Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-08-12
is house should remain forever

i MS house should remain forever
upon the Concord side of his farm.
This deal contaminated, GUY went
in and laid down. He felt that he
had done good stroke of work for
Concord. His conscience troubled
him somewhat, for there was a hint
of sharp practice in his deal with
Landy that was directly opposed to
the young mans inclinations and
general character. Still, if Wand
ingham had bought Amityville sigma
lures to his petition, why should not
Guy buy Amityville votes? The bal
lots Of the two sets of imported
voters, each just a score in number,
would nullify each other. Now that
Amityville was to go for Concord,
the success of Concord seemed GER
tain.
The first flush of assured victory
over, Guy began to feel sorry for
Miss Betty. She was bending every
effort toward victory for Harmony
and was so confident of the result
that newell, he almost regretted
that he had allowed himself to pur-
chase Mr.. Landy's influence.
| Lady to see you, Mr.. Herbert"
announced Whitaker, abruptly open
ing the door. After grinning slyly
he vanished as quickly as he had APP
| peared.
"a lady" murmured Guy, in trepi-
| dation.
He had been so busy with his
thoughts that he had heard no
sounds indicative of the arrival of n
visitor. AS he arose he glanced
through q window and saw Miss
| Pinkney seated in a gorgeous trap
and holding horse. The next mo-
ment he saw Whitaker approach
the trap. stand beside it and engage
Miss Pinllney in conversation. Guys
heart fiuttered! At last! AT last he
would be able to explain that affair
on the lake shore.
Miss Betty was waiting for him
when he entered the other room.
She came forward hastily and took
one of his hands in both her own.
The look on her face was one which
he had never seen there before. Sad
ness, heartburning, regret - these
were all in the glance she gave him.
81 can remain but moment, Mr..
Herbert" she said. 81 have been in
Bismarck for few days and, on my
return to Harmony l learned some
thing which has brought me straight
to you to ask your forgiveness"
"My forgiveness" he repeated,
clinging to one of her hands. "For-
giveness for what?"
For allowing you to help me, thus
causing you to be looked upon as a
traitor by your own townspeople;
and for daring to think that you
had brought the sheriff and two
others with you to the lake, week
ago last Wednesday. Oh, 1 feel as
though I am personally culpable and
that your wound is the indirect re-
suit of my own actions" Her blue
eyes grew misty and her voice shook.
will you forgive me, Mr.. Herbert?"
He longed to clasp her to his
breast and then tell her how dear she
had become to him in the brief time
they had known each other; he would
have given worlds to kiss her tears
away and do other sentimental and
foolish things which he had no
earthly right to do, but he restrained
himself He loved her, and he defied
the months and years to disprove
truth which two short weeks had
made clear to him. Yet, while sure
OF his own feelings, he must wait to
assure himself of hers.
"Who has told you my side of the
case, Miss Vlandingham?" he asked.
Some one who knows" was the
reply; some one who lives in Con-
cord and is thoroughly conversant
with every phase of your ill-treat-
ment at the hands of the mistaken
people there"
MY iil-treatment, fear, has been
overdrawn," said Guy, smiling. 81
love the study of my fellow man,
Miss Vlandingham, and although l
have been put to some inconvenience
while in Concord, / assure you that
have had good deal of enjoyment
Gut of the situation existing there.
In trying times like these, human
nature flies to the surface and that
makes the study of character not
only easy but delightful. 1 am glad,
however, that you know I was not
at fault when L met you at the lake.
Did you hear of my telegram?"
Yes, 1 know of that Col. Keever
told the operator that you had de-
cided not to send it,"
"And it was simply a coincidence
that caused you to appoint, for our
meeting, the very place, day and
hour that was hit upon by Col.
Keaver and Col. Dingle for their af-
fair of honor?"
"a coincidence entirely. You will
forgive me, will you not, and forget
my hasty words at the lake? Please,
hurry. for must be going"
~ forgive you freely, although
do not see how you could have acted
otherwise than as you did"
"Your generosity prompts you to
say that. But you must not be too
generous. For instance. 1 would not
want you to think that you must
not strain every effort to win the
county seat contest. 1t is a case of
Greek meeting Greek, you know;
and all is fair in war"
''And love!" added Guy.
The color few to her face.
II like to see man successful"