Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-02
Bv BoOTH HARRINGTON.
CHAPTER 1.

CHAPTER 1.
fA1VT was long ago, In the days
XXI 4 when men sighed when they
SSzMa5 fell in love, when people dane
(szsYssJ ed by candle and lamp, and
did dance, too, instead of solemnly
gliding about; in that mellow time SO
long ago when the young were roman
tic and summer was roses and wine,
old Carewe brought his lovely daughter
home from the convent to wreck the
hearts of the youth of Rouen.
That was not far journey; only an
afternoons drive through the woods
and by the river in an April long ago,
Miss Betty's harp carefully strapped
behind the great numbering carriage,
her guitar on the. front seat half buried
under a mound of bouquets and oddly
shaped little bundles, farewell gifts of
her comrades and the good sisters. In
her left hand she clutched a small lace
handkerchief, with which she now and
then touched her eyes. brimmed with
the parting from Sister Cecilia, Sister
Mary Bazilede, the old stone steps and
all the girls, but for every time that
she lifted the dainty kerchief to brush
away the edge Of tear she took deep
| breath of the western woodland air
and smiled at least twice, for the years
of strict Enclosure within st. Mary's
walls and still gardens were finished
| and done with, and at last the many
colored world flashed and danced in
| mystery before her. This mystery was
brilliant to the convent girl because 1t
contained men. She was eager to be-
hold it.
They rumbled into town after sunset
in the fair twilight, the dogs barking
before them, and every one would have
been surprised to know that Tom Van.
revel, instead Of Mr. Crailey Gray, was
the first to see her. By the merest ac-
cident Tom was strolling near the Ca
rewe place at the time, and when the
carriage swung into the gates, with
rattle and clink and clouds Of dust at
the finish, it was not too soon lost be-
hind the shrubbery and trees for Tom
to catch something more than O
glimpse of gray skirt behind mound
of flowers and of a charming face with
parted lips and dark eyes beneath the
scuttle of an enormous bonnet. 1t hap
pened-perhaps it Is more accurate to
say that Tom thought it happened
that she was Just clearing away her
veil when he turned to look. She blush.
ed suddenly-so much was not to be
mistaken-and the eyes that met his
were remarkable for other reasons than
the sheer loneliness Of them, in that
even in the one flash of them be
caught, they meant SO many things q,
without reasfIizinage What be he dfd eMHG M
vanreyel stopped short. He had beer
swinging a walking stick, which, de
scribing a brief arc, remained poised
halfway in Its descent. There was
only that one glance between them, an6
the carriage disappeared, leaving {
scent of spring flowers in the air.
The young man was left standing OF
the wooden pavement in the midst Of
/ a great loneliness, yet enveloped in thu
afterglow, his soul roseate, his being
2 quayering, his expression, like his cane
instantaneously arrested With suct
promptitude and finish was he disposed
Of that had Miss Carewe been aware
Of his name and the condition wrought
In him by the single stroke she coult
have sought only the terse Richard o.
England for like executive ability
"Of with his head! So much for Van
revelv'
She had lifted slender hand to thu
futtering veil, hand in white glow
with small lace gauntlet at the wrist
: This gesture was the final divinity Of
the radiant vision which remained witt
the dazed young man as he went dow1
4 the street, and it may have been three
2 quarters Of an hour later when til.
4 background of the picture became viz
y i'd to him-a carefully dressed gentle
man with heavy brows and hand
. some high nose. who sat st1fay uprigh1
, beside the girl, his very bright eyei
quite as conscious Of the stricken pc
! destrian as We're hers; vastly different
J however, in this-that they gllttered-
nay, almost bristled-with hostility
4 while every polished button of his blut
coat seemed to reflect their malignan
!. cy and to dart little echoing shafts Of
venom at Mr.. Vanreyel.
Tom was dismayed by the acuteness
1 Of his perception that man who doeI
pot speak to you has no right to hay,
2 daughter like the lady In the car
riage, and, the moment Of this realiza
uon occurring as he sat making pool
, pretense to eat his evening meal at tn,
3 Rouen House, he dropped his fork rat
Ting upon his plate and leaned back
4 staring, at nothing, proceeding 0,
which his table mate, Mr.. William Gum
mings, the editor Of the Rouan Jour
& nal, was too busy over his river bias,
to take note.
\ "Have you heard what's new II
Z town?" asked Cummings presently
looking up.
4 No" said Tom truthfully, for he had
seen what was new, but not heard it.
"Old Carewe's brought his daughter
. home. Fanchon Bareaud was viii
her at st. Mary's until last year and
Fanchon says she's not only q grsa,
beauty, but great dear"
= "Ahp rejoined the other with master
" Indifference. "Dare say-dare say
mo wonder you're not Interested,
said Cummings cheerfully, returnin,
d In fha 6isnuooinr, rp y;e ho.. t.rr,,.