Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-08-19
His Friend, The Enemy
By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK.
Assses ID Rossrs Of Baste stThe usesssity.s
q 'Hr Fit, AstrelsSer,'
By WILLIAM wALLAcE co.
toepy.shs sa, B, =. 4 a ne-o a.

the contest" She threw back her
shoulders and tossed her fair head.
"a stout heart, fair fight, and the
rigor of the game! The end of our
plots and our counterplots is now
at hand. Either success or defeat
will prove equally glorious and you
can learn the worst, or the best, at
Willowvicw just as well as you can
in Concord. Please don't keep me
waiting, Mr.. Herbert"
Evidently she thought the son of
Mr.. Montfort Herbert had compe-
tence in his own right No one had
Informed her of the real condition
of Guys fortunes and he was not
the one to lay bare the truth.
Guy reflected. He might do more
harm than good in Concord if he
went there during the crisis. He had
no vote, anyway, as two weeks in
the territory would not give him the
right of franchise. Besides, had he
not, in quiet way, gained a strateg-
ic advantage which would keep the
county seat at Concord?
Every well, Miss Vlandingham," he
said. ut is kind of you to come for
me, and if you really care for my
company at Willowview l shall be
most happy to return with you.''
He went into the house for his
satchel and then started for Har-
mony with snap of the whip and
q jingle of chains. Very shortly they
passed Mr.. Whitaker, at work by
the road, and there was a brief halt
while Guy explained matters. Mr..
| Whitaker said little but smiled in
a knowing way, and they could see
him lean on the handle of his shovel
and watch until they were out of
sight.
Only the pen of poet could fit
| tingly describe that wondrous ride,
A sentimental journey it was, every
step of the way from Whittaker's to
the squire's; a delicious faring across
the sunny plain, through drowsy
odor of wild flowers and under such
skies as smile over the Fortunate
Isles. Touched by the spell, neither
Of the two young people wasted
much time in conversation, and the
long lapses of silence into which
they fell were rhythmic intervals
wherein their hearts echoed back the
melody of song as old as the days
of man. Arrived at their destina-
ton Guy heaved sigh of regret.
The calends of his love had lifted
white stone to mark a passing
hour, and he was more securely q
captive if that could be.
Guys sojourn at Willowview was
very brief Both Miss Hetty and her
| father eNerted themselves to the ut
most to make his stay enjoyable, but
he was ill at ease. His negotiations
with Mr.. {-andy had certainly won
| the enunty seat for Concord, and it
seemed to him as though he were
acting u double part. When the re-
turns came in, and when the genial
squire and the adorable Miss Betty
discovered how willy and tactfu. he
had been, he feared that there would
be an upheaHai and that they would
deny him their hospitality, and send
him forth in scorn.
1t was all very we'll for Miss Betty
to talk of 1.-The rigor of the gama.''
The prime incentive in every game
is success, and When the ballots were
counted and it was found that Am.
ityville had cast deciding vote for
Concord, he would see then whether
Miss Betty would take defeat as
"gloriously' Us she would have taken
a better fortune. 1t would be Bit
ter triumph for him if it cost him
her favor, Yet it she had not spoken
those words in a spirit of raillery-
in short, if she really meant them
how incompatible she would be-
come in his eyes! AS Pettibone had
said, he could go to her and offer
her a "dower" interest in his town.
And then, if she would accept! His
heart leaped at the thought and his
mind winged skyward in sweeping
| dreams,
That night they were in the coy
parlor just as they had been exact
ly two weeks before. Miss Betty
was at the piano and Guy stood be-
side her turning her music. The
squire was engaged with his paper.
\ Since the young man had come to
the house that second time the coua-
ty seat question had NOT once been
mentioned. AS during his first visit,
father and daughter were making it
! plain that while he was their guest
| there was to be no discordant note
to jar their friendship. Guy was de-
lighted at this, for there was a
charm In observing Miss Betty as
the light and center of her fathers
| home. If her shrewdness and cour-
age had pleased him in the political
field how much more was he attract
ed by her domestic accomplishments.
Guy was watching Miss Betty's
white fingers fit over the keys, and
now and then exchanging soft
word in which his passion throbbed
dangerously near the surface, when
there came sudden interruption.
A lusty voice outside gave an alarm
of Fire! fire!" and the squire
leaped from his chair as his daugh-
ter and Guy hastily left the piano.
Can it be this house, father?' in
quired Miss Betty, nervously.
''No, it's in town." replied the
squire, who had drawn back the cur
tain for quick look at the surround.
inngs. Il can't just make out what
building it is, but it's near the
square, that's evident"