Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-07-14
! had her tn mi arms.

hand in his. Now, IL the Bible said
when a body kissed We on one cheek
ye mus turn t'other I wouldn't find no
fault, but TIERS a heap o. differ'ncei
tween a whack an smack"
When we had come back from dinner
Uncle Eb drew of his boots and sat
comfortably in his stocking feet, while
Hope told Of her travels and I of my
soldering. She had been at the con-
servatory nearly the whole period Of
her absence and FASTENED home when
she learned Of the battle and Of my
wound. She had landed two days be-
fore.
+; Hopes friend and Uncle Eb went
away to their rooms in good season;
then came and sat beside Hope on
the sofa.
Let's have a good talk. said.
There was an awkward bit Of silence.
SWELL" said she, her fan upon her
lips, tell me more about the war;
'ATired Of war; / answered. Love Is
q better subject"
She rose and walked up and down
the room. a-troubled look in her face.
thought had never seen woman
who could carry her head SO proudly.
II don't think you are very familiar
with It." said she presently.
II ought to be- answered, having
loved you all these years.
"But you told me that-that you low
ed another girl" she said, her elbow
leaning on the mantel, her eyes looking
down soberly.
when? Where2" I asked.
Tin Mrs. Fuller,s parlor.''
Slope" said, you misunderstood
me. I meant you"
She came toward me then, looking up
into my eyes. I started to embrace her.
but she caught my hands and held
them apart and came close to me.
did you say that you meant me7"
she asked In whisper.
II did"
.'Why did you not tell me that night2''
Because you would not listen to me
ana we were interrupted"
We'll, II Loved girl" she said.
sI'd make her listen" 81
II would. have done that, but Mrs.
Fuller saved you"
you might have written" she sug-
gested In a tone Of injury.
II did,
"And the letter never came-just as
I feared
She looked very sober and thoughtful
then.
You know our understanding that
day In the garden" she added "If you
did not ask me again was to know
you-you did not love me any longer.
That was long. long ago"
~ never loved any girl but you" l
said. u love you now, Hope, and that
ia enough. I love you so there is moth
ing else for me. You are dearer than
my life. It was the thought ofyou that
made me brave In battle. L wish !
could be as brave here. But I demand
your surrender. shall give you no
quarter now
"I'wish i knew" she said, whether
whether you really love me or not 2"
Don't you believe me. Hope n
Eyes, believe you. she said, "butA
but you might not know your own
heart
1T longs for vol" / said. ut keeps
me thinking Of you always. Once it
was SO easy to be happy, since you
have been away 1t has seemed as If
there were no longer any light in the
world or any pleasure. It has made
me a slave L did not know that love
was such a mighty thing
Love is no Cupid; he is a giant. she
said. her voice trembling with emotion
as mine had trembled II tried to for
get, and he crushed me under his feet
/ as II to punish me''
She was near to crying now, but she
shut her lips firmly and kept back the
tears. God grant me may never for
ct the look In her eyes that moment.
wv. iass alaa1F y ~ Our w tsurh'
u