The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-01-27
CHAPTER III.


his soul.
CHAPTER III.
The winter passed and spring, swiftly,
monotonously, and eventless, except fol-
the graduation of the twins with honora
Upon warm June evening the Redfeld
family were assembled on the broad piaz.
"a; the full moon shown gloriously, light.
ing up the yellow head of Thankful and
the daxen poll of Elizabeth, who were sit.
ting together in hammock; the parents
sat together upon settee, and Stanley
smoked meditative cigar with his feet
upon the rail, looking across to The
Match box.
where is Dudley'" asked his father.
:" He has gone somewhere with Mrs.
Soule-a meeting of the entertainment
committee of something or other" said
Theo.
Don t you think it little odd that
| lady, young, beautiful, and rich goes
nowhere but to charitable concerns and
solemn church functions7 She never goes
to dances nor dinners, nor any of the
performances so dear to the feminine
heart. What is the reason of her seclu-
sion?'' asked Scott, who was home again
on leave
81 think some one very dear to them
is dead, " said Mrs Redfeld
Stanley shifted the position of his feet
upon the porch rail restlessly.
"There is mystery said Thankful
81 think Mrs. Soule is one of the sweet
est and loveliest women; but / do not
like mysteries, | think her husband 10
| living somewhere; / have been there a
good deal, and 1 have never seen pict.
ure of him +"
~ have, said Elizabeth; Mrs. Souls
hes one in her bed room; she asked me in
one day, and in -jeweed frame upon her
| dressing table there was a picture of the
very handsomest man / ever saw, so dark
and beautiful, so much like Lord Byron,
I said it was Byron. She said no, it was
her husband, and changed the subject; of
course, I did not ask any questions.
"For God sake, stop talking about
the neighbors! burst out Stanley violent
4 ly, and, letting his chair down with a
thump, he went down the long walk to
the gate and leaned over it.
go God How can ] bear it! ! am
even jealous of poor Dudley, whose privil-
eye it is, because he is boy, to go about
with her.
/ "Hello. Tam What are you incoming
abouta Come up to the house, I" said Dud-
4 ley, who entered the gate at that moment.
J Dudley went languidly up the steps
and cast himself upon the bench between
I his father and mother and leaned his
I head in an exhausted manner upon the
shoulder of first one and then the other.
Z" Where have you been, son'" asked his
mother.
~ still live: 7 have escaped with my
| life and sacred honor from meeting of
/ the committee upon entertainment of the
Associated Charities. of which committee.
| ter protracted and warlike session Mrs.
Soule with three other ladies went 70 re-
| fresh exhausted nature at Barton s cafe,
where we had a feast; Mrs. Soule spoiled
twenty dollar bill to pay for it,
''Was it very swells" asked Elizabeth.
"What did you haveF"
! "what did we not bavef When this
J feast of Dives was concluded, | said Il
| will arise and 60 unto my fathers. Yea,
verify. said Mrs Soule, ! will even arise
also and go unto my mother-in-aw and
here we are Dudley held up his finger
invitingly before his father.
"What are you poking your finger at
me for''' inquired that gentleman.
"The ring, the ring. You do not take
the part of the prodigal father at all well !;
I really thought that you had more tai
4 emit. -
''It seems to me you have your scrip
ture little mixed. with the prodigal son
and the feast of Mrs. Dives. said Scott,
who was deeply vexed that Mrs. Soue
had taken Dudley with her and declined
his attendance.
How do you know the prodigal son
was not entertained at the house of
Dives7'' asked the scholarly Elizabeth
''What did the committee decide upon
as an entertainment to raise money fol
the Associated Charities anything
good'' asked Thankful the peacemaker
turning her beautiful face to the moon
light
'sThey are going to have Lady Glare
!, acted while big gun of an elocutionis
recites it behind the scenes. Mrs. Soul'
is to provide the costumes, and they vii
, be stunning; she mas lot of jewels, heir
looms and others; | am to be Lord Ron
, aid, with wig, trunks, and all that
and his old three cornered hat, brooches
and all that
How did you come to be in it!'5 sai'