Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-06-09

SlIC OF peueCratlOu. knew buoIliy
that Mrs. Brewer, wise and prudent
woman that she was, had suspected
my love for Hope and her love for me
and had told her what she ought to say
IL spoke of it.
The maturity Of judgment in Hopes
answer must have been the result Of
much thought and counsel, it seemed
to me.
eff you do not speak again shall
know you do not love me any longer"
she had said. They were brave words
that stood for something very deep In
the character of those people-a self
repression that was sublime, often in
their women. AS l said them to my
self those lonely summer days in Fara-
way saw in their sweet Significance
no hint of the bitterness they were to
bring. But God knows have had my
share Of pleasure and no more bitter
ness than deserved.
1t was lonely summer for me.
had letters from Hope-ten Of them
which still keep and read. often with
something Of the old pleasurs-glrllsh
letters that told of her work and
friends and gave me some sweet coun-
sci and much assurance between the
lines.
Travelled in new roads that vacation
time. Politics and religion as well as
love began to interest me- Slavery
was looming into the proportion Of .
great issue, and the stories Of cruelty
and outrage on the plantations Of the
south stirred my young blood and
made it ready for the letting Of bat
tie in Gods time. The speeches in the
senate were read aloud in our sitting
room after supper the day the Tribune
came, and all lent tongue to their
discussion.
Jed Feary was with us one evening,
remember, when our talk turned into
long ways, the end of which I have
never found to this day. Elizabeth had
been reading of slave who, according
to the paper, had been whipped to
death.
eff God knows at such things are
bein' done, why don't he stop 'em ~
David asked.
"Can't very WELL" said Jed Feary.
"Can If he's omnipotent," said David.
"That's bad word, dangerous
one" said the old poet, dropping his
dialect as he spoke. "It makes God re.
sponsible for evil as well as good. The
word carries US beyond our depth. It'll
too big for our boots. I'd ruther think
he can do what's do-able an know
what's movable. In the beginning he
gave laws to the world, an these laws
are Interchangeable, or they are not wise
and perfect. II God were to change
them he would thereby acknowledge
their imperfection. By this law mer
and races suffer as they struggle up.
ward. But If the law is Interchangeable
can 1t be changed for a better cause
even than the relief Of a whipped
slave? In good time the law shall pun
tsh and relieve. The groans Of them
that suffer shall hasten 1t, but there
shall be no change in the law. Thers
can be no change in the law"
"Leetle hard t tell Jest how powerful
God is" said Uncle Eb. "Good dsa
like tryin' t weigh Lake Champlair
with a quart pail an pair o steel
yards"
| IF Gods laws are Interchangeable wha,
Is the use of praying?" asked,
HE can give US the strength to bear
the will to obey him an light to guid,
u.s." said the poet.
Hope returned for few days late Il
August. Invitations were Just ISSUED
for the harvest dance at Richards.
"You mus take 'er," said Uncle 81
the day she came, "She's q purt,
dancer as q man ever see. Franc,
right up an tell 'er she mus 80. Don
want to let any one git ahead o ys."
"Of course will co." she said IN an
swer to my invitation. II shouldn'
think you were beau worth having 1
you did not ask me-"
| The yellow moon was peering owe
Woody ledge when we went away tina
evening. knew 1t was our last pleas
ure seeking in PARKWAY, and the crick
cts in the stubble filled the silence Wit
kind Of mourning.
She looked SO fine In her big hat an,
new gown with it's many dainty accea
sories of lace and ribbon, adjuste
with SO much patting and pulling. tina
as she sat beside me I hardly dare
touch her for fear Of spelling some
thing. When she shivered little an
said 1t was growing cool put my arr
about her, and as Iidrew her closer t
my side she turned her hat obligingl
and said it was great nuisance.
tried to kiss her then, but she pu
her hand over my mouth and sal
sweetly that would spoil everythin
If did that.
IT must not let you kiss me, WI
Ham," she said. "Not-not for all l
the world. I'm sure you wouldn't hay
me do what I think Is wrong-woul
you?"
There was but one answer to sue
an appeal, and made myself as hal
by as possible feeling her head upo
my shoulder and her soft hair touchin
my cheek. AS think Of 1t now Il
trust she put in me was somethin
sublime and holy.
''Then I shall talk about-about OF
love-" said. IT must do something
II promised / wouldn't let you," st
said. Then she added, after momel
Of silence: "I'll tell you what you ms
do. Tell me what is your ideal In
woman-the one you would love be
, of all. I don't think that would
} wicked, do you7"
II think God would forgive that"
! said. "She must be tall aud sir
with dainty feet and hands and pa
Of big eyes, blue as violet, shade