Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-03-09

able bond Of sympathy had linked
Cenevieve Sweet and Kate Walton in
close companionship.
Here, too, were received and an.
swered letters increasing in frequency,
and II never-to-be-forgotten day,
from n far distant post, there suddenly
appeared a very proper young fellow
in the conventional travelling garb Of
the period; and presently Jennie Sweet
bethought herself that important
household matters had to be looked
after at the garrison, and Esther had
her marketing to do and must do it.
"Of cours Mr.. Lambert will dine and
take tea with us. 1--WE dined ut one
and tead at six-thirty in those days in
Texas.) And 80 there was no one left to
entertain him but Katesie-and the
cat; and even the cat was very much in
the way-in Lambert's way, that is. for
the girl had the %ungracious creature in
her arms, covering her with undesired
caresses, the instant after Esther's de-
parture. The porch was vine-clad,
shaded and inviting, but Katesie per-
versely insisted on the steps and the
hot morning sunshine; pussy loved the
warmth and sunshine. Lambert sought
10 stroke and caress sabina, since
sabina was held tight over a humping
little heart and close under rosy lips
and dimpled chin and soft, flushed
cheeks. His finger-tips thrilled at the
delicious proximity, and Sabina mag.
netically perceived it and Indignantly
set back her ears and Kissed, whereat
he pinched her ears and was promptly
hidden to go sit ovuh yawnduh + you
cahnt leave huh yuhs Alone" where.
upon he transferred his attention to
Sabina's flashing tail and precipitated
q row. Sabina clawed and struggled;
the outraged caudal bristled like a bot
tie washer; Katesie sought to soothe
with more hugs and kisses and those
emotional and passionate mouthings
which lavish on their feline
favorites. "Oh, I'm Cattums! -um
Kittums!-um Possums!-um Twee-
tums!" rapturously exclaimed Miss
Walton through her close pressed lips,
as she buried her nose in the fluffy fur:
nnd this was more than Lambert could
stand. With sudden quick decision he
lifted the %astonished Sabina from the
damsel's arms and dropped her on all
tours on the grass plot below. Then, as
quickly, he seized her mistress by her
empty hands.
"Katesie, do you suppose I've waited
all these weary months to see you
squandering kisses on a cat? Have you
no answer now, after all I've told you,
after my coming SO many hundred
milcs?"
Her hands were writing about in
his grasp, making every p~retense, and
no real effort, at getting away. "Ah
didn't tell you to come" she finally
pouted.
ITS no time for trifing, Katesie.
I've loved you dearly-ever SO long
ever since the time you leaned this bon
ny head upon my shoulder"
"Ah didn't! All nevuh did,"
"You did; and I've got five glossy
threads of your beautiful hair to prove
it."
1T was all the fault OF That hold
shoulder-strap. All hate it, and youth
hateful TO- reminding me of it'll" And
still her hands kept writhing in vain
impotent pretense at struggling. He
held them with scarce an effort.
"Well," said he, solemnly, "they will
never vex your soft cheek again,
| Enfacio have = &Lo- e.. AZ.
last time"
"Yo' havoc" and now the struggles
seemed gradually to cease, OF their con.
tinuance became purely mechanical,
and the big, deep gray eyes looked visit
fully up through their long, curving
lashes. "Whut-whut fob, Aid like to
know" She didn't quite say 1ahke."
well, several reasons have been set
before me. Mother is getting on in
years, and wishes I could be near her,
instead of half across the continent
away"
She was looking up at him very SOL
EMMY now.
"Ah nevuh could beah you in those
things-cits," she said at last.
"Brava! You are mastering army
%vernacular already, Katesie," he an-
swered, his eyes twinkling. "And do
you think you could bear me if I con-
tinued to wear the old shoulder-straps?
All, Katesie, it's too late. Here they
are" And, transferring unresisted one
snowy wrist to contact with it's fellow
in the grasp of his left hand. he drew
forth from an inner pocket In oblong
parcel in which lay the light-blue vel
vet straps, wound round and round
with silken threads of hair. II couldn't
bear to turn them over to anyone but
you," he solemnly said. "They are
mine no longer"
She was silent a moment. Then the
deep gray eyes were again uplifted,
studying with troubled gaze the SOL
dierly, sun-tanned young face.
"Ah'd much rather you were going
to keep on weahing them" she said.
"But I thought you hated the very
sight of them-and the uniform?"
"That was befo' Brothuh Floyd woh
It,"
He had repossessed himself of the
little hands by this time. "Then you
do like the mrmy blue a little? How I
wish I'd known this sooner!"
1.-THE army isn't SO bad, now that
some southern gentlemen are going
hack into it," she answered airily.
st would be still more attractive
with a certain southern girl I know in
1T"
"Ah don't see how that would do you
my good, = you're going to leave it"