Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-09-26
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( A R(j'ARECE OF
! THE Rl|L. :. :: ..=.-...
} REDDALL.
TENTH DAT.
Copyright, 1900, ly Frederic Redddu. Iuus-
trdtions1yI. W. Tdber.

small army of car cleaners having
been put to work on the Miranda and
the Pullman, they looked MS fresh as at
leaving New York when our friends
went aboard that Wednesday night.
With II sigh of relief Mrs. Hurst sank
into her favorite chair.
"It seems almost like home" she
said.
Draper and Ives busted themselves
looking to the comfort of the two girls,
and for the moment the mother and
chaperon was left alone.
"Well,' said Ives when Madge had
been fused over enough, I'VE are mi
nus one of our party, but we ought to
be thankful that it is no worse"
Small loss!" shifted Madge contemp-
tuously. 1--WE shall have perfectly
lovely time going back; no foes with
out, no fears Within as the old hymn
says"
Rather tame ending. don't you
think SOP" ventured Uncle John, look
Ing up from his labor of arranging n
cushion for Florence's feet.
eOu, oie Gun never leli Will VIII
happen" said Madge mischievously,
and then, catching the gaze of Chester
Ives, she blushed scarlet and made n
precipitate retreat into the ladies' bou-
,loir, whittier Florence followed her
after a few moments,
Chester wandered into his place of
solitary confinement, as he laughingly
dubbed the Pullman, where he would
now be alone save for the presence of
Alec and Henry, and thus left Mrs.
Hurst and her brother alone. John
Draper drew up chair beside her and
said:
Bless. l. don't intend to stand this
suspense any longer"
"Why, what do you mean. John"
She knew perfectly well what was be-
hind that declaration, but, womanlike,
could not forhear little catlike play
| ing with the masculine mouse, and her
big, worldly brother was just as timor-
Gus and nervous over the business in
view as the tiniest rodent that ever
nibbled cheese in q trap. The plunge
into matrimony, like cold bath on a
winters morning, seemed more repel-
lent the longer it was put off, and
where younger and less worthy man
like Reuben Filley would have dared
all long ago John Draper, with the
modesty of real and genuine merit, had
forborne to test his fate with Florence
Granniss, not because he did not love
her dearly and devotedly, but for fear
that she regarded him more in the light
of parent than as possible husband.
II mean with regard to Florence. he
replied to Mrs Hurst's innocuous que
ry. 81 am determined to know the
worst and that right soon."
"AIy dear John" she said, "my heart
has been set on this match for years
ever since Florence was of marriage
able age. She has never made conf
dant of me, but am certain that she
is heart free-that is, there is no other
attachment. Further than that 1t
would not be right for me to say ex-
cept this, that l believe you have only
to ask her to be your wife in order to
gain her consent"
A joyous light shone in Draper's eyes
as he made reply:
81 hope and pray your confidence
may not be misplaced" Then in {
more jocular tone he inquired:
care you prepared to carry two en-
gagged couples back with you to New
York? / think there Is mischief afoo
between Madge and young Ives"
do you think am blind?" replie'
Mrs. Hurst. II confess that ha,
hoped Madge would do better, but III
less all signs fail Mr. Ives will not wal
very long to find out what fate has il
store for him. l shall not interfere"
I'm glad to hear you say that
Bess," was the rejoinder. Next to m
own happiness l have that of Madg
and Chester at heart. know he love
her, and think she cares for him."
"Indeed!' she laughed. 81 must con
pliment you on your remarkable IL
sight into the love affairs of other
while you are SO blind to your own.
And with this parting shot Mrs. Hurs
rose to go and make some slight toilt
preparations for dinner, which wa
just then announced.
1t was a rather quiet little group thf
assembled once more around the coz
dining table in the Miranda that nigh
The interior of the car was positivel
brilliant. BY all analogies the gathe
ing should have been merry one, W
both Madge and Florence were unusl
ally quiet. Perhaps it was the natur,
relaxation after the unnatural excit,
ment of the past few days. Mrs. Hur.
saw and noted the signs of the time
and openly expressed her intention {
retiring early, saying, with meanin
glance at her brother:
I'VE shall feel better and brighter t,
morrow after we have become used I
the old routine again" So Draper an
Ives were left to their cigars and SON
desultory talk over Filley's villainy.
There is nothing to equal SCUM
beauty sleep for composing one
nerves and clearing away the owe
night cobwebs. The two girls wei
. positively blooming and bubbling owe
with life and gayety when they emer
ed from their boudoir at the tinkling
4 the breakfast bell next mornin
Madge was full of mischief, and eve
the usually staid and dignified Flo
ence caught the infection, and togetht
they alternately bantered and bullie
r Draper and Chester until Mrs. Hur
came to the rescue.
They fingered long after the mea
and in after years both couples locke
back with fond recollections to TIL,
! memorable morning. They were spec,
ing over the level Nebraska plains, ric
{ I with the lush green promises of tt
coming harvest. For miles the prair
farms spread out on either hand, do
ted with white homesteads and qui,
village stations, past which the trail
tore with ceaseless and steady energy
Breakfast ended, Mrs. Hurst foun
i, an excuse for leaving the saloon on tt
plea Of "tidylng up" the boudoir.
6 few minutes later Ives invited NIad1
to inspect the view from the rear doc
r of the Pullman. So John Draper an
Florence Granniss were left alone. I'll
moment for them had come!