Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-09-09

plete. He would leave me on the
morrow. What should I do, with the
marketing to attend to, the cooking
to do, the beds to make, the house
to keep clean, not to speak of the
shoes!-the muddy shoes!
Goodnight" I did hear that
much, and, then, instead of the wo-
man going away, it was the man,
who drew towards him wheel,
which had been leaning against the
tree in the shadow "l'll be over in
the morning." / heard him say. GAIL
right" answered the woman's voice,
and she turned and opened my own
gate, and came along up the gravel
path,-no, not the path, she walked
on the grass.
Of course, knew now who it was,
and why she had walked on the grass.
Naturally she did not wish anyone to
know of her midnight designation.
Well, I would see that she had no
more of them. My house, Aunt Jane
Mary's rather, should not be used as
rendezvous for such creatures as
she. I would tell her SO in the morn
ing. l would give her warning. OF
course, she must eat up and sleep out
her ten dollars worth, but as soon
as that debt was paid she should
leave the house and never set foot
inside it again. I listened and heard
her come in at the front door, lock
it softly and go into her own room.
If she shot the bolt of her door, it
was unheard by me. Well, no mat
ter. She should have warning before
breakfast.
l spent restless night. My room
was opposite Aunt Jane Mary's, over
the parlor and across the hall from
my lewer-front's bedchamber. I
wondered if Aunt Jane Mary had
heard the movement in the house.
However, I was almost certain that
she had not, or I should have been
called by the tinkle of the bell. l
was now hopelessly awake, and lay
tossing in my bed, furious with my
self, my boarder, and everyone else
more angry than anything with the
fact that ! should need all the rest
that I could obtain to spur me up to
the stand that I was going to take
in the morning. 1 dropped asleep a
little before daylight, and on awaken
ing found that l was half-hour late.
Oh, dear, there was so much to do!
Where should 1 begin? 1 dressed
hastily and ran down the stairs.
My boarder was evidently up, for
her door was open, her bedclothes
thrown back, and the room airing in
manner to suit the most particular
of housekeepers. This somewhat
modified me towards her, but still I
was determined that she should go,
and that l would tell her as soon as
had the time. She nodded to me
as looked out of the door, for she
sat there, calmly rocking in my chair,
looking unblushingly at the morning
sun as it rose over Farmer Barker's
hickorynut wood. She had on her
feet pair of loose slippers. Her
shoes, well cleaned, were standing
within the door of her room.
II thought you hadn't any Slip
pers?" said /.
'Good-morning," said Miss Dacres
politely. This made me conscious at
once of my own rudeness.
"Good-morning," said I. excuse
my remark, but you know you told
me yesterday
eyes, so 1 did. Well, I've got them
since, l.
81 have no time to talk now" said ],
but please to understand that when
your breakfast is eaten, 1 shall be
glad to see you in the parlor."
"You are very kind" returned Miss
Dacres, in the tone one uses when
accepting an agreeable invitation. s.
will come with pleasure. l never
sew, you know, am only here for a
rest.'
"You need not sew" said I, 'iand
you need not remain long"
"What?" said she. II don't under
stand your tone. L"
/ ran down the steps and round in
to the back yard.
Badly Towner," said I, wishing to
make sure before / went any fur
Their, though l certainly did hear her
come into the house, ''have you and
Glorianna made up?"
Nor never will in this blessed
world" said Badly Towner.
as the fire made?" said 1, running
towards the hen-roost.
at be-" called Badly Towner after
me, as he went to the well for
water.
I found three or four fine eggs,
went back into the kitchen, prepared
Miss Dacres' breakfast, and called
her into the dining room.
l waited on her in silence, and then
left the room, asking her to ring
when she wanted anything else.
She did not seem blessed with
large appetite. Indeed, in looking at
her, it seemed to me that she must
be very delicate. There were large
black circles youhd her blue eyes,
ana her face appeared more sallow
than it had on the last evening
Now that she had discarded her felt
hat, l saw that all her hair was short,
thick, and curly.
Il see you are looking at my hair"
said she to me when l came in, bring
ing her a glass of cold water, which
Badly Towner had just drawn from
the well. II wear it SO because it is
easier for me, and much heater in my
profession. l am always dressed. I
just run comb through it and shake
it out. First though, stick it in
a bucket of water"