Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-09-24
THE STIRRING OF HARMON.
ny MAY D. HATCH.
I" Desc bones shall rise arginl
Desc bones shall rise arginl
You know I know
Dere bnnne qha1l-

"'Dcso bones shall rise arginl
Desc bones shall rise arginl
You know know
Desc bones shall
Why, honey, yose not gwine to sAule
in dat rig Tor shop"
Tho singer, who had been grooming
to herself over her work in tho back
porch, and turned her head at an APP
preaching step, dropped her hands
Imply, while look of amazcment
bordering on horror stole over her
placid black features
Certainly am, Peggy. Why not?
cannot ride comfortably in anything
else"
Peggy shook her head gloomily.
II dunno, Miss JESSIE" she said, II
dunno muffin OF dc styles mort, but I'd
feel mighty bad if Col. Prcston's Mis-
Imogen or Mis- Payson-Smith meets yo'
on de road lookin' like dat"
Nonsense, Peggy! l am perfectly
willing to meet the whole county ut
once; and 1t is not question of style
but q question of comfort, you must re-
member that"
She spoke indiffercntly, but she was
conscious of slight inward SILVER ut
the thought of thcsgcneral disapproval
her innovation of riding to the school
house on n bicycle might meet with, in
view of the fact that it had begun at
her very door.
She was trim, sweet-looking girl,
with pretty brown eyes, n fresh color
and soft, brown hair of sunniness
that was reflected in her eyes, and she
wore u modest darlk-blue frcclk that
fitted her slight figure we'll, reaching
just to her shoe-tops, tan leggings and
shoes, that would not show the dust OF
the road. and blue sailor hat to
| shield her face from the warm Septem-
Der sun.
She wheeled tho new bicycle, tho
! first, the only Que in Harmon, out into
the yard, nnd mounting it easily, she
was of like bird down the country
road, with the sunlight catching the
shining wheel, and Peggy watching
her anxiously and muttering renewed
hopes that she would not meet, above
all, the coloncl's family.
Jessie Tuthill was northern girl.
who for the year past had been en-
ployed by dozen of the old families
of Harmon, Va, to conduct small
school for their children. Before the
war Harmon had been gay spot,
noted tor its beautiful places and hos.
pitality, but since then it seemed to
have fallen asleep, awaiting some roy
al touch to awaken 1t again. Jessie
was Instantly connected with the Pay
son-Smiths one of these old families,
and SO with that recommendation and
letters from several distinguished
northerncrs, vouching for her capabil-
ity as a teacher, she had secured the
| position which the dozen families had
found some difficulty in agreeing upon
filing, and she had soon won the con-
tidence and love of the children and the
gratitude of their parents for her gen
tie influence upon them and for their
progress. Her mornings were devoted
to the younger scn.sars and the utter
Moons to tutoring class of haif q doz-
en- boys preparing for college. SIZE
had been homo north for July and Au-
gust and she had just returned. How
she had enjoyed those two months Of
freedom among her old friends in the
dear little home she had grown up in
on the Hudson. which, If it was small,
had such q big view Of river and misty
hills, and which she was SO loath tc
leave but that She would not stay ano
be q burden where there was not al
ways enough, and the position soutl
was very good one.
While she had been gone she had
tried one day to ride girl-eousin's bi-
cycle, and learned SO quickly and en-
joyed it SO thoroughly that her uncle
who would have done more for her II
the girls independence would have lie,
him, presented her with one for he,
own as parting gift; and now thi.
!. morning she was riding it for the first
time to the little schoolhouse, three
miles away from where She lived, find
ing it great relief from hurryina
along on foot us she had been obliged
to do all the year before, and yet, with
all the exhilaration Of the exercise il
tho fresh morning air, still drcading {
little the criticism this innovation
might meet with. For as Har
mon was less wea lthy than in the ole
!. time, IL was proportionately more for
NAL. and woe betide the individual
and especially an outsider, who dared
to do anything for which he or She
, could find no former shining ex
; ample.
The country road was hard ant
smooth, and, in spite of her fears, sh,
was beginning to be quito happy
when she heard the sound of carriag'
coming behind her. She glanced hur
riealy back. Peggy's worst fears wer'
F realized. 1t was the colonel's wife
both OF whose daughters, known q
"the Preston twins" attended tn
school. Jessie slowed up to let tn
, carriage pass; she could easily hnv
outstripped the numbering farm horse
drawing it, but she considered the mo
ment was not favorn BILE for the displa,
: of her racing powers, and sho smiled
CHEEKY good-morning, trying to appea
MS unconccrncd as possible, though he
wheel was wobbling horribly from he
nervousness, and it detracted from he
: sense of dignity.
In the bric1 moment of passing Mrs
Preston regarded her with astonish
\ ment and favored her with bow tina
j was blood-curdling in its frigidity
The whirling dust from the horse.
feet chokcd her for an instant. IN
then the carriage turned into anothe
road and she was alone once more i
the sweet Virginia wooded country
/. feeling the soft air grateful to he
burning cheeks
A number of the children were gath
cred about the door of the schoolhous