Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-08-27

local character, neighboring clock
in one of the city buildings struck
ten.
Morton stopped talking and rose.
II had no idea it was so late. Par
don me-" He said goodnight some
what abruptly, and started for the
door.
You're sure you haven't left any
thing this time?" asked Mr.. Ward.
II have. though" Mr.. Morton an
swered with some confusion, as he
came back to the table and took up
his hat, which he had dropped there
when he took up his gloves As he
did so. he glanced at barbara, who
lowered her eyes and turned towards
the kitchen as if to go out.
81 get moro absent-minded every
day" he said. somewhat feebly.
"You need wife TO look AFTER
YOU" said Mrs. Ward with decision
She had piaked up hsr woali, which
she had dropped IN her lap while
Norton was telling stories, and was
intent ON finishing it.
Barbara opened the kitchen door.
and went out just as Mr.. Ward said
with laugh: Probably every wom-
| an in Marble Square church has some
particular wife in view for you, and
you will disappoint all of them when
you finally make choice without
consulting them"
81 probably SHALL" replied Morton.
| quietly, and, saying good night again,
he went away.
Mr.. Ward was silent few minutes,
| and then said, as if he mad been
| thoughtfully considering new idea:
| "Morton didn't seem at all dull or
tired after coming back for his
gloves. Have you thought That there
might be u reason for it?'
| NO. What reason?" Mrs. Ward
looked up suddenly from her work,
startled by Mr.. Wards manner.
81 think he enjoys Barbara's COM
pany."
Orchard Ward! You don't mean
to say that Ralph Morton would
marry Barbara!"
| 81 not only think he would; 1
think he WILL" replied Mr.. Ward.
| quietly.
Mrs. Ward was too much surprised
at the unexpected suggestion to offer
a word of comment at first. The
! thought of such thing was SO new
to her that she had been totally un-
] prepared for it.
"How would you like to have Bar
bara for your minister's wifeg' Mr..
| Ward asked, in the bantering tone he
sometimes used.
Mrs. Ward was on the point of re-
plying little sharply. But suffer-
ing had done its mellowing work in
her life. Before Carts death she
would have resented as an unparal-
leled impossibility such thought as
that of the pastor OF the Marble
Square church choosing for his wife
even girl like Barbara, his intellec-
tual and Christian equal. But many
| things since Barbara's coming into
the home had conspired to change
Mrs. Wards old habits. And, as Mr..
Ward asked his question now, <she
saw picture Of Barbara and Carl as
they had been one evening few days
before the child's death. His little
arms were about Barbara's neck, and
his pale, thin cheek was lying close
against hers.
'If it should come to that" she
finally answered Mr.. Wards question
slowly, 81 am sure there is one wom-
an In the Marble Square church who
will not make any trouble"
Mr.. Ward looked surprised. But,
as he went out into the front hall to
lock the door for the night, he NUT
tered: "a man can never tell what a
woman will say or do when she is
struck by lightning
During the week that followed Bar
bara spent all the time she was able
to spare from ner own work in Sc
curing facts connected with her pro-
posed plans. Mrs. Ward herself went
with her to several well-known
houses in Crawford, and introduced
her to her friends. In every Instance
Barbara found there was the greut-
est possible interest in tile subject
but ND two women seened to agfee