Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-12-24

1t was quite an accident that they met
thus after their intimacy at the seashore.
He did not know that she was going to
new home with her uncle in California.
She would not let him explain the past
his ranch--for the train was making 10
miles an hour! How he wished it would
slow up!
Hardly had the thought passed through
his mind, when there was jolt-a crunch
ing, grinding sensation, lurch-and then
suddenly stopping. No one who has been in
a wreck will ever forget it. The Pullman
tipped sdewise, and that was the end
Marvin was at Alice's side when it was
over. He took her arm, and, looking into
her white face, Gained her fears: st is
all right now-otf the track--no more dan.
ger"
He left her. to help the passengers in the
smoker who were imprisoned and some.
what injured, then returned.
He gathered her baggage, and, without
permission, told her to follow With the
remainder of tie passengers they took up
u Geld aud so:rawful tramp along the track
across the bleak praires to the little town,
three miles away, where lights twinkled a
friendly greeting.
Frank tried to be sociable ut was a
narrow escape he veptured
Yes" Nothing more. She would not
even turn her face toward his in the moon.
light. They trudged on in silence.
The town was glad to see them 1t gave
them the best it had, and none suffered
But its heart was not wholly in the work.
One ong-gaited citizen, evidently orig
inally from the south, explained it:
"9eh see, we s agoin' ter hev' the
Christmas doin's ternight at tn hall"
What? I'D forgot that it was Christmas
eve" broke in Marvin. Lets all go over.
The passengers from the Pullman car, find
ing that they could not continue their
journey until the following day, as well as
many of the others, agreed. Well bun
died up, they took their walk through the
chilly streets, where blew the bitter north
wind of the PLAIN.
The hall was nothing more than the
upper room over store. It was filled to
the asles, but the exercises had not yet
begun. The southernei, who was master of
ceremonies, tiptoed back to Marvin.
"We need two more to help i'll the dom s.
he whispered. Won't you uns Gomez"
Frank laughingly arose, and the dainty
Miss Reisen, having no other choice, fol-
lowed him.
Behind the curtain. what sight met
their gaze! a Christmas tree it was, to
be sure. There We're no evergrcens nearer
than the mountains, aud to make up for
the deficiency the plainsmen had secured
a dry cottonwood and woEud lis struggling
branches with green paper. The appear
ance would have been ludicrous had it not
been little pathetic.
Not much like the pines qf the beach
where we used to rest last summer" whis-
pered Frank to his companion.
"You and the otherI presume you
mean,' was the whitening response.
"Aice-Mss Reisen, what do You
mean" but the gaunt captain interrupted.
"You, young lady, I'd like you to be the
fairy. Our leadin' lady is sick, an you
look like her
Entering into the spirit of the occasion,
Miss Rescn accepted the task.
You'll have TO wear some wings, and
there will be little seeme, but nothin fer
you to do but look pretty--you don't need
no coachin', he added, gallantly.
Great admirer of yours" suggested
Frank, as the functionary moved away.
Alice did not reply.
The wings We're brought, and they
seemed almost large enough for the wearer
to soar with. She put on the costume and
danced two-step across the rude stage.
"Yeh mustn't do that, lady; this is fer
tn benefit OF tn churches, an tn folks
wouldn't like it, said the manager, with
grin.
Then came up one of the women of the
town who seemed to have part of the
infringement. She gave some instructions
as to what would happen, and Miss Reisen
listened intently. Another listened, but
she did not know it.
The programme OF the evening opened
with number of songs and recitations, to
which the passengers from the train gave
the most earnest attention and hearty APP
plause. Marvin seemed wonderfully at
home, Miss Reisen thought, and was call.
ing men by their first names as if he knew
them. He was behind the scenes a good
deal; too much, she thought also, and it
worried her, for he was the only one in all
the house that she counted on as friend
no, was he friend: She wished she knew
if Tie story Ler chum told her were false
or true.
Then came the time for the Christmas