Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-04-03
A COLD WAVE.
By MARTHA s. P1LLspURY.


heat in the shadow of our little veran-
dab, where Gene sat flaming herself
after putting away lunch.
Mat, l am glad mother didn't come
down to Florida this winter" she said
to me through the open window. ~
don't believe such hot weather as this,
in February, would agree with her,
after spending 81 winters in Yer.
mont"
But it will be necessary for her to
come some time if we stay" replied;
land since father left his property in
vested here, we are obliged to stay,
even if we do not like it,
ooh, well, do like it, 1 suppose"
said Gene, rctlectively. "But should
like to see just one good old snow-driit
and hear slcigh-bells jingle once this
winter"
"Oh. you are born northcrner,
Gene. But for one, am glad poor
father had the resolution to leave that
rocky old Vermont f1rm," said 1.
"Ah, but think of the maple sirup we
would make up there this spring!"
cried Gene.
"But think of the 'culies,' tomatoes,
oranges and pineapplcs we shall have
here" exclaimed, mot to mention
Strawberries, elephants, stringbeans.
green peas, mangoes, new potatoes,
beets and corn! Thirty acres of them,
worth $4,000! More than we coul.l
grub from that old Vermont farm with
ten years Of hard work."
whats that about ten years of hard
work?' said Ruel, coming around
the corner with n phosphate bucket
on his arm, bringing CHASTITY odor OF
it with him. Eyes, tits hard work seed
ing and wedding such weather as this.
My, but :sn't it hot, though9" he
groaned, throwing himself on the floor
of the veranda.
II cannot work half IN hour without
telling wearied," he went on. II sup.
pose it's those Vermont winters thaw
ing out of my blood. But 1t is great
weather to make things grow! can
see those long rows of string-beans
breaking groundl Fact, girls! The
ground over those bean-heads is hop
ping all along the rows, like little
toads!
But Gene wants maple-sirup," said
|, mischievously.
'Oh, WE'LL" exclaimed Rucl, 1--WE can
send up 10 Vermont for Il couple OF
gallons-if she must have some"
Florida was new country to oil
three of us, for although my father had
bought a hundred acres here, and had
the cottage built and orange-groves
planted seven or eight years before,
we young people had not gone south
with him, and had now been there but
ten weeks. Busy weeks they had been,
seeding, "fertilizing" and preparing
our first crop of garden vegetables for
| shipment north.
| Our orange and grapefruit trees were
not yet bearing, and. in fact, had been
nipped hard by the December frost the
week before we came; but the weather
had been so warm after our arrival that
we found it difficult to believe that a
really cold night was possible in Flor
ida.
Yet even as we sat there tanning our.
selves negro, known as Dandy
Green, who works little patch" o.
his own in the pine woods, half a mile
beyond our place, came Gathering,
muleback. along the road that leads to
Citrus park. Seeing my brother on
the veranda, Dandy pulled up and
shouted:
"De's cole wabe comin'l Look out
fer yer cukes!"
Ruel laughed outright. It sounded
like a joke.
"Oh, Use a-tellin' you de troof, Cap'u
Rool!" Dandy cried. 'She's comm
fer sho'!"
bring on your cold wave," Ruel re
marked, laughing. "Just come out
into the field, girls. and see those bean.
heads poke up the dirt!" he continued
swinging to his feet. We all followed
him. but had scarcely turned the corner
when felt cool puff of wind from
the northwest.
"Ah, doesn't that feel refreshingq e.
Gene exclaimed.
Eyes: fetch on the cole wabe,'" sale
Ruei. and he stopped to take n goot
long breath. We then noticed that the
sky in the northwest had turned dull
dark color.
well. that's queer!" Ruel said, look
ing along the bean-rows. They've
stopped hopping. But don't tie rows
of whitish-green bean-heads look odd
just coming out of the ground? What
would they think of this in old Yer
mont for the 18th day of February
You must write mother about it, Mat.
| While we stood there for less thar
ten minutes. looking Mt the beans, the
sky darkened SO rapidly that the sun
shine faded out, and scattered drops OF
rain fell. Such cool puffs of vino
came that quite suddenly Gene tprnes
up the collar Of her thin shiTt:Waist:
You're NOT coldl" Ruel said.
:'No; but it is really great dea
cooler" she replied.
Gene and went back to the house
and in ten minutes more we were clos
ing the windows. The wind blew il
gusts, aud the whole sky had turne:
dark.
Ruel came in and PIT on his '.sweat
err" then wheeled out his bicycle.
I'm going up to the Park Station
he said to us.
The distance is three miles. and Ii,
was gone about 40 minutes. | SHOULD
think; but before he came bacl.
Gene and had lsindled fire and pu
on our wool dresses.
ibid you ever see such n wind ?
Ruel exclaimed. rs he opened the doc
on. tho west veranda. Here, Gene