Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-07-23
and the tlne bow window he had built

and the Tine bow window he had built |
in his dining-room.
"Dick, he's all for use and comfort,
and his WIFE" she reminded Mary with
vast significance, twill be more COM
Portable than most folks. She won't
have to carry water in from the well,
the way you do here; he's got it run
ming in the lSitchen!"
"There are worse things than carry
ing in the water from the WE'LL" Mary
said, decidedly; and Mrs. Hayes said to
herself, disappointedly: "There! well,
she is set Poor Dick, guess there amt
no chance for him."
CHAPTER III.
But Dick Wheeler did not so easily
resign the hope that Mary would &C.
cept him. In his slow, honest, deliber-
ate way, he went all over the situation
in his own mind. He knew Don's worth,
and he had felt, as had everybody who
had come in contact with him, the at
traction of the young fsherman's
sweet, kind, careless nature. He knew
all that with no jealousy or bitterness;
with only sober, kindly acceptance Of
the fact. He admitted the loyalty Of
Mary's heart, land l. like her all the
better" he said to himself stoutly. He
even realized, in an exact, reasoning
way, the force of Marys ideal Of Don,
land the longer she waits, the more
she'll care for him" he thought, sober
ly. he must not lose any time, that
was clear. So he tried dozen loving
articles; he ealled-not too often. He
carried fruit to Mrs. Hayes; he sent
books to Mary; and after awhile, to
put her at ease, he talked to her about
Don, and showed the affection which
he had always felt for him.
1t all seemed so natural to Mary that
she began to feel, as he meant that she
should. that he was friend.
Hes forgotten all that nonsense!"
she told herself, and grew to depend on
his friendship. She was quite unem-
barrassed when she CHANGED to be alone
with him; if he met her as she was
walking home from school, or if he
found her sitting alone on the beach,
her hands locked about her knees, her
eyes on the far line of the horizon, be-
hind which Don's sails had dimmed,
and dipped, and disappeared forever.
Another year passed in this way.
Dick never spoke, but he went on low
ing. When at last he tried to speak,
her perfect friendliness closed his lips.
I'D better get shipwrecked," he told
himself with little bitterness which
was foreign to his patient nature; eff
was dead, she'd think more of me-" He
did not give up hope, but he was dis
couraged. He hardly knew himself
how deeply so, for he was surprised to
find himself half sick, and by and by,
altogether shutdown with fever
his man said, when he came to bring a
pair of chickens to Mrs. Hayes door,
and explain that Mr.. Wheeler couldn't
come himself
"Poor boy!" cried Mrs. Hayes, anx-
iously; land not wife nor mother to
take care of him. Well, there, Mary,
it is too bad!" Mary looked sorry, and
the next day she went to inquire about
him.
"Well, he's worse" said the hired
man, laconically. Mary took the news
back to Don's mother, and was very 81
lent.
"'Bout time to be concerned" old
Mrs Hayes thought, severely, but that
was only for q moment. "Poor child, y
| she said to herself, ''shcs worried about
him!" There, now, Mary, cheer up
| she said aloud. 81 guess it amt nothin
very bad"
Il don't know" Mary answered, 81
| hope not. But I'm afraid it isl And
then, later in the evening, when they
had been talking of something else, she
said, suddenly: ''He hasn't soul tc
look after him. except that stupid
| Jacob"
Mrs. Hayes looked at her inquiringly
81 just wish,' said Mary, TREMENDOUSLY
"that you and could"
"Why, bless your heart" cried the
old woman, 1--WE Will! l know what
you're going to say-well go right ur
there tomorrow don't know why
didn't think of it first"
Good nursing is well enough in its
way, but when added to good nursing
the invalid hears voice that he loves
talking outside his door, to his little
old. kind nurse, or is told that "Mary
made that cruel" or watches, dream
lily, through feverish eyes, Mary NOV
| ing about his room, or even feels hel
touch upon his forehead-why, he can
not help get we'll. AT least that wa
what Dick Wheeler said, first to him
self, and afterwards, shyly and awk
wardly, when he was better and wa
sitting up, to Mary. But, poor fellow
Mary's blank look almost landed hin
back in his bed again. He began t.
realize, in slow, pathetic way, that i
she had been less kind he might hav,
had more hope. ''And Don dead sever
years." he told himself, as he sa
propped up with pillows in big, blacl
wooden rocking chair that had rose
painted on the head rest, and gay cal
leo sleeves tied over it's stiff arms.
1t was soft spring afternoons; HI
was much better; Mrs. Hayes ant
Mary had gone home, and only came il
for an hour or two each day to see tina
he was comfortable. 1t was Mrs
Hayes who had packed him snugly int,
the big chair in the south window, ant
put footstool under his feet, an.
drawn little table with his medicine
and a glass of water close to his side.
"Jacob'll help you back to bed, Dicky
as soon as you feel tired; now, mind
don't sit up a minute longer than yo,
feel like it! And I'll come in tomorrow
morning and bring some beef tea
Mary's great on making beef tea"
| When she went away Dick sat Their
in the sunshine, looking out Of the win