Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-04-15
Continued from Page 9


decided to speak at the first opportu-
nifty. This, however, did not arrive I'M
til Monday noon, on the way to the
station. The cart had come a little
early in order to take them for a GER
tain short, pretty drive together be-
fore train time. AS they started out,
he spoke.
Miss Marion, this is one of the
| most enjoyable visits | ever made, and
l hope l am going to be able to re-
member ii as one of the most impor-
tant in my life"
Marion looked at him a little sur
prised The truth was that she had
been wondering if she could get the
horse and cart back before Mrs Doug
las needed them, and she did not grasp
the significance of his words.
"Oh yes!" She nodded her head
thoughtfully. Then she quickly re
membered what he had said and CON
| tinucd somewhat out of breath Il
mean-l want you TO remember it, of
course, but it isn't so very important,
you know
1T is to mel have been having
such real good time, such pleas
| ant"
oh, yes! 1t is lovely neighbor-
hood
Il have enjoyed knowing your
| friends"
They are so cordial to strangers.
Indeed they are. but then that
wasn't all enjoyed"
| NO? They are
Il know how delightful they are, but
| it is your own well-managed home that
made the deepest impression on me"
1T isn't half-bad-that is, l mean
| it is nice
Mice. Indeed it is, and it is easy
to see what makes it So
| She gulped: "Yes!"
You are the moving spirit behind
| 1t all"
But you do not know how much
| is due the neighbors."
Environment and association
counts, sure enough; but you are
| perfect mistress of household affairs.
'But-now, l can't let you go away
thinking baked that cake. Mrs. Gray
sent it in because she knows l am
particularly fond of that kind, in ap,
| probation of some fancied favor | had
done her.
But, Miss Marion, the flowers
were"
Yes, they were"
They were arranged so artistical-
Nv no -
whole lot
But they are not mine. We are
| only keeping them for Mrs. James,
who is away for few days. She APP
| preciated so much a few cut flowers
| | had sent her from our garden, and
| knew | would take good care of hers"
Her face was burning and the in
| herited rectitude from Puritan fore
fathers was fast becoming uncomfort-
able
That was kind of her, | am sure,
and she made wise choice in the
caretaker. One could see at a glance
almost at the servants how much care
and training
Marion buried her face in her hands.
vi, VII, va llOIl hlION tOllG
hesitated, and for a moment or two
there was absolute silence.
"Of course, | don't mean" he began
again, alphabetically that you had
to school them they simply"
Something in her manner made him
pause abruptly.
Her pretty castles We're tumbling
about her, bat above all else Marion
Day was honorable She had not
meant to be deceitful, and she could
not let him go believing what
could he believe? With a spasmodic
gasp, she turned, and, looking him full
in the face, with quiyering lips she
said:
oh Mr. Willis, Even those are
not our own. Hilda came over with
the plants, and Mrs. Douglas sent
James, with the horses, because she
was sick and could not use them her
self"
Johnston Willis was a man never
turned aside by tri1les. He spoke
again.
Il can only say, Miss Marion, that
girl capable of attracting such devot-
ed friends is the kind OF a girl | want
for my wife. May ] have herr"