Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-03

brechts. He went down to the whole
sale grocery house, where he had an
excellent position, every morning at s
o'clock and returned at 6:3O-iii time
for dinner. Sometimes he spent the
evening in his room, reading an i'm
proving book, sometimes he went ont
to hear an improving lecture.
Frarey was totally Indifferent to the
budding charms Of Flora, who was re-
ally as hearty and wholesome girl
as need be. 1t was year or two be-
fore she began to bud at all-two
years at least before Frarey took any
notice of the fact. She wore her first
pompadour for three evenings before
he observed even that. A year later
or thereabouts Frarey, meeting her in
the hall, saw that she was wearing an
uncommonly attractive white dress
and mentally remarked that she had
beautiful white teeth that showed to
advantage when she smiled.
Then Flora went away somewhere
to take course of the higher educa-
ton, Perhaps Frarey missed her but
he hardly knew. 1t is certain that in
general way and without any refer
ence to anybody in particular he had
occasional thoughts of settling down in
home of his own. 1t would be nice
to have some one to read the improv
ing books to and to take to the i'm
proving lectures. That was all IT
amounted to = just hazy general
thoughts.
But when Flora returned wear
later with charms that now began to
blossom from the bud his reflections
became more definite.
I'D best go slow about this" he
said to himself "a man needs some.
thing more than pearly teeth and n
rosy complexion to make him comfort
able"
So he did not encourage her, though.
when she went away the following
June for her second year, he bought
her 1.-THE Stones of Venice" and rho
North American Review to read on tho
train for which she was very CRATE
full
Time passed and Flora came back
On the evening Of her arrival what he
called her improvement almost tool,
Frarey's breath away. Her former
prettiness had become actual beauty
and her conversation, which Mrs. AL
brecht no longer attempted to restrain.
was bright.
The next morning Frarey met Flora
on the stairs and as he stood aside to
let her pass she, too, stopped.
"Mr. Frarey," she said, with a
charming air of embarrassment,
mother tells me that some of your
things need mending. There are-er-
some socks that need darning and
other things. You know, mother never
had much time for such things, but |
have, and-I wonder If you would let
me try my hand at them"
- What would you have thought in
such case?
At first the mending and darning
were done rather roughly and unskill-
fully, but Frarey didn't care for that
uOt u CcLI. LII NOilu nave Dlu to
throw the socks away in. any event.
But the improvement was rapid and in
short time an incredible neatness
was shown in the darns. Within a
week Frarey, commenting on the ex-
{, {. rellence of the bread at table, was in
'ohmed that Flora had made it.
~ " Frarey hesitated, not from any
ERE ng now, but from sheer diff
The He brought books often now
,reame.. dy once or twice. Gradually
ay and 81 to accustom himself to the
adv d. an engagement and matrimony.
Ms,nad long reveries in the solitude Of
bis room.
One evening he was indulging bis
fancy in this way when he thought he
hsard voices on the steps below his