Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-08-03

later) were innumerable faint lines,
crossing and recrossing, the symbols of
thousand cares, and representing
against her family debt of love which
nothing could eNtinguish. She wore,
I remember, dress cunningly fash
toned out of gray cloth the soft neutral
tint emphasized agreeably her per-
sonality, suggesting subtitle COM
promise between the sunshine and
shadow of her outward and inward
lives.
We exchanged dozen phrases, and
then the boy was summoned. To my
surprise he greeted me cavalierly, al
most rudely, and glowered when spoke
of our future relations.
II hate books" he said, frowning.
I laughed. Telemachus blushed,
seeming ridicule. The mother sighed.
cat your age" replied, II hated
books myself and got little good from
them"
He regarded NE attentively, and re-
turned his glance with interest.
what are you going to do with me,
Mr.. Livingstone"
THAT depends upon yourself. Tn
under contract to cultivate in you the
three m's-mind, muscles morals.
We will begin tomorrow with the mus
cles. You have, l see, capital legs, but
your arms"-I pinched his biceps-"are
still undeveloped. We must spar to-
gether, and buy horizontal bar"
His eye frightened.
"He is very delicate" said Mrs.
Gerard, "and so easily tired"
The boy WINGED. l liked him better
for the protest.
"Illsmake him as stout as bull-if,"
I'added, "he will sign articles of part
rership. We must work together"
II hope" said his mother, a few min
utes later, when the boy had left the
room, II hope, Mr.. Livingston, you will
be able to make man Of him.
"He doesn't like me. I'm handicapped
at the start"
He is hard to please and somew hat
spoiled. Ifear," she contin ued, smiling,
| that you will find us very dull people,"
As she spoke peal of laughter echoed
through the house, a silvery laugh, care
defying. l started and lifted my eye
brows.
"My daughter" said Mrs Gerard, a
faint blush dyeing her cheeks; "my
daughter Nancy"
A month passed. month containing
81 enchanting days,which distilled an
essence so subtitle, a perfume so sweet,
that no mortal may profanely analyze
it's elements; but my memory, like IN
empty phial OF altar OF Ipse, attssts it's
surprising fragrance. OF course
was In love. had looked into the glori-
GUS eyes of Nancy Gerard and knew
that my hour had come. Being wise
fool, l capitulated at once, an uncondis
tional surrender.
1t is always the unexpected which
battles our calculations. l had plunged,
us thought, into maelstrom OF hate;
1 found myself in the whirlpool Of love.
Miss Nancy graciously accepted my
homage and twanged my heart strings
con brio, evoking surprising ha rmonies
and discords. She had pretty trick of
manifesting at once the innocence of a
child and the knowledge of woman,
a combination which brought me to my
knees in spirit Of humility and adora-
ton. George Eliot. describing Catha-
rine Arrowpont, says that she was one
of those satisfactory crea lures whose
| intercourse has the charm OF discovery.
| gratefully borrow this sentence and
apply it to Nancy Gerard. The social
| instinct in her was amazingly mature.
/ Certain hours were devoted to music
and books, and the rest of the day to
the exercise of her nimble tongue. We
were thrown together from the begin
ming. OF course spent the greater por-
ton of my time with my pupil, and Mrs.
Gerard, prudent mother, kept her
daughter under her own eye; but after
dinner the dear lady most CONSIDERABLY
dozed, and then our tongues were
lcosened. My advent squared Nancys
curiosity into a gallop.
'Mother tells me you are an author
she said, on the evening OF the second
day.
81 write a little for the papers and
magazines"
"How delightful! Il seems such a
satisfactory way Of making an income
You jot down your ideas-I'm sure, Mr.
Livingston, you carry full cargo Of
idcas-and then you send them to an
editor. lie writes hattering letter
and incloses check
''Does he?'
Doesn't hc?"
mot always"
"Of course one can't always please
everyone, but sooner or later you get
the check; and it seems such an easy
way of making money. oh, don't ac-
cuse you of writing only for money.
You don't look as if you cared about the
Almighty Dollar. Art suppose, is
your god"
II have no particular god, Miss Ge-
rard, but have q goddess
| She laughed
Have you really a goddess?" she
asked, ina tone of the keenest interest,
"Really and truly?"
Really and truly."
''Tell me about her."
II will, some day."
slow nice of you to confde in me.
I'm SO glad to know it, because" She
blushed, rosy as aurora.
/ ga fellow-feeling?" suggested.
"Not at ALL How absurd! Well, II
you must know, because it will be SO
much pleasanter forme."
| 81 don't quite"
/ "Yes, you do, too"
'On my honor do not"