Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-16

Eyes, and it actually disguised me.
Does he think all men ought to act on
that sort of advice? He might, for he
has made an unnatural man of him
self, with all his fancies for new faces,
but you are not that kind, Alan, and
I'm sorry you and he are so intimate;
not that he can influence you much,
but he has already in way, and that
has panied me deeply"
HE has Influenced met" cried Alan
in surprise. 81 think you are mis-
taken"
"You may not realize 1t, but he has"
said Dolly, with gentle and yet un-
yielding earnestness. "You see, you
are SO very sensitive that it would not
be hard to make you believe that a
young man ought not to keep on caring
for girl whose parents object to his
attentions"
"Ah!" He had caught her drift.
There was pause. At the foot of
the hill little brook ran merrily over
the water Drowned stones, and its
monotonous tapping could be heard dis
tinctly. Under the trees across the
open some of the couples had drawn
together and were singing:
II see the boat go round the bend.
Goodby. my lover, goodby."
Dolly had said exactly what he had
never hoped to hear her say, and the
fact Of her broaching such subject In
such frank, determined way sent q
glow of happiness all over him.
II don't think" he began thought
fully, that Rayburn or any man could
keep me from"-he looked into her full,
e1pectant eyes and then plunged mad
ly-"could keep me from caring for
you, from loving you with all my heart.
Dolly, but it really is terrible thing
to know that you are robbing girl Of
not only the love Of her parents, but
her rightful inheritance, when-when"
he hurried on, seeing that an impulse
to speak was urging her to protest
when you haven't cent to your
name and, moreover, have black eye
from your fathers mistakes"
II knew that's what he'd saidw de-
clared the girl, almost white with an
ger. II knew 1t! Oh Alan, Rayburn
Miller might be able to draw back and
leave girl at such time. but no man
could that truly loves as-as believe
you love me. have known how you
have felt all this time. and it has near.
~ broken my heart, but could not
write to you when you had never even
told me what you have today. You
must not let anybody or anything In
fuence you. Alan. I'd rather be a
poor mans wife and do my own work
than let paltry thing like my fathers
money keep me from standing by the
man love-"
Alan's face was ablaze. He drew
himself up and gazed at her. all his
soul in his eyes. "Then shall not
give you up," he declared-"not for
anything i'll the world. And If there
is chance in the railroad Idea shall
work at it ten times as hard now that
l have talked with you"
They sat together In blissful igno-
rance of the passage of time till some
one shouted out that Frank Hillhouse
was coming with the watermelon.
Then all the couples in sight or hear
ing ran to the spring. where Hillhouse
could be seen plunging the big melon
into the water. Hattie Alexander and
Charlie Durant, who had been perched
on jutting bowlder high up on the
bill behind Dolly and Alan, came half
running, half sliding, down, catching
at the trees to keep from falling.
Better come get your teeth in that
melon," Hattie said, with a knowing
smile at Dolly. They lived next door
to each other and were quite intimate.
"Come on, Alan" Dolly rose. Crank
will never forgive me If I don't have
some"
Il sha'n't have time if 1 so to town
tonight" replied Alan. II have some
thing to do at home first"
"Then I won't keep you," Dolly
smiled, "for you must go and meet
Rayburn Miller. I'm going to hope
that he has had good luck in Atlanta"
The world had never seemed SO full
of JOY and hope as Alan rode home
ward. The sun was setting in glorious
splendor beyond the towering noun
tains, above which the sky seemed an
ocean of mother of pearl and liquid
gold. Truly it was good to be alive.
At the bars he met Abner Daniel with
a fishing cane in his hands, his bait
gourd under his arm.
Il know right whar you've BEEN" he
said, with broad smile as he threw
down the bars for Alan to pass
through. II seed that gang drive by
in all Their furry this mornin', the
queen bee in the lead with that little
makeshift of man."
Alan dismounted to prevent his uncle
from putting up the bars, and they
walked homeward side by side.
Eyes, and I've had the time of my
life" said the young man. Il talked
to her for solid hour"
II could see that in yore face" said
Abner quietly. "You couldn't hide it,
an I'll bet she didn't lose time in let
tin you know what she never could
hide from me-"
1--WE understand each other better
now" admitted Alan.
well, I've certainly set my heart OH
the match-on gittin' her in our fam
lily" affirmed Abner. "Durned ell
declare, sometimes Pm afeerd Pm gone
on 'er myself. Yes, want You an her
to make it. I want to set an smoke
an chaw on yore front porch an heer
her back in the kitchen fryin' ham an
eggs, an the old man winked-"I
don't know as I'd object to trottin'
c0mn'ps M, INV Epao tn coYfo,. no GO tho