Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-08-03
I nut out nv hand, which 81

women and a hobbledehoy. Is itwiSe?"
'I'll answer that question when I tell
you about the goddess. AT present
don't know"
Mark and signed ourarticles of part
didn't like me; but, recalling my own
youthful antipathies to schoolmasters
and those in authority, I easily forgaye
him; and, besides, he had sister. The
Greek, Demetrius, exercised a most po-
tent influence upon the lad, an inAu-
ence, so far as could judge, for good.
Perhaps it was prejudice on my part.
tainly he evaded my questions.
why" said I, "has Mr.. Gerard TO-
cussed all his anxiety upon his son?
He has a daughter"
The Greek replied, slowly, weighing
his words:
"Alr. Gerard is not alarmed on Miss
Gerard's account"
Strange, he never even mentioned
her name to me-"
Demetrius bowed; his sphinx-likc
features betrayed neither surprise nor
annoyance. could not help admiring
the fellow. Never had met better
servant, nor one less servile. His dig
nifty was quite Impressive. After all,
I reflected, if he wished to emphasize
the difference between us, that was his
affair, and not mine. None the less his
COMPOUNDED reticence piqued me con-
sumedly.
Miss Nancy, however, consoled me.
A few days later the curiosity of the
witch bolted again.
She liked to sit upon the veranda over
looking the ocean. On her face was re-
fected the placidity of the waters; in
her heart, knew, was the restlessness
of the tides. Indeed, there was smack
of the salt sea about the girl, of the sea
in all it's moods and lenses. Her blood
ebbed and flowed beneath the freshest
skin; on her lips, with the glimmer of
teeth white as foam between their
curves, was the many-twinkling smile,
in her eyes an enchanting simmer.
One could swear that those same eyes
would flash tiercely in time of storm
and stress, and that the red lips, like
breakers, would curl angrily. hate a
tepid temperament.
"Nlr. Livingston"-ho softly the syl-
tables of my name dropped from her
mouth!-"which do you prefer, action
or inaction, peace or WARP"
"Peace, Miss Nancy, at any price. l
push my little go-cart along the lines
of least resistance"
81 thought men"-she emphasized
the word-"preferred war;"
Nowadays they leave that to wom-
en-
'But the love of fighting, OF adven-
ture, is natural to MANI"
ITO uncivilized man, yes"
Strip man." she cried, wit IA touch
of scorn, "of the rags we call manners.
take from him the Difference which he
pays to the opinion OF society, and
what do you find?"
sometimes, beast"
"Ah!" She drew in her breath with
pretty sigh.
Sometimes, a god.'
Does he teach small boys?' she
asked, demurely. Confess, now, Mr..
Livingston, you are something of n
fraud. You ought to be fghting-with
your pen, l mean; Staying monsters,
like Hercules; and instead you are
Talking to Omphale. There is time
for everything"
Tell ne"-she spoke coaNingly-
your true reason for coming here.
Don't attempt to deceive me. can dis
tinguish truth from falsehood."
What eyes you must have! How do
you do it?'
Its very simple. Truth once seen
is never forgotten; the poor dear, you
remember, weafs no clothes-that's why
she lives at :he bottom of Il well; but
falsehood is tricled out in the latest
fashion,
And you have met truth face to
face?"
Il live with my mother"
1t was prettily said, but it set me to
thinking; and thought, like falseh GOD,
has many costumes in her wardrobe.
Where did Miss Nancy learn to talk ?
Her mother, sweet, gentle soul, was no
converse tionalist; her father, con-
found him, was money -grabber. The
girl must be still in her teens; but her
shrewdness and wit amazed me.
NO man. observed, "incriminatcs
himself. The reason of my presence here
must remain fer the present at the
bottom of the we'll. But beware; have
found out your besetting SIM
She looked at me defanty.
II don't Believe it,
"a morbid love of excitement"
Wretch! You have laid year finger
upon tender spot Yes, am fond of
excitement. The deadly dullness of my
life till-tiil quite lately has driven me
nearly crazy. have the dramatic in
stinct strong in me. Heaven knows
where got it, but can't be rid OF it..
And my dramatic instinct tells me that
there is some mystery here, in this
peaceful house, where you would least
expect ii; and you, Mr.. Livingston, are
mixed up with this mystery. There,
it's ont at last"
Poor child, how pitieil her!
Miss Nancy" / said, earnestly, "the
wise old Greeks had word which we
translate wrongly bittcr-sweet. Ii
should be sweet-bitter, for the bitter
ness comes last and remains. If you
could realize how sweet and fragrant
your present life is, you would be thank
fully content. This is really fairyland,
if you only knew it, but the beauty OF
it will neyyr come home to Won till