along the
cliffs. Walking quickly along, she did
not hear footsteps behind her, and was
surprised at hearing herself suddenly
addressed. Looking up with startled
eyes, she found a young man gazing nj
her with a puzzled, intent expression
in his handsome face.
"Iou are Nancy, arc you not?" he
said, 6oubtfully, holding out his hand
/ "Why, Jim, is it really you?" asked
Nancy. regarding him with surprise
SLOW you have grown! When did you
come? and how did you find me?"
II came two days ago." he said, red
dening slightly in irritation at her frs
4 words, "but / called at the Ness Thu
afternoon and Mrs. Messenger told IN,
where l should find YOU"
I Let us go home now, and then yor
can see them all, she said, turning
back. You will hardly know the
children; they were such mites whcr
you left"
II certainly shall not, if they have
altered as much MS you have done.
scarcely knew you," he said. looking
down ut her with intent gray eyes
and inwardly comparing this bcauti
full, graceful girl with the gauch,
schoolgirl of five years since.
II am older" she said, her hear
sinking strangely. "IIe might disguise
the fact that lie finds me disappoint
ing failure" she thought, rather bit
tcrly.
"Of course we are no longer boy ant
girl" he said. "But hope we snail
always be friends, Nancy! We hav.
been that I'LL our lives, haven't wc?"
Eyes, let US be friends" she said
And, thinking that he was eager to i'm
press upon her that they were to b,
nothing more, she added: "And it wa.
very wise to break of that childish
engagement before you came home
wasn't it?''
"Y-ycs," he said, doubtfully
"Thosc boy and girl Engagements nevc
answer, do they? People develop s.
differently from what one would ex
pect. Judging from your letters,
should have thought you utterly differ
ent from what find you.'
"You are equally different from wha
should have expected you to be- sh
answered. But let us put up wit
each other as VIC are; we need not Sc
much of one another, you know"
They had just reached the gate lead
ihg into the garden Of the Ness as sh
said this, and unconsciously she pause
outside.
Jim took this, coupled with her las
words, as n hint that he should CO. an
> was more hurt than he cared to own.
: Good afternoon" he said, stiflly
raising his hat. Your suggestion is
!, brilliant one, and you need not fca
:, that shall trouble you with my pre-.
: ence more often than is necessary"
"Good-by," she said, turning in q
the open gate in order that he Shout
; not sec the rising tears.
''Good-by," he said, freezingly, thinl
ing her absolutely cruel in not shakin
hands.
i If Mrs. Messenger had been given I