Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-10-04

and rest-that instead Of added care,
1t seemed lessened; while little fairy.
like figure fitted here and there and
everywhere, like burst Of sunshine.
House cleaning was over now; her
voice had lost Its harshness, her brow
its frown; and as Hope, who had rush
ed to her own room at the sound of
wheels, watched her from a window
open her motherly arms to welcome
her boy, saw her happy tear-dimmed
eyes, the girl wondered how she could
first have regarded the woman with
such dread.
Hopes own eyes did not seem SO big
now; faint peach bloom had stolen
into her cheeks; her figure had lost Its
angular lines in rounded curves, and
all day thanksgiving seemed to come
bubbling to her lips In song.
why, who's that, mother" ques-
toned the tall, handsome young man,
as he turned his laughing blue eyes out
through the open window and saw the
little figure among the flowers.
"She's a child father brought me
home In house cleaning. wasn't
overglad to see her, but think IN
miss her when she goes.''
An amused smile overspread the list
ener's face. He could appreciate that
welcome at SO inopportune a season
as house cleaning time.
Reuben wondered, as the days
heightened into weeks, why his home
coming had never been so pleasant be-
fore.
He, too, began to think he would
miss Hope when she went away.
Somehow the parlor. had lost its look
of stiffness, and even had an air of
habitation, with its fresh flowers in
every available receptacle.
well, guess we have done all we
can for Hope" said the farmer, one
day. Poor child! she's an orphan,
and will have to win her daily bread.
But she's got back some of her
strength, and the color has found its
why back to her face again; and you
must be tired of havin' the care Of
her"-this with a quizzical expression,
while he narrowly watched his wife's
face.
you'll do no such thing, Seth Gray!
just like man-when the girls begin.
ming to pick up, to whisk her of to the
hot town again! She's learned my
ways now, and she's not much in the
way. Besides, she's company for Reu.
benz
So 1t seemed, as out to the queer
rooted arbor they sat side by side, she
listening, with downcast eyes, and a
happy, fearful smile, while he told her
how different his home had seemed
since she had entered it, and how, in
solving the enigma, he had discovered
his love for her. =
But what will mother sayy' asked
the sweet voice-for, since Reuben
came, she had learned to say .smoth-
err" too. "She has such great and
wonderful dreams for your future, and
thinks that somewhere some princess.
clad in shining robes, is waiting for
you.''
y have found my princess, Hopper
he answered, placing his arm about
her. "She is here, and her soul is
clothed in such beauty-such glory
shines through its windows (your
eyes)-that she needs no outward EN-.
Enlistment! Only say you love me,
darling, and l have no fear but that
the mother who has ever smiled upon
my bOyish folly will not frown upon
the first wisdom of my manhood
So hand in hand, as the sun was
sinking in magnificence, they entered
the house together and he led the
shrinking girl to his mothers side.
We have come to ask your blessing
mother said Reuben, In his honest
manly tone. Hope Inns made me very
happy by promising to be my wife"
In mute bewllderment Mrs. Gray
looked at them both, a sense of her
own folly smiting her as with sharp
sword, and bringing with a crash all
her castles to the ground.
But she looked from the calm, reso-
lutte face Of her son to the sweet, fair
girl whose hand lay in his, and draw
Ing Hope down, she kissed the young
red lips, and uttered no word of her
disappointment.
Farmer Gray heard the news with
q shake Of the head and twinkle
Of the eyes, as much as to say he had
predicted 1t from the first.
But when the good doctor came lat
er to tell them that they had not, as
they had supposed given their son: a
dowerless bride, but that he, her guar
dian, represented snug little fortune
for her though, in his proud love and
young ambition, Reuben would almost
have wished 1t otherwise- the farm
er whispered, to his wife, blessings in
disguise sometimes come even in
house cleanin', my DEAR the last
frown left her still comely face, and
there is no one in the world SO dear to
her as Hope, her sons wife, and the
little children whose feet bring dust
or dirt, without reproach, upon the
still spotless floor.
Artillery Asaiast Lishtnlas.
The summer Of 1899 will be histori-
cal in Italy for Its tale Of victims to
lightning stroke. The unusually yio-