Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-03-24


ed to Miss Densmore. No, he would
somehow contrive to send good
~ to her. 1t was browning piece OF
folly, perhaps, doubtless, for it would
mean nothing to her, but he would
indulge i'll 1t nevertheless. 1t would
be his final tribute on the now shat
tered altar of hope-the shrine which
he had 80 unwittingly reared.
He remembered to have seen Joe
Becraft that morning slip small
pencil into vest hanging upon a
chair near his cot. The garment was
still there. He took out his brothers.
letter, tore off at the crease a little
strip upon which there was no writ
ing, and in the dim light traced his
words of adieu. He then replaced
the pencil, thrust the folded mes,
sage into his pocket, and rending in
scraps the remainder of the letter
scattered the fragments upon the
grass as he stepped from the door.
"There's an end of that!" he said.
In the hop-kiln, by dull lantern
light, some of the pickers were hav-
ing last impromptu merry-making
to the wheezy music of mouth-or-
gan played by one of their number.
Among the dancers was Joe Becraft.
1t had been Rossiter's intention to
bid him good-by, but he saw that he
gould not do so without encountering
many others, so with a consciousness
Of real regret he turned away. AS
he came to the end of the barn he
deserted Jack Parmelee's familiar
figure moving towards the house.
Here was the very man for his pur-
pose. He hailed him,
'Alr. Parmelee!" he called.
The farm manager halted.
ooh, it's you!" he said, as Rossiter
drew near. What's up?" He had re-
marked the pole-puller's bundle.
sim off," said Rossiter. "I've
changed my mind about waiting till
morning. If l hurry 1 think 1 can
catch the Hintonville train, but l
can't wait to say good-by to every
one. Won't you make my adieus
to Mr.. and Mrs. Merton and Miss
Merton and to the Becrafts,-I'm
very sorry not to see them all,-and
would you be kind enough to give
this to Miss Densmore
He held out the slip of paper with
its penciled words. Parmelee took
it.
.Why, certainly, to be sure" he
said. "But you'd better wait. In
deed, ] wish you'd stay right on. We
peed just such man as you. Mr..
Merton'd give you good wages, you
know"
Its very kind of you. Mr.. Mer-
ton spoke about 1t, but I must co."
answered Rossiter, holding out his
hand.
well, you'll come next yeara.'
said Parmelee, giving him a hearty
grip. "I'll keep place for you, il
you say So"
= can't PROMISE" Rossiter replied.
"Thanks just the sumo"
Parmelee watched Rossiter stride
cut Of the gate and take the Hinton
vile road.
There's chap I can't make out"
he muttered as he walked towards
the house.
Rossiter recalled that half way to
Hintonville there was a highway
branching towards the west. When
he reached this he took it without
hesitation. He had no intention of
trying to catch the train, but had
spoken of doing so as plausible ex-
cuse for his hasty departAre. Plans
he had none, needed none. He was
to drift again, wait, vagrant, a
common yagabond. Now nothing
mattered. Money he had, more than
he had possessed that year, but of
what special avail was it? In the
life to which he was returning he
could manage quite MS easily with
out it. He trudged on steadily, his
mind babel of emotions. One by
one he reviewed The scenes of his
hop-yard life, in which Miss Dens.
more always appeared as the central
figure. but chiefly he dwelt upon his
return to consciousness after the en-.
counter in the dip of the Blue Creek
Road. 1t must have been pity not
love that he had seen in Miss Dens.
more's eyes as she had bent above
him. Yes, 1t must have been that
end yet the look haunted him, ani