Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-06-05

OhhSSAS 6uShs
Taking firmer grasp on the lapel,
Ronald jerked the captain back to
where he had stood. STAND still" he
Numbered. you are unfit to wear the
uniform Of any country. You'd make
a gallant soldier in time Of eed, would
MT your"
Without another word Wrinkle stood
still and allowed Ronald to sever from
his coat his buttons and shoulder straps.
"Now good morning, captain" was
the parting injunction, "if you ever
dare to drive over me again, shall SIM
ply strangle you"
AS If afraid another word might fur
ther enrage his antagonist, Wrinkle re-
treated towards the house, taking long,
swift strides.
Ronald stood for moment watching
the walk towards the house, then still
holding the buttons and shoulder
straps in his hands, he sank on rus
tic seat near the spring. His passion
had already spent itself, and strange
revulsion of feeling came over him.
He had drawn back his hand to
throw the buttons and shoulder-straps
into the high grass, when he heard a
clear, ringing voice behind him.
Don't throw them away" and Eve
lyn Hasbrooke, her big white apron
filled with maidcn-hair ferns and wild
flowers, emerged from behind thick
hedge.
Before her words had died out he
was on his feet, speechless with sur
prise.
II heard every word," she said, with
a sigh, land at first was almost
frightened to death. l was going to
interfere If he had-had accepted your
challenge, but when l saw that he did
not intend to fight you I remained
silent. I was an eavesdropper-1 con-
fess thnt-but simply had to listen.
1t was really terrible-your voice
your looks!"
He was overwhelmed with confu-
sion.
II feel as if could never be par
doned, Miss Hasbrooke," he managed
to say, after little pause. II am on
your grounds and Capt. Wrinkle is the
guest of your house,
She shrugged her shoulders and sat
down on the seat he had just left.
II am going to say what I really
would not say if 1t were not all set
tied between you, Mr.. Fanshaw," she
was putting the stems of her fern
leaves together in her left hand, land
that is that do not blame you
much"
"You do not really?"
For moment she gave him full
glance from her deep sympathetic
eyes.
IL did rot sleep wink last night,
Mr. Fanshaw. | was so angry with him
that l could not close my eyes. L
came near asking my father to send
him away. From mans standpoint
l presume you have done all that can
be done"
He sat down by her.
II never let my temper get the pest
of me, Miss IIasbrooke, without feel
ing dissatisfied with myself. l re-
Trained from striking him when l
found he would not fight, but what
finally did was just as bad" He was
looking at the buttons and shoulder
straps in his hands.
Evelynlaughcd softly.
HE may not have any more buttons
here in the country" she said, "and he
may have to discard his favorite suit
for awhile"
II did it in a spasm of uncontrol-
liable anger" was l;onald's defense.
"lle deserved more than that slight
humiliation" she smiled; "and yet you
must not try to conquer the divine in
clination you now have to pity him
1t shows you are truly noble-noble!"
Ronald blushcd to the roots of his
hair.
when he refused to fight me-" he
said, 81 ought to have left him. think
! could if his reasons for not fighting
had not been quite so cxasperating."
y am going to help you about the
buttons and the shoulder-straps," an
swered Evelyn. ~ have maid who
can hold her tongue. am going to
get her TO borrow the captains cont
from his room, and shall restore his
plumage."
He smiled, q new light in Ills eyes.
II really think | should like to have
you do 1t, If you will" said he.
He will wonder who did it," she
laughed, "and half hope he will sus-
pect me of knowing something about
it; he is tiresomc in all things. but he
has more to say about his courage
than anything else"
Just then the plantation bsll rang.
oh, you men are awful-awful!"
she went on, grown suddenly serious.
IF Capt. Winlile had been of differ
cnt type you would have been shoot
ing at each other at this moment"
she checked herself; there was tense
lcok about her lips. You would have
been in great trouble (for no man
can escape it who has killed another)
Then he might have taken your life"
He understood, and his heart beat
wildly.
IF he had been OF different type,
he would not have treated me as he
did. and | should not have been here
this morning"
She gathered up her ferns and aow-
ers and rose.
THAT is quite true" she rejoined,
with look towards the house. 81 must
be going now; good-by."
She took the buttons and sleeve or
namcntss from him, and put them into
her pocket, and then held out her
hand. "Good-by," she said again.
When Evelyn reached the house and