Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-05-29

After all, marriage is not in itself O
serious crime"
ut is one that the best of u.s." said
Mrs. Rollers niece, "are liable to COM
nit"
81 wonder whether you have ever
thought of it?"
Mrs. Rollers niece put her hand to
the bunch of white flowers at her waist
belt.
II believe, Mr.. West" she said, good
humoredly, "that you are collecting
material for your next book. That is
the only reason why you ask"
II declare" said Andrew West, chat
that is not"
Mrs. Roller, her decision in regard to
NAL de mer having been taken in the
negative, came slowly between them.
MY DEAR" she said, severely, Ego to
once into the shade. You don't want
to be i'll, do you?"
II don't think do, aunt"
And she went dutifully to the side Of
the steamer in the shadow cast by the
funnel.
"That girl has something on her
mind" said Mrs. Roller, confidentially.
II can't find out exactly what it is, but
it's something. You might help me to
find out, Andrew"
II have no great experience in these
matters" said Andrew West, looking
OF the young lady.
"1t'shigh time you began, then" said
Mrs. Roller, encouragingly. do you
ever think of the old days that we
used to spend together as boy and girl
in bloomsbury, wonder?"
"Why, no." said Andrew, honestly;
"I'm afraid 1 don't. Is that Lowood
over there? All honeymoon parties,
aren't they, who go there?"
II think" said Mrs. Roller, looking
down at her brown shoes, "that if I
ever married again I would like to go
there. What do you say, Andrew"
Zone might do WORSE" he said, and
looked again at Mrs. Rollers niece.
She had taken letter from her pocket
and was reading it through attentively.
He suddenly thought of the letter to
his nephew. "By Jove!" he said.
He looked once again at Mrs. Rollers
niece.
"Will you excuse me?" he said to
Mrs. Roller. II want to write another
| letter."
He had just finished his note of con-
graduation lit inclosed check for
ESQ, which Andrew thought would be
a sensible wedding presently, when the
steamer bumped against tho pier at
Ambleside. At Ambleside the party
saw Wordsworth>s cottage and Cole
ridges grave, and everything that was
to be seen, and then returned.
This" said Andrew West, as he
turned out the gas in the bedroom that
night, "this is the first Gay of my life!"
Time passes SO quickly at Bowness
that what at Greenwich observatory is
counted as fortnight seems there only
about three minutes and half, and
when Andrew West found that London
was insistently claiming him he felt q
distinct sense of injury at being inter-
ferel with. a man who Is In love for
the first time in his life does not want
to be bothered with any other occupa-
ton.
II must Co." lie said, to Mrs. Rollers
niece. But l have something to say
to you first"
They went out on the lawn of the
hotel where they had first met and the
evening breeze came delightfully."- across
Windermere. His hand shook little
as it rested on her chair.
"Continuez," she said, goodhumor-
edly.
II want you to come back with me. "
She looked up with flush of delight.
"Do you mean that shall be so glad.
That means that you have found out
about me-"
YES" he Laid. 81 have discov-
cred"
A waiter came out with letter on a
salver to him and Andrew West took it.
MAY read it?" he asked. "lt Is
from my nephew"
"Why, of course"
IT want to talse you back to Lon
don," he said, CHANGING absently at the
letter, "and if you can reconcile your
self to the company Of one who is not
quite old and certainly not young, I
want you, dear"
He stopped suddenly. He read the
letter through to the end before he
spoke again.
II know what you want to say" cried
Mrs. Rollers riece, cheerfully. you
want to wish your nephew Arthur and
myself oil the happiness that is posi-
bic. knew quite well that if could
only make you like me you would not
be unreasonable with him. He said
that he was going to tell you the name
of his future wife, although you had
never asked for it, and-and we shall
love and respect our uncle very much
and if he is only half as happy as we
shall be, why"
Andrew West rose from his chair and
walked to the brink of the lawn, where
the waters of the lake were making
comical little rushes as though they
were learning how to be stormy waves
He braced himself upright, and. return.
ing, stopped and kissed her on the fore.
head.
"A1y dear young lady," he said, un.
steadily, God bless you both."-New
Budget.
Cooper produced his best tales
when q young man. He always be-
lieved his first, written when he was
about 20, was his best,