Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-06-16

yEyYVsNI week, but Elizabeth Brewer
GAasaaj was always at home to look
after my comfort. She was up betmes
in the morning and singing at her work
long before was out Of bed. When
the breakfast was near ready she
came to my door with call so full Of
cheerfulness and good nature It was
the best thing In the day. And often
at night have known her to come into
my room when I was lying awake
with some hard problem to sec that I
was properly covered or that my win
dow was not open too far. As we sat
alone together Of an evening I have
seen her listen for hours while was
committing the odes Of Horace with 4
curiosity that finally gave way to res.
ignation. Sometimes she would look
over. my shoulder at the printed page
and try to discern some meaning in 1t.
When Uncle Eb was with us he would
often sit long time, his head turned
attentiyely as the lines came rattline
off my tongue.
Gurus talk" he said one evening a.
] paused a moment, while he crossed
the room for drink Of water. don,
seem t make no kind O. sense. / can
make out word here an there, but
fer good, sound, common sense I call It
purity thin crop"
Hope wrote me every week for a
time. A church choir had offered her a
place soon after she went to the big
city. She came home intending to sur
prise us all the first summer, but un-
fortunately I had gone away in the
woods with party Of surveyors and
missed her. We were month In the
wilderness and came out little west
of Albany, where took boat for
New York to see Hope. I came down
the North river between the great
smoky cities on either side Of 1t one
damp and chilly morning. The noise,
the crowds, the immensely Of the town
appalled, me.
At John Fuller's found that Hope
had gone home, and, while they tried to
detain me longer, came back on the
night boat Of the same day. Hope and
passed each other in that journey,
and did not see her until the summer
preceding my third and last year in
college, the faculty having allowed me
to take two years in one. Her letters
had come less frequently, and when
she came l saw grand young lady Of
fine manners, her beauty shaping to an
ampler mold, her form Strengthening to
the dignity Of womanhood.
At the depot our hands were cold
and trembling with excitement, neither
of us, fancy, knowing quite how far
to go in our greeting. Our correspond
ence had been true to the promise
made mother. There had not been a
word of love in 1t, only now and then
q suggestion Of our tender feeling. We
hesltated only for the briefest moment,
Then put my arm about her neck and
kissed her.
Il am so glad to see you" she said.
Well, she was charming and beauti-
ful, but different. and probably not
,more different than was I. She was
no longer the laughing, simple man
pered child Of PARKWAY, whose heart
was as ones hand before him in the
daylight. She had now a bit of the
wonlan's researcher prudence, her
skill in hiding the things Of the heart.
I loved her more than ever, but some
how felt 1t hopeless; that she had
grown out of my life. She was much
in request among the people Of Hills
borough. and we went about a good
deal and had many callers. But we
had little time to ourselves. She SEEM
ed to avoid that and had much to say
Of the grand young men who came to
call on her in the great city.
Anyhow 1t all hurt me to the soul
and even robbed me Of my sleep. A
better lover than would have made
an end Of dallying and got at the
truth, come what might. But was Of
the Puritans and not Of the cavaliers,
and my way was that which God had
marked for me, albeit must own no
man had ever keener eye for a lovely
woman or more heart to please her. A
mighty pride had come to me, and
had rather have thrown my heart to
vultures than see it an unwelcome Of
fering. And was quite out Of courage
with Hope. She, I dare say, was as
much out of patience with me.
She returned In the late summer, and
! went back to my work at college In q
hopeless fashion that gave way under
the whip of strong will.
I made myself as contented as posi-
BILE. / knew all the pretty girls and
went about with some Of them to the
entertainments of the college season.
At last came the long looked for day
of my graduation, the end Of my stu-
dent life.
The streets of the town were throng-
ed, every student having the college
colors in his coat lapel. The little COM
pany Of graduates trembled with
fright as the people crowded Into the
church. whispering and tanning them
selves. in eager anticipation. As the
former looked from the two side pews
where they sat many familiar faces
greeted them-the faces Of fathers and
mothers aglow with the inner light Of
pride and pleasure, the faces Of many
they loved come to claim share In the
glory of that day. found my own,
remember, but none of them gave me
such help as that Of Uncle Eb. How
ever might fare. none would feel the
pride or disgrace Of 1t more keenly
than he. shall never forget how he
turned his head to catch every word
when assembled the platform. ~,
AS I warmed to my argument could
see him nudging the arm Of David,
who sat beside him, as II to say,
"There's the boy that came over the
hills with me in pack basket" When