Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-25

derest and saddest recollections of my
young married life. 1t reminded me
Of a speech in favor of secession that
my husband made, just before the
war broke out. There seemed to be
ring in Mr.. Fanshaw's tones like my
husbands. 1t may have been only
my imagination, and the great dis
lance, but it drove me nearly wild
with the old pain. And last night
in thinking of Mr.. Fanshaw's danger,
it seemed to be my husband who was
in peril. Really, / did not sleep
wink. I went to the window hun
dred times. saw Mr.. Fanshaw re-
turning this morning, and then drew
my first easy breath. Oh, Evelyn!"
(Mrs. Lancaster was gazing into the
girls eyes, what is the matter with
both of us?"
Evelyn shook her head; her rich,
abundant hair glistening like threads
of FURNISHED gold in the sun.
81 know what's the matter with me-"
she said, with little laugh. Il hope
something else is wrong with YOU"
Mrs. Lancaster sighed. "When get
back from his house 1 may tell you
what am going for, but / shall not
now-no, shall not now"
Mrs. Lancaster had several times
taken short drives in the pony cart,
which was always at the disposal of
the guests of Carnleigh, and SO, when
she ordered it out at ten o'clock, no
one made any comment. AS she
drove up near the dilapidated domi-
cile of the Fanshaws she began to
shrink from her intentions. The place
certainly presented torn-down, for
bidding aspect. In front, not twenty
yards from the porch, was a decaying
rail fence and a gate that sagged to
the earth. The roof of the porch was
low and fiat, dank and moss-grown,
and on it lay some pieces of ragged
cast-off clothing on which two or three
cats lay sleeping in the sun. The two
sisters half lay, half sat on the porch,
and Mrs. Fanshaw stood in the front
doorway, her dull gaze on the cart
and its inmate. The dogs sprang
from under the house and ran bark
ing furiously to the gate, and Mrs.
Fanshaw, thinking that the lady had
stopped to ask some question about
the road, ss passers-by often did,
shambled down the steps and out to
the cart. She succeeded in driving the
dogs back, and then leaned over tho
gate expectantly.
II called to see Mr.. Ronald Fan
shaw" announced the visitor; sis he at
hcme2"
eyes, ma'am," answered Mrs. Fan
shaw; che was up in his room jest
now. Won't you light an come IMP"
The room into which the aristo-
cratic caller was ushered had worn
scrap of carpet from the door to the
big, sooty fireplace. There were on
the walls several warped chromos and
crudely enlarged crayon portraits of
Fanshaw and his wife, also photo
graphs of every member of the fam
lily except Ronald, who had never
cared to have his picture taken. Mrs.
Fanshaw gave the visitor u turkey
wing fan, and brought in some fresh
water. Mrs. Lancaster was slipping
it from the edge of the big cracked
tumbler when Ronald came down the
narrow creaking stairs and entered
the room.
"You may not know who I am"
began Mrs. Lancaster, as he stood
waiting for her to resume her chair
after she had risen and given him her
hand.
"You may rest assured, madam, that
everybody in this neighborhood knows
you, at least by sight. The poor and
needy have good cause for remember
ing you"
She started at the sound of his
voice and stared at him for fully
minute; her eyes were expanded in
surprise, and she seemed unable to re-
ply to his compliment. She put her
handkerchief to her quivering lips,
and when she finally spoke it was with
visible effort at self-control.
II hope you will pardon me-" she
faltered, "but your voice is so like
that Of dear one who was taken
from me long time agony hus-
band, who met tragic death dur
ing the war. Last night when I
heard you speaking in the distance 1
was reminded of him, and now-oh!
1t is very silly of me, but-you can't
imagine how much your voice re-
sembles his, and" (the speaker swal-
lowed something which seemed to
stick in her throaD 'then your hair,
and eyes, and hands remind me of his
$3.50 very much"
Ronald had flushed red, and seemed
at loss how to proceed.
II am sorry" he said, finally, "if any
features OF mine bring up sad recol-
lections"
81 am silly goose the visitor
said, with little laugh, which was not
quite her own. 81 hope you received
the note wrote you yesterday?"
Ronald bowed. at was the one thing
which sustained me-made me work
on to the end. almost lost hope yes
terday afternoon. There was not
man on my side, even the sheriff was
afraid to open his mouth. A dozen men
had threatened to kill me-"
His auditor was bending towards
him, feasting on his features with wide
open eyes and hands tightly clasped in
her lap.
81 was almost sorry 1 advised you
to try to save him, Mr.. Fanshaw, when
the climax was reached and realized
YOUR own peril; but now that you have
- szs--zrssz,sEA-A--s-,4=
triumphed am glad I wrote you-oh,
SO glad! For your work last night
has shown ma what noble man you
are, and"