Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-02

In q bad fix as marrying man. He's
had bad luck, and he must put up with
the consequences. There are plenty of
girls who have no money or prospects
who would be glad to have him. but
Mother" broke in Dolly as if she
had been listening to her own trou-
bled thoughts rather than her mothers
words, The didn't act as if he wanted
to see me alone. The other couples
who had engagements to talk during
that dance were sitting in windows
and out of the way corners, but he
kept me right where was and was as
carefully polite as IL we had just been
introduced. was sorry for him and
mad at the same time. could have
pulled his ears"
"He's sensible, very sensible" said
Mrs. Barclay in tone of warm ad-
miration. "a man like that ought to
get along, and reckon he will do well
some day"
"But, mother" said Dolly, her rich,
round voice rising like a wave and
breaking in her throat, "he may never
think about me any more"
"Well, that really would be best,
dear, under the circumstances"
"Best?" Dolly blurted out. "How
can you say that, when-when'-
"Dolly, you are not really Polish
about him, are you" Mrs. Barclays
face dropped into deeper seriousness.
Dolly looked away and was silent
for moment Then she faltered: 81
don't know, mother. I-Tm afraid if
keep on feeling like do now I'll never
eet over it,"
"Ah, but you'll not keep on feeling
like you do now" consoled the older
woman. "Of course, right now, just
| after seeing how hard he took it, you
will kind Of sympathize with him and
want to help him; but that will all
pass away. l remember when was
about your age had falling out
with Will Despree, young man my
father didn't like because his GRANDPA
Their had been an overseer. And, do
you know, thought would actually
kill myself. refused to eat bite and
threatened to run away with Will. To
this day really don't know what I
would have done if your grandfather
hadn't scared him away with shot
gun. Will kept writing notes to me.
was afraid to answer them, but my
father got hold of one and went after
him on fast horse. Wills family
heard what was up, and they kept
him out in the swamp for few days
and then they sent him to Texas. The
whole Despree family took it up and
talked scand'lous about u.s."
"And you soon got over it, mother?'
asked Dolly almost in a tone of dis.
may.
"Well," said Mrs. Barclay reflective
~, "Will acted the fool so terribly. He
wasn't out in Texas three months be-
fore he sent back marked paper with
an article in 1t about his engagement tc
the daughter of rich man who, we
found out afterward, used to keep q
livery stable; then 1 reckon hardly any
girl would keep caring for boy when
his folks was telling such lies about
her family"
Dolly was staring studiously at the
speaker.
| Mother" she asked, "don't you be
lieve in real love?'
| Mrs. Barclay laughed as if highl,
amused. II believe in different sor
to the puppy love had for that boy
Then after that there was another
young man that thought more Of, i
anything, than I did Of Will, but h,
was as poor as Jobs turkey, and IN!
folks was all crazy for me and your pa
who I'd never seen, to get married.
held out against the idea, just like 70,
are doing with frank, I reckon, blu
when your pa come with his shin.
broadcloth coat and spotted silk vest
no, it was satin, think, with red spot
on it-and every girl in town was Graz,
to catch him and there was no end o
reports about the niggers he owne,
and his high connections well, as
say, 1t wasn't week before l wa
afraid he'd see Joe Tinsley and hea
about me and him. My father was il
for the match from the very jump, ant
30 was your pas folks. He put up a
our house with his niger servant an
didn't want to so about town mucl
reckon was pleased to have hir
pick me out, and SO we soon fixed
up. Lordy, he only had to mention 10
Tinsley to me after we got married t
make me do anything he wanted. T
this day he throws him up to me, 70
Joe never did amount to anything. II
tried to borrow money from your p
after you was born. The neighbors ha
to feed his Children
"But you loved father, didn't you?
Dolly breathed, in some relief owe
what she thought was coming.
"Well, can't say did," said Mr.:
Barclay. ave had terrible time ge
ting used to one another's ways. Yo
see, he'd waited q good while and wa
some older than was. After awhile
though, we settled down and now II
awful glad let my father manage fc
me. You see, what your pa had an
what my father settled OH me mad
us comfortable, and If couple Is thi
it's sight more than the poor one
are"
Dolly stood before her mother, clos
enough to touch her. Her face VOL
an indescribable expression of dissati
faction with what she had heard.
Mother, tell me one thing" she sal
"Did you ever let either of those DO.
the two that you didn't marry.
mean-kiss you?"
\, Mrs. Barclay stared up at her daug
| Tow In 20,