The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-10-06
An Everyday Affair.".

Ing the mind of Hester Williams as she
stood before the open pantry window
one early September morning. Her
plump white arms were barred to the
elbows, and it was marvellous to be-
hold with what skill her dainty fingers
manipulated the yielding, spongy SUBJ
stance in the dish before her.
1t was noticeable, however, that oc.
c%asionally the soft pat Of her hand
upon the dough changed to a vicious
little dab, which betrayed the fact that
the generally serene state of her mind
was decidedly disturbed, while the
compressed lips and contracted fore
head indicated that she was reaching
some sort of conclusion of her problem.
whatever it might be.
u then she heard some one softly
Whlstling the strains of a popular mel
ody, and in the ext instant that "some
one" leaned his arms on the window
sill and said, Good morning, Miss Hes
ter" In a tone that was full Of some
thing stronger and deeper than mere
respect. 1t was almost reverential.
A swift CLEAN of pleasure and as
swift a wave of bright color flashed
over Testers face. Then, as if sud-
denly remembering something, she
rather coldly replied, Good morning,
Mr. Raymond"
He watched her silently for a mo-
ment, while an expression Of pain crept
into his eyes as he saw her struggle
against the pleading Of her heart and
understood that it was because he was
only n of the farmhands' and she
was the rich farmers daughter who
had so lately been graduated from col
lege.
Could this be the same girl who had
made him so happy the night before
sitting out on the porch with him in
the moonlight and talking with him Of
her ambition to add to her other &C.
complishments the art Of cooking. tell
ing gleefully that her father had
promised that on the day when she
could make and bake bread las good
as mothers" he would send her abroad
to cultivate her voice, which was the
crowning ambition Of her life? :
Then she had joyfully anticipated the
places Of note she would visit, the ia
NOUS people she would be likely to
meet and many other things until, no.
ticfng that he had grown quiet, she had
stopped to ask if he was Ill and he had
said simply, II was thinking how lone
ly 1t would be here when you had gone
abroad" i lssy l,so so,
She had remained silent for a mo-
ment and then had replied softly, "It
will seem good to know some one will
miss me-" But, as If fearing she had
said too much. she made some hasty
excuse for leaving him. but not until
he had touched her hand as she said
Good. night"
How could he know that she had
a gone to her room and struggled
most of the night with her love for
him and that it was not until morning
that she had fully determined, while at
her self imposed task of b~readmaking.
that love was not to be a factor in her
life If she was to become famous in
song, especially love for a poor man
and "a Farmland at that?
And he had not been able to sleep
because of the tumultuous hope in his
heart that at last he had found a true
woman to whom a true mans love was
a consideration not to be despised, and
he had planned happily as to the way
he would surprise her by disclosing the
fact that he owned houses and lands
n had money enough to supply the
most extrayagant wishes of her pretty
head. He thought of all this as he
stood at the window watching her and
could not fail to understand what the
determination of her face implied. In
q moment more he had resolved upon
a heroic test.
Il thought l would not go away
without saying goodby to you. Miss
Hester, as | have decided to start for
New York tonight and shall sail from
here for South America as soon as
my passage cal be arranged. So L
want to express my hope that all your
ambitions for the future may be full
filed. l shall expect some fine day to
read in the papers of your overwhelm-
Ing success and that the musical world
is at your feet"
She cast Il quick, appealing glance
at him, and then-yes, it was true-she
was holding out both her hands to him,
which he lost not a second in securing
In his own. regardless of the fact that
there We're generous patches Of flour
upon them, which became almost i'm
mediately transferred to his face as he
kissed the trembling little hands again
and again that now vainly struggled to
be freed.
Indeed there seemed imminent dan
ger of he young woman being lifted
bodily through the window by the rap
turous fellow, who declared thai he
would not release her until she had
promised to take him as her companion
wheE she went abroad, that it should
be their wedding trip and that 1t should
be soon.-Philadelphia Item.
A Coincidence.
A hawk had been troublesome to the
gamekeeperS on an English estate. and