Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-10-07
"Where do you say you found

| she. where do you say you found
it?"
"In the Swedcs' church-on the
seat of one of the pews."
Elder Wynne was seated in chair
near by. He had taken up the even
ing paper, which concealed his face,
and was looking apparently at the
first page, but he did not turn it, nor
make the rustling that newspaper
readers usually do.
Come into my room," said Miss
Dacres suddenly, II want to tell you
something"
entered the hall, then her room.
When we were inside she closed the
window which was open to the piazza
and the door into the hall
"Now I'm going to make clean
breast of il" said she. 81 was in the
Swedes' church, and this is my
handkerchief. Now you sit there,
and let me sit here; or wait, no, let
me get down here" To my great
surprise. Miss Dacres placed me in a
rocking-chair and seated herself on
little stool at my feet. There!
we're all comfortable so. Now let
me rise to explain. 1 did go into the
Swedes' church." She laid her head
against my knee confidingly. She
looked up into my face with those
lovely eyes. Why had l never seen
before how lovely they were? "I
was out on my wheel this afternoon,
when l came across that queer old
church. l had never seen it before.
I jumped off and went up to the
door. To my surprise. 1 found it
open crack, and went in. The in
side was so dark that at first l could
hardly feel my way, but l went
down the middle aisle and stood by
that queer old tomb. 1t gave me a
sort of shiyery feeling, and 1 was
glad to hear voices overhead. They
were mans voice and child's.
Their owners were coming down
from the belfry, thought, for they
seemed to be in the front of the
church. l was foolish not to run
right out of the building. I had
plenty of time, but I got dazed. I
thought they would be going in
moment, and that I could hide until
they We're gone. And how foolish
that would have been! just think.
if 1 had stayed there, and been
locked up alone!' Miss Dacres gave
little shudder, and laid her head
in the folds of my gown. Uncon-
sciously, almost, l smoothed her bow
ish, yellow hair, and in my heart I
was crying out, Have 1 found YOU.
little Amaranthe?
well, when you---'
swell, l crouched down behind the
front pew and waited. To my hor-
TOR that Mr.-Mr.--"
"Beldon," supplied.
Yes, Beldon-Mr. Beldon-came in
from the vestibule and down that
central aisle, and as he was coming
the door opened again, and you came
in With that tiresome old DR..
Wynne."
my dear" said I, excusing her in
my heart, because she was so like
my little Amaranthe--"my dear,
don't speak so. He is dear old gem
tleman. Highly recommended by
President Smith, of the Galtersville
college"
We'll, if he bored me with the Lost
Tribes as he bores you, I'd get rid of
him mighty sud- mean as soon as
possible. But to go on, where was
l? Oh, yes, crouched down behind
the front pew and that man, Beldon,
think, you said, came down the
aisle. Then you came in and I heard
you all talking. l then felt sure from
the sound of your voices that you
were coming along to the chancel, so
I simply crawled round the corner,
up the side aisle, and while you were
still talking with the officious man
in the back room I was out of the
door and off. Johnny opened the
door for himself, so that l could get
out without it being very apparent"
II don't see why you hid" said /.
"Why, from Mr.. Beldon. l told you
l was averse to meeting him. l don't
like his looks at ALL l won't know
him-simply won't! l never. saw
many old churches" continued Miss
Dacres, musingly. "Out in India they
are mostly temples, and such things,
ITO be continued