Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-03-02

Saturday night. There was time to run
over and see II the Wultons had not
something to send to their soldier boy
in Texas, and Lambert sent his trunl,
to the Morgan wharf while the Mobile
boat padded him away through the
Rigolets and out into Mississippi sound
and landed him at the familiar pier at
Pass Christian just at twilight Of a
lovely May evening. Ten minutes walk
along the shore brought him to an in
closure wherein the moonbeams were
beginning to play among the leaves Of
the magnolia and to throw huge black
shadow, that of the grove of live oaks,
over the veranda of an old, white
painted southern homestead powered in
vines and sArubbery at the end of the
broad shell pathway leading from the
gate. Somewhere among the foliage a
hooking bird was caroling to the rising
moon, and the music of soft, girlish
voices and subdued laughter came drift
ing out on the evening air. Lambert's
heart gave a quickened throb or two
as he recognized Kate Walton's I'M
mistakable tones. He had to traverse
the length of the moonlit walk. She,
with her unseen friend, was in shadow,
SO there was no possibility of trying the
effect of surprise.
well, whayuh'n the wide wuhld d
you come from?" was her nonchalant
greeting. "Ah supposed you were
dayd'n buried" (There is no such thing
as spelling that word as pronounced by
the rosiest, sauciest, and possibly sweet
est little mouth in creation. He could
not take his eyes from it, and she knew
it)-"Miss Awgden, this is Mr.. Lambert.
All think you've heard sister Esthuh
speak of him.-Ah suppose you want to
go right in to see huh. Anil call huh
down."
So Lambert made his bow to Miss
Ogden, who had her own womanly in
buttons rs to the extent of his eager
ness to see sister Esther, and who pres
emily declared she had to go home, and
went without much delay over the
leave-taking, in spite of Katcsie's vol
uble remonstrancc and well-feigned dis
appointment. Miss Walton, in fact,
hung on to her all the way to the gate
and made every proper and apparent
effort to detain her there; but wise
head had Miss Bette Ogden: she would
not delay. She had heard sister Esther
talk of Mr.. Lambert time and again
and had read in Katesie's significant
silence or simulated scorn whole vol.
ume of information. She went tripping
1irhf1x- pfrl, ~
watched her until she was out of sight
then came dawdling slowly back. She
we'll knew it would be unlike Esther te
come down inside of 20 minutes.
Lambert was seated in the big
wicker chair, amusing himself with E
kitten. He did not even look up wher
she finally returned.
Hasn't Esthuh come down yet? AL
told huh you wuh hyuh, ten minutes
ago."
No. Possibly she didn't understand
didn't hear her answer. Indeed,
could hardly hear you call"
That's because you were listening
to Bette Awgden." pause for repl,
or denial: none offcred.) "she doesn'
like Yankees any better'n dido"
'Then it was on my account she lef
SO suddenly. Where does she live? II
run and call her back and tell her
what shall l tell her?-that 1 onl,
wanted to say good-hy to Mrs. Scroggs p
"Iou haven't said howde-do yet"
81 haven't? How utterly stupid O
me! You see between Miss Ogden ant
the cat, you were SO engrossed that
deferred that ceremony until yo,
should have time to devote to me
Permit me-" And carefully depositinf
pussy on the chair. he quickly bent Low
and seized Miss Katcsic's hand which h,
raised toward his lips: Miss Walton,
am SO glad to see you again. This fort
night has seemed year."
indignantly she snatched her hant
away.
"Fawtnight! It's five weeks to-,la,
since you were hyuh." Then, sudden
ly conscious: mot that cay-uh."
lie started up in feigned nstonish
mcnt. Five weeks? You amaze me
and how sweet of you to keep count
| Something more than mere teasing
and merrimcnt now in the sparkle O
his eyes and the twitching about tn
corners of his handsome, sensitiy'
mouth.) Those five weeks have beer
| five years.
But she had sprung to the doorway
wrathful Mt being SO artfully trapped
"Ah didn't keep count. 1t was Mob
N All don't cay'uh how long you sta
away, or how soon you go. Esthnh
amt you ayvuh coming down? MI
Lambert says he's got to CO."
"You haven't told me how Mrs. Wa,
ton is, and Mr.. Scroggs, Miss Katesie
And how's Cousin Bart?"
cousin Bart's up at Quitman; 30
Walton; and Moh's bout the same
She'll nayvuh be any better SO long
Floyd's whuh he is--weah-ing Yar
kee jacket"
THAT is queer. isn't It? The quee,
est thing about it is that he's Just bee
made corporal in the very troop b
charged into at Selma. A classmate {
mine is second lieutenant In the sam
troop, and wrote me about it,"
"Floyd ought to be the lieutenant"
''Aliss Walton, you continually Sui
prise. and now you delight me! Thl
is really promising! A southern gil
says her brother ought to be Yanke
officer"
But she few at him from the dool
step, her eyes flashing fire. He seize
the kitten and held the strugglin
auadruped. paws foremost, betwse