Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-09-17


way had also been walled up.
Sarah was so greatly impressed by
this new discovery that her excited ex-
carnations broke out anew, and she
again began to plead with me to leave
the place.
Again I sought to quiet her fears by
laughing ut her, although it did seem
trifle strange that my agent should
have walled up the doorways. Twas sat-
isficd he had had it done, and won
dered what his reasons could have been.
Perhaps, after all, Mrs. Snyder was
right in affirming that there were mys-
teries about the old house. Perhaps
this walled-up cellar was the seat of
supernatural demonstrations, and my
agent had sealed it up for that reason.
81 do not intend to lose any sleep
over it," 1 said, lightly. "Sonntag must
have had good reasons for doing this,
and can easily find out what they We're
by driving over and seeing him. Iwant
to have talk with him, anyhow"
Here the rumble of wheels reached
my ear. AS glanced down the road
way and saw the approaching turnout,
why did my heart beat faster and a
dimness cloud my sight?
Mrs. Snyder had also glanced in that
! direction. well, now look, Mr.. Mel"
she began, excitedly. "You can see
yourself how dey look. Dey is coming.
Dat is de Morleys."
My heart had given me the informa-
ton before the Widows tongue.
road-wagon which was being whirled
toward us at rapid rate by the spir-
tied horses. could not be mistaken in
the graceful poise of the head and the
general outlines of beauty about the
young lady, nor in the grave dignity of
the man.
The carriage swept along. When
nearly opposite us, the young woman
evidently caught sight of the group
standing back from the roadway, for
she leaned forward and sent a glance
past her father toward us. I saw, even
though my sight was dimmed by emo
ton, her face turn pale and her eyes ex-
pand. She gave no other sign of rec
! ognition, however, and the carriage
swept by.
And this was all. After year of sep
aration, n year of longing and home
sickness, was greeted with stare by
| the girl who had declared she would al
ways trust and believe in me.
I watched the wagon until a bend in
the road hid it from view, and then still
looked toward the spot where 1t had
disappeared.
| A touch on my arm recalled my
thoughts. and I glanced around into
! the solicitous face of my old nurse.
II guess de young woman is putty"
said Mrs. Snyder. Zach, and you dink
SO, too, Mr.. Nell"
eyes, she is beautiful, very beauti-
full" murmured, more to myself than
for answer to the widows clumsy at
tempt at pleasantly.
Sarah's watchful old eyes and the
! promptings of her affection for me dis
cerned something more in the fixed
gaze had sent after the wagon than
suddenly awakened admiration.
what is id, Mel? Doyou know her?"
the good soul asked, anxiously.
I'll tell you some time" answered.
| Yes, yes; beautiful indeed was Flor
ence, lovelier than ever, and good and
true-well, I did not seem to feel SO sure
of her faith. She had passed me by
without extending a salutation. !
could not blame her for not recognizing
i me, after the resolve had made, butt
cut me to the heart, nevertheless.
Tho remainder of the forenoon was
spent in going through the barns and
over the farm.
| A small structure, twenty or thirty
feet from the house, had been used to
do the cooking, baking, churning,
washing and ironing in. We could not
gain access to the cooking house, as it
had been called, the door being locked.
There had been no care taken of this
place, and Icould hardly see through the
dust and dirt which obscured the win
dows, when I attempted to look inside.
"There is nothing to be seen in there,
anyhow" I said. But I remembered
the pile of cakes and the loaves of bread
which had issued from the old Dutch
oven built in one side Of the cook
good things now!
After q midday dinner, harnessed
the horse in the buggy. According to
my instructions, my agent had provided
me with single rig, and now pro-
posed to use it to drive Sarah home and
then keep on down the road, past Sid
ington Station, across the river to
Twineburgh, in which place Mr.. Som
tag, my lawyer, resided.
I had never SaaN Mr. Gnnrfop NV
former agent had died nearly a year
ago, and six months after his death
Sonntag had bought the law business
from the heirs.
had been advised Of this fact by a
circular letter from the present incum-
bent, giving references as to ability,
honesty, etc. Mr.. Sonntag had also re-
quested me to allow him to assume
management of my small estate. AS
Mr.. Perry, the president of the bank,
was down among the names of refer
ence, was most willing to grant Mr..
Sonntag's request, and wrote him to
that effect.
On the way to Sarah's house I'M
bosomed myself to the good old SOUL
told her of my hopes regarding Flor
encc, and my fears that those hopes
would never be realized.
Zach, yes" answered Sarah, "you will
marry her some day. Just see how
you've been brought both to de same
place togedder. And know she lofes
YOU"
You are more certain than am OF
that" answered. somewhat gloomily.