Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-07-02
NO." she said, Frightening and hest

IN o." she said, frightening and hest
tating. She was puzzled at the triumph
written all over her husbands face in great, /
sunshiny capitals. But once more salts
fed with Benzie's planning though she
could not say why, she turned away and |
left him writing to beat everything
ern rim, and flashed to the zenith for
tined to go a.westerng quite SO usual" as
heretofore.
The two anvils and the one little brass
cannon, relic of the sixties and rib of
the majors grafton, had done their duty |
in jubilating and were left to the silence
of the deserted streets, while the crowds
had disappeared in the direction of the
grove, as the weather was fair"
The subcommittee had worked faithfully,
and the picnic grounds were spic and span
with new seats, stands and score of con-
veniences, not dreamed of hitherto. The
most noticeable of these was the speakers
stand, profusely draped in bunting and
guarded well at the corners by the stars and
stripes. There was plenty of room for
the Smithvile band, and the head commit
tee back of the speakers chair, which was
draped in the American colors.
But busy and jolly as everybody seemed
to be, they remarked the fact that Benzie
Robins did not appear. Had the commit
tee quarreled? Had the two sleek grocers
snubbed the big-hearted farmer? No one
could tell, unless it was the committee, and
it was as reticent and solemn as an oyster.
About noon, however, it leaked out that
Farmer Robins had heightened company
from the city, and could not be present
until afternoon; then he was coming to the
speech, bringing his company with him.
A little before two o'clock, and when the
band had disposed itself on the platform,
and was beginning a series of little mu-
steal toots to call the people together, Ben
zie Robins and his aristocratic company
came out to the grounds.
"My cousin and my cousins husband" he
observed, with high-born flourish, intro
ducing the strangers to the committee.
The splinter new rustling silk of Mrs. Rob
ms and the shimmering satin of the cousin
| augured anything but hayseed addition to
the elite Of Smithville. Then there was
no other way than TO invite the third
member of the committee and his party up
on the platform.
Mrs. Robins Redeemed visibly under the
| ordeal of being thrust before the public,
4 but the visitors took their respective places
1 WIN an ease VI IldNHeI W Ue COFtteu.
| But Benzie, the man of plan, fairly outdid
J foppish hat, as he strutted around on the
/, honored boards very affable and very con.
, descending, somehow, for Benzie.
/ The committee could not quite make it
! out. Perhaps he was ashamed of having
"funked," and now meant to make up
| for lost time. Small matter, however; they
| had had their way to dot, and Maj. Dow
] ling was safely seated in the speakers
chair. It was everything to them to have
bossed the job, and Benzie was welcome te
strut, if he chose.
After the prayer had been offered by the
chaplain and wonderful solo rendered by
the singer of Smithville, the chairman o
the committee arose and said "the speaker
hardly needed anintroduction, but was here,
and would now favor the people with an
address,"
1 The major came to the front and begged
to tdiffer with the honorable committee, .
and then introduced Hon. A. P. Bishop, Of
Andover college, as Speaker Of the day.
The committee stared with open-moutheo
establishment at the sudden collapse of theil
programme. "How in thun-? What in the
ma? Who in the dew" and their ex
cited vision focused on the third mem
| per. puC NE Was listening luttuIiy w kAS
major, who would add another word be
fore he sat down. / am glad" he said. il
concentrated way, "that God has sc
prospered me this year that can give the
'honors' to our friend here, and buy m,
own lemonade"
Then he subsidized smilingly, amid three
rousing cheers, waving of flags and the toot
of the comets.
The lightnings of seven furies shot wrath
fully at Benzie's happy face, but he wa
enjoying his Fourth" as only one coulc
whose plans worked we'll, and he did no
see them, or hear the muttering thunde
of "that committee"
The Smithville people then listened t
an eloquent address, cheering hilariousl
to show their appreciation.
After it was over, and everybody had sun
. America" Farmer Robins slipped ban
!. note into the majors hand, saying: "Tha
squares our account" And the old ma
!. laughed and allowed it "paid better to il
u troduce speaker than to speak"
:, But that committee! Not soul on til
grounds could tell when it disappeared; nc
even the third cornet, by whom it sat, ha
:! the least idea when or how it left the pla
y form. But Farmer Robins said, mystt
q riously, that ct went away to rest" an
., that Committee work was hard work; b
y knew something about it himself" An
i Mrs Robins smoothed her fine gown con
u placently and added, softly: "Benzie's pla
u . worked well, though"