Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-02-11

purchased an exquisite copy OF MAUD"
for Mrs. Angell 1t was poem they
had once read together, and he Won
dered If his memory of the fact would
touch her. With these thoughts he
drifted back into sleep, and the morn
ing train went laundering cityward
without him..
But his triumph over the state Of the
weather was short lived. At the break
fast table his nephew curdled his blood
by the announcement of the plans for
the Christmas trees, which yet stood In
the forest a mile across lots. 1.-TWO Of
the men are sick this morning, fellows,
so We'll have to fall into line and fetch
the trees" Roy proclaimed, with rel
ish born of twenty-three years and
warm blood.
The fellows" including Merriweth-
er, worked In the storm until noon be-
fore the trees were properly cut, trim
med, cleaned and set up In the ball.
room ready for the decorations and
gifts. The ladies' had the decorations
in charge, but Merriwether found there
was no rest for the weary. He bal
anced himself perilously by the hour
on the top of stepladders, which sway
ed and creaked ominously under his
| weight; he climbed stairs to fetch pack
ages from the billiard room; he search
ed for lost hammers and knelt on mis-
laid tacks until he relegated Christmas
and house parties to the lower regions.
| At last the trees were decorated, and
Roy called the party into the music
room to practice Christmas anthems.
Merriwether saw his fellow workers
| safely into the music room; then he
dragged himself upstairs for solacing
smoke, only to find his fire out and his
chamber cheerless.
Showing his aching feet into slippers,
he got himself into smoking jacket,
lit his pipe and descended to the libra
ry. The library lay back of the living
room, far from the music, and 1t con-
tanned an inviting couch, ut which
Merriwether had looked longingly. but
had not found time SO far to occupy.
1 He pushed aside the curtains at the
entrance with broad sweep of his
hand and stepped within. Then he
stopped abruptly. The couch was occu,
i pied. II beg your pardon. Gertrude
| thought you were singing"
i Singing she responded Grossly
i struggling into sitting posture "Why
I've not shred Of voice left to sing
With" She did not smile, but passed
her hand across her eyes in gesture
! | 1vb;oI, oo,,cod a ,,roo< liul,& r., hv.oo1. a.
} on Merriwether
q you're tiredw he accused in ring
fng voice of triumph.
: She leaned back, resting her head
against the wall. "Tired3" she repeat
, ed in an intense voice. "I'm half deaf
with the awful pace Of these two days
If 1 We're big healthy man now,
glancing resentfully at the proportion
, Of the man before her, II might By
able to endure everything and yet fee
$ fresh, but, being woman and forty
one'i-
GERTRUDE interrupted Merriwethe
t In a tone of solemn joy, fare you forty
oneF'
"Qf course l am" she responded al
e most irritably. "Fou know that I am.
.Ye-es," he replied vaguely, eomin
nearer, "but didn't know that yo1
knew IT.
II have every reason to know IT,
the tears were near the surface now
when skating gives me the rheuma
tism, and dancing the headache, an
that sleigh ride She spread he
hands out in gesture of despair.
can't endure it any longer. I'm goin
home tomorrow on the 9:1O train I'M
leave you to chaperon. Nothing seems
tire y0u.' The tears had reached be
lashes, and she turned her. head AVA,
Merriwether sat down beside her III
invited. Gertrude" he began in
voice In which rang satisfaction OF
Of harmony with his announcement
"the exertion attendant on chaperol
ing this house party and keeping u
with YOU has given me the rheumatlsl
in every joint and muscle, and not onl
the headache-the effect has penetrate
to my disposition, Which is''-
A door opened somewhere, and
burst of music interrupted him. "Peat
on earth, good will t9 men,
Tho door closed, and SILENCE reigne
in the library, a realization Of IL
| spirit of the words came to Merr
| wether: Ills light manner dropped fro
| him. He leaned over ami laid his han
| on Gertrude's. Lets be old and peac
full together, dear. Don't go back t
morrow. Spend Christmas here-wlt
n, me-"
e., The freight played softly over IL
s woman's face. She glanced up with
s. smile which was tremulous in spite
IN her moc!sing words, Now that thir
er Of It, Bruce, haven't bought my tic
p, ct yet, 'and-it Is ttaaSse eomtestapln,
be old"
40 Deafness Cannot Be Cured
Il by local applications, az taey panpat reach i