Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-06-09
Are you a collector Of coins?" she
asked at length, perceptible GOODNESS

sArc you n collector Of coins?" she
asked ut length, q perceptible GOODNESS
| in her voice.
"No. am considered dispenser Of
coins. Still, rather like the idea Of
] possessing this queer bit of money as
a pocket piece. intend to keep 1t for
ever and let 1t descend Us an heirloom
to the generations that follow me-" he
said laughingly. "Why are you so Gu
rious about it?"
Because 1t comes from the city and
country in which i've" she respond
ed. IF you were in land far from
your own. would you not be Interested
In anything-eyen coin-that remind
ed you of home?"
Especially IL had not seen one Of
Its kind since leaving home" he replied
insinuatingly.
"Oh, but have seen many like 1t.
In my purse there are several Mt this
minute"
Isn't It strange that this particular
coin should have reminded you Of
homer"
You have no right to question me,
SIR" she said coldly. drawing away.
only to be lurched back again. In spite
OF herself she laughed audibly.
~ beg your pardon" he said tan
talizingly.
"When did he give it you?'
"Who?"
'The porter, sir.''
"You have no right to question me-"
he said.
"Ohr' she easped. 81 did not mean
to be inqulsltive.'
"But grant the right BE gave 1t
me inside of two hours after first en-
tered the carr
"At Denver!'
How do you know got on at Dem
verT"
"wby you passed me in the aisle
with your luggage. Don't you remem-
ber?"
Did he remember! His heart almost
turned over with the Joy of knowing
that she had really noticed and remem-
bered him. Involuntarily his glad fln-
gers closed down upon the gloyed hand
that lay beneath them.
| ~ believe l do remember, now that
you speak Of 1t" he said In stified
voice. "You were standing at win
dow"
eyes. md saw you kissing those
ladies goodby too. Was one of them
your wife,. or were they all Seur sis
ters? have wondered"
"They-they weN-ceusins,n he In
formed her cop usedly, recalling an in
cident that had been forgotten. He
had kissed Mary Lyons and Edna Bur
rage. but their brothers were present.
"A foolish habit. isn't it?''
Il do not know. | have ne grown
cousins" she replieA dIemurely. You
Americans have such funny cNstomA
though. Where 1--we no gentleman
Wo,&l think Of pressing lady's hand
qntsl it panied her, Is 1t necessary ~
I'm the question there was quiet Dig
nifty. halt submerged in scorn, so point
cd, 30 unmistakable, that he flushed,
turned cold with modification and has.
tily removed the amorous flpgess.
7 crave your pardon. 1t is such
strain Ia hald myself and you against
the rolling Of this wagon that un-
consciously gripped your hand harder
than l knew. You-you will not mis-
understand my motiyei'' no begged.
Fearful lest he had offended her by his
ruthlessAess.
~ could not misunderstood some
thing that does not exist" she said
simply, proudly.
BY love, she's beyond comparisopy,
he thought.
"You have explaailN.ssssAt and I am sorry
spoke AZ akl lshan not again for
gs4 bow much owe you.'
Four indebtedness, IL there be one.
does not deprive you OF the liberty to
speak to me as you will. You could
not say anything unjust without Aak.
ing my forgiveness, and when yqM 90
that you more than l,ay the. debt. 1t is
worth a great d lesal q, me to hear you
SsE that you owe. something to me, for
/ am only too glad to he your creditor.
+ there n a debt, You shall never pay
It. II ia too pleasant nn account to
be settled with you're welcome If
you insist that you owe much to me. I
shall refuse to cancel the debt and al
4 low it to draw interest forever"
"What financierg' she cried, 'That
i Jest was worthy Of courtieFs deepest
flattery. Let me say that am proud
to owe my gratitude to you. You will
nat permit 1t to grow less"
"That was either irony or the pretti-
est speech woman ever uttered" he
said warmly. II also am curious about
something. You were reading over my
shoulder In the observation carr
i 4 waa not" she exclaimed indig-
nantly. How did you know that2.
she inconsistently went on.
You forgot the mirror In the oppo-
site side Of the ear"
zach! Now am offendedy'
"Wlth a poor old mirror? For shame!
Yet, in the name OF our American glass
industry, l oak your forgiveness. It
shall not happen again. You will nd
NIT that you were trying to read ovel
my shoulder Thanks for that immuta
BILE nod. Well. am curious to know
what you We're so eager to read"
4Since you presume to believe the
j r ~