Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-04-05


line? What color did she want, John
the Baptist?" she called to her body
servant.
The lank, loose jointed, strapping fig
ure Of solemn countenance who sat
sorrel behind the coach, squirting along
side the window, broke out in wide
smiles.
Nanny want er maz'reen blue, Mis-
Anne. Dat whut hearn her say"
'.Now, don't go over the hour" Mrs.
Tillotson reminded as her niece bowled
away, and she sighed as she looked
after her.
The coach had entered williamsburg
from the north and now turned into
Duke of Gloucester street, where stood
an empowered mansion, the town house
Of the Byrds of Westover. Here at the
gate fluttered two girls, who waved
hands and called eagerly to the solitary
occupant.
Same, Amer they cried as the
coachman drew up at the horse block.
"Come and tell us what you are to
wear to the ball tomorrow"
II don't know, Betsy" replied Anne,
Jumping down.
"Pshaw" rallied Mistress Byrd. "Just
as If we believed that, when you know
you will be looked at more than the
new arrived Lady Dunmore!'
Anne kissed the younger one-Paulina
Cabell, slight, olive eyed, pretty, pout-
Ing slip of girl, wriggling to be grown
up. "Your eyes are red, sweetheart"
said she.
II have been reading Lady Julia
Vaudeville" Paulina complained. II
never cried SO in my life reading a nov
ell. The tale is beautiful, but the end
ing is horridv'
you'll stay to supper, of coursef"
asked Betsy, linking an arm in Anne's.
"Brother Frank will fetch you home"
"Not today"
'Mother will want to tell you about
Franks royal commission pursued
Betsy. "Come in for moment Do"
But the mistress of Westover was
otherwise occupied. In fact, the girls
entered the wide, cool hall to find a
storm lowering.
Mrs. Byrd was not only young, pref
ty, a second wife and the possessor Of
husband who was one of the govern
0r's council, but she was conscious of
oil these things.
Her husband did not remember as Of
ten as did she that the gay colonel, his
father, had been bosom friend Of the
learned Charles Boyle in England and
fellow Of the Royal society. She re-
minded him frequently of the fact that
the old wit had been scholar and had
left to Westover, where he lay under a
monument in the garden, the best pri-
vate library in the colonies, not even
excepting that of Mr.. John Bordley Of
Maryland, and a garnet full of writings.
His portrait hung there, face as clear
and as beautiful Us woman's, framed
In curling peruke of the time Of
Queen Anne.
AS for the present master of West
over, much to her irritation, he cared
little more for sight of st. James than
for the heaped up manuscripts in the
garrett. He contented himself with sit
ting in the council chamber at Will
liamsburg and riding after foxes at
Westover, when his govt left him.
Now Mrs. Byrd, consciously impress
sive, leaned against the white paneling
in posture which showed her plump
figure to advantage.
otis high time," she was saying,
settling the yellow point de venise at
her throat, "that Francis be spoken to
about it. Come in, Anne.)"
The colonel, bowling as CALAMITY to
!! Anne as his equity leg propped on a
chair would permit, shifted his DOW
dered wig in some discomfort.
Crank will get no harm from Pat
rick Henry" he said. He is too SEN
sible."
"Mayhap you call 1t no harm, SIR"
persisted Mrs. Byrd, ito see your SON
you, member Of the council-hobbing
with that shiftless wag. Sooth, then,
do! The malt bugs Of the tavern are
his betters. (No, don't go, Anne.) Fran
els is daft about him, sir. And the
boys royal commission just come. oh,
tits too bad!'
Colonel Byrd Strengthened his ruffles
carefully.
"You so to the ball, of course, Amer"
he asked.
But his wife was not to be shut off.
"Small preferment," the lady went
on, will Francis get from Lord Dun
more If he continues. The governor
keeps himself informed. Every one
knows that Patrick Henry is the very
front Of all these rebel doings. (Yes,
you need give me no look, Anne. IT'S
the word I meant to use. Rebel doinasi
Rebel dotngsD And for my SON
Willing-to"-
"Zounds! Your son is a Byrd,
ma'amw This from the colonel.
"For my son to associate with low
country demagogue, half the time
dressed in buckskins like that shabby
burgess from Louisa county you
| brought to dinner last week, and to &c
to his crazy meetings at the Raleigh.
I thought his stay abroad would have
weaned Frank Of that. That and the
commission. But, no! He comes home
talking the gibberish of that mealy
mouthed Charles Fox that he learned
in his dreadful London club. look
yet to see him put off his kings, uni,
form and disgrace us all"
"Pshaw" said Colonel Byrd, never.
theless uneasily. Franks all right
The young blade will take to the army
like duck to water. Cooks! There is
! no harm in the Apollo room. Jefferson
is steady enough, and he is ever there
"Tom Jefferson!" calculated the lady
'Think you he is much better? A free
thinker! He and Henry are pitch and