Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-12-29
while taking a copy to be USED with

while taking copy to be USED with
Atherton at Russell.
Once more he alighted at the familiar
old STATEN and made his way to the
cottage that was now Grace's home.
All the brothers. share in his fathers
little estate he had decided to her. It
was after sunset, and the soft hush of
twilight had fallen Oh the beautiful
valley. Even the drowsy hum Of insects
had died away, and only by the mellow
tolllng of the distant church bell and
the soothing plash of the river sweeping
over its rocky bed was the silence bro
ken. The townsfolk seemed mainly
gathered at the depot across the rapid
stream, for the broad, shaded streets,
soft and dusty, lay unwheeled, untrod-
den, before him. Over on the play
ground a knot of children had gathered
III absorbed attention about some elder,
for the glad young voices were hushed.
The long, shady walk before him was
deserted. The silver shield of the grow
ing moon was already cleaning high
aloft. The stars began to twinkle in the
eastward heaven. The low rumble OF
some faraway freight train was borne
for a moment on the breathless aic, then
all again was peace and silence. Wrap
ped i'll thought Maynard walked slowly
toward the outskirts of the village, see
ing no one whom he knew since cross
ing the old bridge at the Mohawk;
turned mechanically to the west as he
reached a cross street as deeply shaded
as that by which he came, and there
something sprang up in his heart that
gave him sudden feeling of hesitation
if not embarrassment This was the
street on which stood Gertrude Bonner
home. lowered among rose and lilac
bushes and pretty trees, it lay only
few rods beyond that little rise in front
of him. That light, twinkIing even now
through the foliage, must be in an up
per window close under the rooftree.
For an instant he wished he had taken
the other side of the street, then scorne>
the thought as utterly unworthy Why
should he shrink from meeting her?
Briskly now he strobe on, his head
erect. II, as often III the old furious
and graduation leave days, she should
be at the gate or seated Oh the piazza
watching for his coming, he would greet
her cordially, kindly as ever. He reach
ed the crest of the little rise He could
now see the dim reach of the path down
along the westward slope, bordered by
shade trees and shrubbery, and there,
right at the gate, still some hundred feet
away, yet distinctly visible-there was
the same pretty, slender form he re-
membered so we'll, clad in its simple
white gown. Doubtless there would be
the same little knot of ribbon at the
throat, the same bright color in the
rounded cheeks the same joyous smile
about the rosy lips and shining eyes,
the same frank welcome of the plump
little hand. He had wired Grace of his
coming; so, just as of old, here was
Gertrude on the lookout. Yet, although
his quick, elastic footsteps brought him
every instant nearer and by this time
should be audible, she did not stir, she
did not look toward him. She was not
on watch for him at all, for her head
was dropping, her GEES downcast, her
back was toward him, and all her
thoughts were riveted on-another man.
Yes, there at the gate on which as
children they had swung together, Ron
aid and Gertrude-there, talking in low,
rapturous tones-was youth whom
Maynard had never seen before, yet rec
ognized at once as the new young man
who i'll March had come to teach the
village school, to whose humble salary
he had already pledged himself to sub
scribe, and that the master had been
teaching to good effect and something
far more sweet and thrilling than gram
mar and rhetoric was apparent at
glance. y black coat sleeve slid about
the slender white waist when Maynard
was not ten yards away, and then, all
bushes and confusion, the pair started
at his CHEEKY salutation.
Why Gertrude, I'm just in time to
tender congratulations which 1 do with
all my heart. Mr.. Grove" said he, cor
daily extending his hand.
Itwas taken somewhat gingerly The
happy man could not at once frame his
reply. Gertrude rose to the occasion.
Well, wa've been wondering when
you would-condescend Ronald, and
p
"Condescend, Gcrtie? Why, this is
the first I knew of it. -
"It is? Why, wrote to Grace weeks
ago while she was with you and told
her to tell you first thing
And Grace had got that letter, for he