Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23

Uncle Eds hair was white now, and
the voices Of the swift and the panther
had grown mild and trelnulous and un.
/ satisfactory and even absurd. Time
had tanned the monsters of that mag
innry wilderness, and I had begun to
lose my respect for them. But one fear
had remained with me as I grew older
the fear of the night man Every
boy and girl in the valley trembled Mt
the mention Of him. Many time l
had held awake in the late evening to
hear the men talk of him before they
went asleep-Uncle Eb and Tip Taylor.
remember night when Tip said in
4 low, awesome tone that he was a
ghost. The word carried into my soul
the first thought Of its great and fear
full mystery.
Years and years ago." said he,
''there was boy by the name Of Nehe-
miah Brewer. An he killed another
boy once by accident an run away an
was drownded."
"Drowndedr' said Uncle Eb.
"HowT'
"In the ocean," the first answered,
gaping. Went away of round the
world. an they got letter that said he
was drownded on his way to Van Die
mans Land"
ITO Van Dieman's Landr
"Yes, an some say the night man is
the ghost O the one he killed"
remember waking that night and
hearing excited whispers at the win
dow near my bed. It was very dark in
the room, and at Arst could not tell
who was there.
Don't you see HUMP Tip whispered.
"WhereT heard Uncle Eb ask.
Under the pine trees. See him
move"
At that time I was up at the window
myself and could plainly see the dark
figure OF q man standing under the lit
tie pine below us.
1.-THE night man, I guess" said Uncle
Eb. "But be won't do no harm. Let
him alone. He's soin' away now"
We saw him disappear behind the
trees, and then we got back into our
beds again. covered my head with
the bedclothes and said small prayer
for the poor night man.
And IN this atmosphere Of mystery
and adventure among the plain folk OF
PARKWAY, whose care Of me when I
was in great need and whose love Of
me always count among the priceless
treasures Of Gods providence, my
childhood passed. And the day came
near when was to begin to play my
poor part in the world.
1t was time of new things, that
winter when saw the end Of my AZ
teenth year. Then began to enjoy the
6ner humors Of life in PARKWAY, to see
with understanding and by Gods grace
to feel.
The land Of play and fear and fable
was now far behind me, and had be-
gun to feel the infinite In the ancient
forest, In the everlasting hills, in the
deep of heaven, In all the ways Of men.
Hope Brewer was now near woman
grown. She had beauty of face and
form that was the talk Of the country
side. have Travelled far and seen
many fair face, but never one more
to my eye. l have heard men say she
was like girl out of story book
those days.
Late years something had come be-
tween US. Long ago we had fallen out
Of each others confidence, and ever
since she had seemed to shun me.
began to play with boys and she with
girls. And 1t made me miserable to
hear the boys bit older than I gossip
| OF her beauty and accuse each other Of
the sweet disgrace Of love.
But must hasten to those events In
PARKWAY that shaped our destlnies.
And nrst comes that memorable night
when had the privilege Of escorting
Hope to the school lyceum, where the
argument Of Jed Feary, poet Of the
hills, fred my soul with an ambition
that has remained with me always.
Uncle BIB suggested that ask Hope
to 60 with me.
France right up to her." he said
"aD' say you'd be glad of the pleasure
OF her company"
4 It seemed to me very dubious thing
to do. I looked thoughtful and turned
red in the face.
young man." he continued, 1.-THE boy
thet's 'fraid O. women III never hey
whiskers."
| Flows thatY inquired.
| 'Be scairt t. DEATH" he answered
s'fore they've he'd time t start. "
want t step right up t. the rack jes' II
Jed bought an paid fer yerself an
was proud o. yer bargain"
took his advice and when fount
Hope alone In the parlor I came ant
asked her, very awkwardly as now
remember, to 80 with me.
| She looked at me, blushing. and sale
abe would ask her mother.
| And she did. and ,Ie walked to thu
schoolhouse together that evening, he
hand holding my arm timidly, the mos
serious pair that ever struggled will
the problem Of department on such al
occasion. was oppressed with heay.
sense Of responsibility in every word
uttered.
Ann Jane Foster, known as "Scoote
Jane" for her rapid walk and stiff car
riage, met us. at the corners on her wa.
to the schoolhouse.
big turnout. guess" said she. "Je,
Feary an Squire Town is comm owe
from Jingleyille an oil the big guns 4
be there. love t hear Jed Feary speak
Hes 80 tAchin'."
Ann Jane was always looking aroun,
for some event likely to touch her feel
1pgs. She went TO every fupera! l,
4 "a ~NxaAs