Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-04-05

swer to the last farewell shout and waving
of hats.
AS the fog cleared the warm Aprh sun
shine beat down on deck, causing passengers
thr heea II To def al sAtIa apparel, put agnes
why could not she have finished her visit,
and had, what dear old brother Jack Gull ed.
cher fling" 1t was hateful of her little in
valid brother Joe to imagine he was going
to die, and must have her with him; quite
unnecessary in mother to write urging her
return, and objectionable in father to tele-
graph: "Start for home at once.
Such time as she had had calming Jack
and Nellie, who were raging at Joe for spoil
ing the Easter gayeties; and then the rush
to pack up, and write notes of apology,
pathetic and incoherent, to the friends who
had prepared round of pleasures for her.
She had not seen Mr.. Barlow alone mo-
ment, and now she would probably never
see him again. Well, possibly it would be
better. If he did not care for her, it were
better far he should not know that his face
was ever in her thoughts, and that she loved
ham so tenderly.
Not that he had ever given her cause for
this by one spoken word. Only he-he
looked love. His voice had the tone, and his
eyes-well, his eyes were always telling her
more than the words of any man she had
ever met. They had been picnicking one
day over at the celebrated "Duelling Oaks
Ia famous place in the olden time, where
many pair of gailants had spilled their
hot young blood to win fair maids tavor)'
She had just been introduced to Kate Her
bert (the pretty girl who might even now
be coquetting with her Phil--with MIR. Bar
low, when that young miss turned halt to
ward Philip and said to Jack:
"And is this gentleman your brother, MI.
Ducharme|
mot exactly" laughed Jack, and Philip
said:
'Not yet," at which Agnes had been
vexed and offended, while now
A great numbering figure waddled up,
clothed in gay calico, with white apron and
'kerchief stifly finishing the grotesque uni
form. Above the snowy 'kerchiet rose
big brown head, and in the immense ears
swung long gold earrings like two pendulums
| of some wondrous human clock.
| Agnes shuddered and thought how for
| tunate that she was never seaslck, Tor
this was evidently the stewardess, and
the horrid being must never come near her
| Just then the horrid creature did come
near, and, what was more, she spoke.
Don stan gain at dat water no longer
missy, or yo' gwine git de haidache. Ye
brudder tol' me tub look out TO- yo'; my
name Sophe;" and picking up the belong
ings of Agnes led the way below, Agnes
meekly following.
Before many minutes the black horror
had Invested Agnes of her boots, looseaed
her dress, brushed her hair and calmly com
manded that young lady to close her eyes
| II. j It1,x,
her obedience.
She slept restlessly, and dreamed she was
on the deck Of vessel saying gsod-by tx
friends, who loaded her with flowers ant
gifts. Philip, too, was there; this time tn,
love had crept from his eyes to his lips
and he was saying: Il love you," when sh,
wakened. The world seemed very cold tina
moment, and the fact that she had com
away without parting gift was born
unto her distressed mind. He might hay
said something, or he could have slipped
note into her hand at parting, or conceale
a few words in bouquet of flowers. Sh
had often read of SUCH things in book
Yes, yes, if he had cared he would not K
her go in this way. The unhappy girl coul
control herself no longer, and burst int
a wild fit of sobbng and tears.
When old Sophie entered the stateroor
and saw the limp figure and heard tn
moaning cries, she put the luncheon ira
down, and, taking the unhappy girl in he
big, strong arms, Graded her like baby
and crooned an improvised song of love
and birds, and peace, ending each line wit
the musical refrain:
Desc all come to Gawds own chile"
Agnes forgot the ugly brown face and be
aversion to it She let her aching head res
on the kind old shoulder, and sobbed hel
! setf int state sf comfortable tfanauillita