Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-12-18

You have become very, very dear to
me, little girl In fact, never dreamed
there was such thing as genuine, I'M
selfish love till knew you. 1t seems to
me that you were actually created for
me. want you to be my wife. Some
how l feel that you care for me at
least little. and believe when you
realize how much love you and how
devoted l shall be you will love me as
I do YOU"
To his surprise she averted her face
and said nothing, though he remarked
that she had paled little and COM
pressed her lips. He waited moment.
then said anxiously:
Haven't you something to say,
Adele? Perhaps I have misread you
all along and really have no right to
hope. oh, that would be hard to bearw
ut is not that" she said, her breast
heaving suddenly. st is not that"
Not that7" lie repeated, his wonder
ing eyes fixed on hers
Then she turned to him.
ALLAN has told me of some of your
talks to him about love, anu
ooh, he has" Miller laughed out I'M
easily. But surely you wouldn't hold
anything against me that said before
met you in Atlanta and fell heels
over head in love with you. Besides,
was simply stretching my Imagination
to save him from making q serious mis-
take. But know what it is to care for
a girl now, and have wanted to tell
him so, but simply could not face him
with my Observation-Disclosures his
own sister was in question"
II have tried to believe" Adele hest
tated, that you had changed in your
ideas of love since-since we learned
to know each other, and confess
succeeded to some extent, but there
was one thing that simply sticks and
refuses to be eradicated. 1t sticks more
right now than ever mean this morn
Ing, since
"Now you do surprise me-" declared
Miller. "Please explain. Don't you see
I'm simply dying with impatience?"
"You pressed the point in one Of
those talks with brother" said Adele
quite firmly, that it was impossible
for two people of unequal fortune to be
happy together. and
| Now, you wouldn't surely hurl that
rubbish at me-" broke in Miller. II
never would have dreamed of saying
such thing If had not thought Alan
was about to butt his head against q
stone wall in the hostility Of Colonel
Barclay. If he had been fairly well off
md she had been without money, I'd
have said sail ir and take her, but I
knew what mercenary old man Bar
clay is, and l thought could save the
boy from good many heartaches."
"That-even as you now put it
would be hard for girl in my position
to forget" Adele told him, "for if
this enterprise fails today 1 shall-just
think Of it'll shall not only be penni-
less, but my father will owe you large
amount of money that he never will be
able to pay. oh, could not bear to go
to you under such circumstances I
have always wanted my independence,
and this CRATES on my very soul"
Their eyes met in long, steady stare.
"Oh, you must-you really must not
Zee it that way" foundered the young
man. You will make me very miser-
able. l can't live without you, Adele.
Besides, I shall not lose by the loan
made to your father. The land will
bring the money back sooner or later,
and what will it matter? You will be
my wife. and your parents will be my
parents. Already I love them as my
own. oh, darling, don't turn me down
this way! Really can't help the turn
matters have taken, and If you care for
me you ought not to wreck our happi-
ness for silly whim like this"
She sat unmoved for a moment,
avoiding the fervid glow Of his passion
Tiled eyes.
If this thing fails shall be very un-
happy" she finally said. Its success
would not make me rich, but it would
remove debt that has nearly killed
me- ! have never mentioned 1t, but 1t
has been like sword hanging over my
happiness"
"Then it shall not FAIL" he told her
1T shall not fail! If those blockheads
vote against it, I'll buy the right Of
way II 1t takes the last cent I've got"
This forced smile to Adele's lips.
Then we'd be as deep in the mud as
we now are in the mire," she said
Just then Pole Baker came to Miller.
II don't want to make no break" he
said. "but I've got idea I'd like to
work on them hill Billies in the Jury
room if you haint no objections.
hain't got time to tell you about It, but
as you are a-runnin' the shebang
thought I'd az permission"
go and do what you think best,
Pole" said Miller recklessly. I'VE can
trust to your head, and anything is
better than nothing just now really
think It's gone by the board"
"All right, thanky'," said Pole as he
shuf1ed away. He marched straight
to the jury room and without rapping
2s1sA In Hsg aud MzDt " .Nssips