Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-20

al the t0Dle. Ibis SIrAuHe bAcACos WIN
some other inexplicable things about
her, had begun to get on his nerves"
He had come out to this farm to be
quiet and undisturbed, and here, rath-
er to his chagrin, was mystery ris
ing on his horizon.
He waited, with his glass halfway
to his lips, to hear the girls reply.
She came across the kitchen carrying
dish of apple jelly in one hand ana
saucer Of apple butter In the other.
There was a grace in the movements
Of her young, slim figure that was con
spicuously lacking IN Mrs. Morning
stars own daughter Of the same age.
Her eyes were, as always downcast.
as though to veil soul she did not
wish to discover to those about her.
Kinross had never yet succeeded IN
discovering the color OF her eyes.
Somehow the girl always bore about
her an nir Of detachment from her sur
roundings, almost like one moving IN
q dream Just now she scarcely SEEM
ed conscious Of him at all as she
placed the two dishes on the table be-
fore him and then turned and walked
out Of the room.
His piqued curiosity increased his
sense OF irritation with things in gen
eral to positive Ill temper. This dainty
looking adopted daughter Of the house
hold, who, he had at first thought,
must be fair lily among gross weeds
SO delicate her features, so graceful
her movements and so appealing to
his poetic sense her frail beauty Qn
spite Of his professed misogyny)--even
she was probably no exception in the
generally bucolic atmosphere OF the
Morningstar farmhouse. for a more
cowlike herd OF people he had GER
tainly never encountered.
Was she not an exception? Then
why this constantly deepening impress
sion on his mind Of an indefnable
charm, vague mystery. enveloping
the beautiful girl who drudged at her
household tasks in apathetic and stu
pid contentment with apparently not
q thought or instinct above her mar
row, monotonous round Of work; too
dull even to share the curiosity and
interest Of the rest of the family con-
corning their "gent'man boarder," and
too phlegmatic to resent her foster
mothers unjust and often tyrannical
partially to her own daughter Ollie?
More than once he had been on the
point Of asking Mrs. Morningstar to
tell him something Of Eunice's his
tory. But some subtle instinct which
he had never analysed had held him
In check. Perhaps It was a chivalrous
aversion to prying into what the girl
herself 80 evidently wished to con-
ceal. Perhaps he was not, after all,
In hurry to have the interesting mys-
terry explained away into mere COM
monplace circumstance, the usual out
come OF interesting mysteries.
WELL" he demanded Of Mrs. Morn
ingstar when, after Eunice had disap-
peared, the landlady stood beside him
and refilled his glass with milk, her
stout bulk grotesQue contrast to the
insignificant stature Of her husband,
who had been. overpowering him with
his logic few moments before,
"where is the spread? She didn't tell
you"
"But she brang 'em!' exclaimed the
woman in astonishment. "Herew
showing toward him the jelly and the
apple butter.
1.-THE spread?" he repeated blankly.
saint them spreadin's?' she asked,
a touch Of wounded feeling mingled
with her puzzled surprise. ITO be sure,
some calls 'em the smear. But" she
added Discriminatory, II think that's
Dutch"
To propitiate her he helped himself
experimentally to some Of the apple
butter.
Were gettin' two new boarders till
this dinner Already" she remarked,
pushing pie within his reach, though
she must know by this time that he
never ate her pies. not even at break
fast.
Her statement appeared to be blow
to him Thrusting the apple butter
from him, he stared up at her, chagrin
and keen disappointment in his face.
Mister he goes this dinner to fetch
'em on the buggy out" she informed
him. Zone Of 'em's oyerstudied the
brain goin' to college. Yes" she In