Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-28

But when I Lad taken the book down
and read again it's totally uninteresting
and unsuggestive title and by another
reference to it's dim and faded leaves
found that my memory had not played
me false and that it contained nothing
but stupid and wholly irrelevant
statistics, my confidence in it as
possible aid in the work l had in hand
departed just as it had on the previous
occasion. 1 was about to put it back
on the shelf, when 1 bethought me
of running my hand in behind the two
books between which it had stood.
All, that was it! Another book lay
fiat against the wall at the back Of the
shelf; by the removal Of those in front
! was enabled to draw this book out,
I soon saw why 1t had been relegated
to such remote place of concealment
on the shelves Of the Moore library.
1t was collection of obscure memoirs
written by an Englishwoman, but an
Englishwoman who had been in Amer
lea during the early part Of the century
and who had been brought more or less
into contact with the mysteries con-
nected with the Moore house in Wash
ington. Several passages were marked,
one particularly, by heavy pencil line
running the length of the margin. As
the name of Moore was freely scatter
ed through these passages as well as
through two or three faded newspaper
clippings which discovered pasted on
the inside cover, lost no time in set
ting about their perusal.
The following extracts are from the
book itself, taken in the order in which
found them marked:
at was about this time that spent
week iii the Moore house, that grand
and historic structure concerning which
and Its occupants so many curious ru-
mors are afloat. knew nothing then
Of its discreditable fame, but from the
first moment of my entrance into its
ample and well lighted halls expert
enced a sensation which l will not call
dread, but which certainly was far
from being the impulse of pure delight
which the graciousness Of my hostess
and the imposing character of the place
itself were calculated to produce. This
emotion was but transitory, vanishing,
as was natural in the excitement of my
welcome and the extraordinary interest
took in Callista Moore, who in those
days was most fascinating little
body. Small to the point Of appearing
diminutive and lacking all assertion in
manner and bearing, she was never
theless such lady that she easily DOM
mated all who approached her and pro-
duced, quite against her will, am sure,
an impression Of aloofness, seasoned
with kindness, which made her most
surprising and entertaining study to the
analytic observer. Her position as
nominal mistress Of an establishment
already accounted one Of the finest in
| Washington-the real owner, Reuben
Moore, preferring to live abroad with
his French wife-gave to her least &C.
| ton an Importance which her shy II
not appealing looks, and a certain
| strained expression most difficult to
characterize, vainly attempted to con.
tradict. could not understand her
and soon gave up the attempt, but my
admiration held firm, and by the time
the evening was half over I was hel
obedient slave. I think from what
know Of her now that she would have
preferred to be mine.
II was put to sleep in great cham
Der which afterward heard called
The Colonel's Own It was very
grand and had great bed in 1t almost
royal in its size and splendor. be
lieve that shrank quite unaccount
ably from this imposing piece of furni
ture when first looked at it, it seemed
80 big and so out of proportion to my
| slim little body. But, admonished by
the look which surprised on Mistress
Callista's high bred face, l quickly re
called an expression so unsuited to my
position as guest and, with a gush Of
well simulated rapture, began to ex
patiate upon the interesting character
istics of the room and express myself
as delighted at the prospect of sleeping
there
Instantly the nervous look left her
and, with the quiet remark, 1T was my
fathers room,' she set down thu
candles with which both her hands
were burdened and gave me kiss 81
warm and surcharged with feeling tina
81