The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-04-06

expect her voice to be audible to the
sinner in his flight. And with that
moment James romance ended.
Henry had come to the age of AZ
without romance of any kind. The
trouble that is long time coming,
however. is generally severe when it
/! is finally at hand. The new tenants
who had just taken his farm at this
bottom of the road, Mr.. and Mrs.
Bates and family, were really very SUI
perior people, and Miss Florrie Bates
was really charming girl. Henry had
noticed it on their arrival, and he had
noticed the particulars with regard to
Flowie especially on several occasions
since. At A he found himself contem-
plating a new horizon True, people
would say there was some disparity in
their ages; for Florrie was but 81. But
people must mind their own business
Henry was the sole and responsible
| judge of his own actions-and he was
in love.
Indeed, the only other consideration
that weighed with Henry at all was
Jane. Jane was, to all intents and pur-
poses, the fly in the ointment. Florrie
| that she was going to be married to
the rich Mr.. Biddocll. And she would
write so many letters to him, and the
letters were on such pink paper, with
such robust perfume that if Jane
| did Tot see them as she entered the
room, they betrayed themselves to her
the first time she was surprised into a
questioning sniff. 1t soon became clear
to Henry that concealment was no
longer possible, and that the dreadful
ordeal of an explanation with Jane
must be faced as boldly as possible
One morning, therefore, he paused in
the middle of breakfast, and, looking
across the table. stammered out:
Jane, I've bin thinkin' a lot about
it, and I'm goin' to be married."
James knife and fork dropped from
her hands into her plate with a clat-
ter. Good eavens, 'Enry!" she
gasped. What nonsense you're talk
I'M"
Nonsense or no nonsense" said
Henry, little irritated by the cold, not
to say derisive, reception of his an
nouncement, that's ow it is. I'm
goin' to bring the young lady 'ome this
afternoon, and interdooce you.'
Jane seemed quite dazed at the pros
pect. She sat bolt upright in her chair,
| looking straight before her, with a
couple of her fingers pressed tightly to
| her lips as though for fear they should
| open of their own accord and say some-
thing to be afterward regretted. After
moment or two she seemed to have
found what she considered an appro-
pirate comment. ut ses in the Scrip
cher" she began
1T ses in the scripcher," interrupted
Henry, that it amt good for man to
be alone"
''You-you amt alone" faltered
Jane. I'm ere, amt L? There amt
ONE nowhere that's been looked
after like this as. 'Tisn't as if you
was a young man, 'Enry You're A
an eight months come the twenty-tirst,
an that amt no time of life to change
all your old ways an go gettin' mar
ried. 1t ses in the scripcher, Rejoice
with the wife of thy YOUTH which is
as much as to say that if you don't get
married when you're young you'd bet
ter by 'alf keep single for the rest of
your days. And it isn't as ii you was
going to marry a sober, middle-aged
party, either. o, I've card all about
your Florrie Bates Been talkin'
about it all over the village, SO they
ave, an you're old enough to be the
gals father. I can tell you straight
out, Enry-"
Henry, who had been growing more
and more fidgety as the discourse pro-
ceeded, came TO the boiling point ut
last. Springing to his feet and kick
ing his chair away, petulantly, he said:
1aat's quite enough. Jane.
know what I'm about, an I've got
something better to do than sit ere
an be jawed at. I'm soin down to
the ssssop, an at tea time I'm goin to
bring Florrie down ere. You've got
nothiu' to worry about. You'll be
looked after all right"
Locked after?" echoed Jane. what
dye mean?"
Ang it all!' said Henry, you
can't expect to stay an keep 'ouse
for me when I'm married. 1t amt
likely Mrs. B. would put up with that.
But don't you worry about it, You'll
be looked after all right" And then
Henry. apprehensive OF stormy turn
in the conversation that he lacked the
courage to face, snatched up his hat
and went out.
| About four O'Clock Henry, with Miss
Bates on his arm, came proudly down
the road. After the little breeze OF
the morning, Henry was rather glad
TO think that he would not have to
face James wrath alone. For him
self, he could see no reason why Jane
should not remain in the old home
with them. but Miss Bates secuted the
notion. 1T was not" she said, with
superb hauteur, her idea OF being
mistress in her own house." And
Henry, carried away by his infatua-
| ton, argued that Miss Bates must be