Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-11
XIX.

which the fields grew parchcd and dull
hued and the dust lay deep on the high
ways. The breeze, when it blew, was
from The land. but much of the time
there was IL calm, even more oppressive
than the heat-ladcn zephyrs. Against
such conditions the energies of but one
of us were proof. Mrs. Loring alone de
fed the heat and glare and dust, going
on with her preparations for the fetc
with undiminished energy, amid the
wondering comments of the rest, to
whom all unnecessary eXertion had be
come thing to be abhorred.
Goodness gracious! how she do keep
goin' SO beats me-" Mrs.Wcston confidcd
to me one afternoon, when she had
sought the comparative GOODNESS the
Office offered.
"She seems to thrive on high tempera-
turcs," said 1. "She's human sal.
amander."
well, let that be as it may" said Mrs.
Weston, who was not to be entrappeti
into definite statement on such a
doubtful point, ''she's u marvel, must
say. "Tain't like, now, as if she had to
work for a livin'. But that's jes' the
way the world seems to go. Them that
don't need gets; them that wants to
rest has to keep stirrin'. If twas her
niece was rushin' round, 'twould be all
natural, because she's got her livin' to
get sooner r later. If I was in her
place I'd be plannin' and savin' like a
good fellow"
"Why should she?" 1 demanded
Her aunt must be ut least well to dc,
and she's nearer to her than anybody
else"
ooh, come now, don't you know about
Mis- Loring's money!"
"No. Honestly, so far as 1 know
she is quite able to provide for her
niece. What do you mean?"
Mrs. Weston's face shone with the
Joy of telling a story new to her nearer
"Oh, it come straight to me-" said
she. Mis- Loring told Mis- Clark, and
got it right from her. Mis- Loring's
husband left her jes' q interest in his
estate, and when she dies it all goes
back to his folks. She gets the interest
every year, but she can't touch the prin
cipal. So Miss Gray can't get anything
from her, though, of course, she pays
her bills now.'
Perhaps Miss Gray las an income OF
her own" suggested.
Mis- Loring says not. Her pa was
| kinder shif'less, and didn't leave
her nothing. Mis- Loring's taken car,
of her ever since she was a little girl"
! sat deep in thought long after Mrs
Weston had gone back to her Household
duties. Did her news please me? 81
far as the girl was concerned, I wa,
heartily sorry to learn that her pros
] poets were SO uncertain; SO far as the
tidings affected me, 1 rejoiced. was
free to press my suit, to ask her hand
undeterred by the dread of misconcep
ton of my motives. At least one of the
obstacles had been removed from M,
| path.
When meditation had become ;
weariness-and when one is in love j,
requires n vast amount of brain-racl>
ing to produce this RESULT picked ur
my hat and left the house, greatly in
fiuenced by the hope that Miss Gray
might be tenanting some shaded noo
in the neighborhood. Somewhat to my
surprise, she was walking slowly down
the road.
We're going boating" she explained
when | overlook her. "It is so opprcs
sively hot on shore that both aunt and
| decided that it could be no worse Oh
the water. Then, too, there is chance
that we may find some breeze stirring
on the bay. Will you not join us?"
| with pleasure" said l. But how
does Mrs. Loring contrivc to spare the
time? She is supposed to be busy
day and night with the arrangements
for the fete, you know"
$50 she is" said the girl, with =
smile, "but when proposed that she
should take vacation for few hours
she saw the wisdom of the idea. She
will follow lis to the boat in few min.
utes. Really, think it was the allure.
ment of little trip on the water which,
won her over to leaving her designs
and programmes. She is devoted to
boating, you know; tits surprising that
she has resisted the temptation so often
lately. She has been out with me hard.
~ half dozen times; and Mr.. johnson
has had but one pupil at his sailing les.
sons"
And how have you improved them p
MY teacher is hattcring. But per
haps may be able to display my skill
in practical way, If only we get a
breeze this afternoon"
| Count on me to be severe critic
said !. "By the way, Miss Gray, do you
mind if combine business with pleas
ure? I have an errand to do at MIR
Lamar's, and If you would land me near
his house, and then pick me up again
should be your debtor forever"
She fell in with this plan, ind turned
back to the house to secure volume
which Lamar had asked me to lend him
1t was small textbook on histology,
remember, though why he should have
| desired to get s1natterlng of that
branch Inever learned. When reached
the boat Mrs. Loripg was enthroned in
the stern sheets, while her niece was
perched on the narrow seat in the bow
The dir was sitting hot on the sheltered
waters of the creek, and the sweat
gathered on my face as busted myself
with the oars.
Ugh! this is like the tue of fur
nace," ! protested, ccaslng rowing for
q moment to wipe my forehead. ~
envy you ladies your parasols and cool
attire"
"Ah, but woman's dress is SO illogical,