Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-04-06

He beat the time for the thunderous
cheers that they gave. The procession
described a circle on the lawn and
then, with the band playing and colors
flying, passed out of tile gates and took
up the march to the wharf.
''The flag the flag" whispered Graf
ley, following it with his eyes. cit
shows YOU helped make it, Fanchon
it's so beautiful. All, Tom, they've
said we abused it sometimes. 1t was
only that we loved 1t so we'll we didn't
like to see any one make it look silly
or mean. But, after all, no man can
do that-no, nor no group Of men or
party! His voice grew louder as the
last strains of the music came more
family from the street They'll take
your. banner across the Rio Grande,
Fanchon, but that is not all-some day
it's stars must spread over the world!
Don't you all see that they WHIP"
After little while he closed his eyes
with a sigh. The doctor bent over him
quickly, and Miss Betty started for
ward unconsciously and cried out.
But the bright eyes opened again and
fixed themselves upon her with all their
old gay inscrutability.
mot yet" said Crailey. "Miss Ca
rewe, may tell you that am sorry 1
could not have known you sooner? Per-
haps you might have liked me for Fan
chon's sake. know you care for her."
II dol dor she faltered. II love
her, and-ah-I do like you, Mr.. Gray,
for know you, though never-met
you until-last night. God bless you
God bless you'll"
She wavered a moment, like lily In
the wind, and put out hand blindly.
"Not your she said sharply as Tom
Vanrevel started toward her. Mrs.
Tanberry came Qlickly and put an arm
about her, and together they went out
of the room.
"You must be good to her, Tom,"
said Crailey then in very low voice.
'I?" answered Tom gently. "There
was never chance of that, lad.'
Listen" whispered Crailey. Lean
down-no-closer." He cast a quick
glance at Fanchon, kneeling at the 9th
er side Of the bed, her golden head on
the white coverlet, her outstretche6
hand clutching bis, and he spoke SO
close to Toms ear and in so low q
tone that only Tom could hear.
"She never cared for me. She felt
that she ought to, but that was only
because I masqueraded ip your his
tory. She wanted to tell me before
went away that there was no chance
for me. She was telling me that when
he called from the window. It was
at the dance, the night before, that she
knew. think there has been some one
else from the first-God send it's you
Did you speak to her that night or she
to your"
"Ah, no." said Tom vanrevel. cal
the others"
Mrs. Tanberry and Betty and Mr.
Bareaud waited In the library, the two
women huddled together on a sofa
with their arms round each other, and
all the house was very still. By and
by they heard prolonged, faraway
cheering and the steamers whistle
and knew that the boat was Off. Hall
IN hour later Will Cummings came
back alone, entered the room on tiptot
and silently sank into chair near Mr.
Bareaud, with his face away from
Miss Betty. He was to remain in Rou
en- another week and join his regimen
with Tom. None of the three appeared
to notice his coming more than dtmly
and he sat with his face bowed in hi
hands and did not move.
Thus perhaps an hour passed, witt
only sound Of footsteps on the grave
Of the driveway now and then and .
low murmur of voices in the rear O
the house, where people came to asl
after Crailey. And when the door o
the room where he bay was opened tn,
four watchers started as at loud ex
plosion. 1t was Mrs. Bareaud and tn
old doctor, and they closed the doc
again softly and came in to the others
They had left Crailey alone with Fan
chon and Tom Vanrevel, the two VIII
loved him best.
The warm day beyond the window
became like Sunday. No voices sound
ed from without in the noon hush
though sometimes little group Of pee
pie would gather across the street t
eye the house cur1ously and nod an,
whisper. The strong, blue shadows o
the veranda pillars stole slowly acros
the white floor Of the porch In less
ening slant and finally lay all in
line, as the tall clock in corner of tn
library automatically coughed the hou
Of noon. In this EARRING discordanc
there was something frightful to Mis-
Betty. She rose abruptly, and, imperi
ouslY waving back Mrs. Tanberry, VIII