Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-07-03

the cart with me; shall drive there;
lit is only mile
"That will never do" he drew back;
"your father"
She shrugged shoulder, and took
up the reins in pair of suddenly firm
hands.
"As if 1 could think of my father
when you are in such distress. 1 should
be ashamed of myself if lost one min
ute with you between now and"
But" he broke in, II have never felt
that 1 had the right to-even your
friendship-it would be unheard of, it
would-oh! you see it would be unman-
ly of me, at such time, particularly,
to allow young girl to compromise"
ut would be unmanly of you to re-
fuse to let me see you as long as pos
sible, when your calamity is killing me.
Oh. do come!'
Her melting eyes seemed to draw him
outside of himself. AS he took his seat
beside her sweet sense of her SYM
pathy took possession of him and
warmed him through and through. A
momentary feeling of elation bounded
and thumped in his breast as the little
bay pony started back along the road
at brisk trot. She was first to speak.
why have you never told me before
that you loved me?"
Because" he made answer, ~ have
hardly felt that l had the right to tell
myself SO. l have been fighting it ever,
since first saw you that day in the
meadow"
You are different from me, Ronald"
He read vast truth In her deep, despair
ing eyes. II have never for one instant
fought my love for you. have gloried
in its growth. I'd rather go to prison
with you than to a, palace with any
other man."
The road was.yery shady; large trees
grew on each side of it and their foliage
was interlaced overhead. He had a
strong inclination to clasp her in his
arms, but he did not give In to it; he told
himself that his bloodstained hands
should not pollute her being. Already
he was taking advantage of her In al
lowing her to drive with him when to
be seen with him at such time would
excite widespread comment. He made
no answer to what she had just said and
In looking in her face he saw that her
eyes were full OF tears.
What is the matter?" he asked.
Her breast heaved convulsively.
1T has occurred to me that am driv-
ing you to prison." she said, simply,
the last word ending in sob.
He would have comforted her if he
could, but there was nothing in his
mind to say. The awful realization was
stealing back upon him that in killing
sgd Hart he had blighted his whole flu
ture, covered the sun of his hopes with
human blood. They drove out into an
open space where cotton-feds
stretched out on one side. Behind them
now doomed the white facade of earn
leigh. A score of negroes were picking
cotton beyond the rail fence, but they
did not look up. Ronald was congratu-
lating himself on this, knowing that
the sheriff lived only n little further on,
but his eiation on this score was short
of life, for just then horseman APP
| peared in front of them. 1t was Capt.
Wrinkle, riding like an Englshman, ris-
Ing and falling in his stirrups. As his
trotting horse brought him swiftly
nearer he lifted his hat and bowed TO
Evelyn. Evidently he had recognized
| Ronald and he showed much surprise.
Looking back our hero saw that he had
refined his horse in ard was staring
after them in a bewildered fashion.
Evelyn gave her companion a. com
prehensiye glance. "Nevcr mind" she
said, hell tell everybody he knows
that he has seen us together, but you
and have other things TO think about.
Will my love console YOU at ail?'
More than anything in the world"
| We'll. remember" they are now in
| sight of the sheriff's house. five
roomod erection with porch over
which clambered a wealth of vines.
remember that shah be thinking of
you every minute"
J THANK you for that he said, and
added: II might as we'll get out here
and walk up TO The house,
| Her only answer MAS to whip up the
pony; Ecr face was pimchrd by pain rs
She drew up al the gate in from, of the
house. He got out.
Good by" he said.
She held ont her hand.
"Good-bA,' she echoed and as he took
her hand lie felt her quivcring fingers
tighten round his own. II am going to
pray for you night and day" she said.
And then she turned her pony and drove
slowly homeward. As he was entering
| The gate. he Eaw her stop and lool,
back; then she signnlrd him 10 come to
her. Obeying, Ire found her face we,
with tears.
rs there nothing can do for YOU ="
she questioned.
lie reflected, and then:
II you should happen 10 meet David
on your way bnck, please tel him what
| have done, and that | came TO The
sheriff"
~ wish it were something harder"
she said. pressing her handkerchief to
her twitchng lips. "Oh. il is so awful
there is so little to hope for-you see
you are so dcspondenl!"
lie could not deny this last charge;
her very words seemed to add weight
to his gloom. Lifting his hat, he
turned away.
There was an open passage between
the two front rooms of the sberiff's
house, and at a washtub, on little
back porch, battling stick In hand, he
saw Mrs. Ratcliff. She was about 30
years OF age. but might easily have
proved that she was a third older. II