Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-06-06

HE DIsCEENED KIRBY SEATED AT THE
GARD TABLE.
you. don't know why Life dealt me
the hand l hold. All know is I've
got to play the cards according to rule.
Sometimes I've found that mighty.
hard keep wishing and wishing
thered be different hand dealt. but
wishing won't change it. 1t was the
shuttle that settled it long ago"
II don't think, sir. that you've said
anything that concerns you and me
very much" she commented. CHANGING
up shyly.
"'Concerns you and me-" he echoed
sadly, and. rising, he began to pace
the room. Miss Randall, let me tell
you something" he added at length.
halting and regarding her fiXedly.
Zone evening toward sunset l was
leaning over the rail of Mississippi
river steamboat. and. not finding much
pleasure in what l was thinking about,
put my hand casually into my peck
ct and drew out deck Of playing
cards, cards that had been used-well,
considerably. contemplated them a
moment and then let them fall from
my hand. They dropped into the wa
ter in kind Of little shower. And
then curious thing happened. Those
shabby old playing cards hoated along
side a rosebush all in bloom that some
body had evidently planted too near
caving back upstream. 1t seemed
us If they kind of hoped to go along
with 1t on its journey. but it didn't
look right. The rosebush was too
pretty for bad companions like that.
And then, one by one. those shabby
playing cards. lying on their backs in
the water, began to sink under and
drown. Then along came an eddy and
caught that pretty rosebush and swung
it out into the current. and away it
went down the stream. happy and
proud in just glory OF sunshine and
sparkle. 1t served those old playing
cards right. They ought to have been
drowned for trying to keep company
so high above them. That's what
thought looking down from the boats
rail-"
Without conscious effort or any at
tempt ut elocution Kirby had told the
little allegory with simple feeling and
sincerity his manner growing more
distracted until at the conclusion it
seemed as If he were speaking to his
inner self, taking counsel with all that
was best in him. Silence ensued. while
Adele looked dreamily away, and be
continued to stare ut the cards. but
seeing them not.
"DOes man always stop to think
whether he has right or nOt?" she
ventured ut length. speaking SO low
that he strained forward to catch the
words.
doesn't woman always want him
to-" he gravely returned.
'Ah. but there is something wO-
man wants Il man to do more than
that-she wants him not to give up
anything till-he is beaten" she whis.
pered.
Suppose lie is the kind Of man that
ought to be beaten?"
She arose. throwing the scarf about
her shoulders. and walked meditatively
to the door.
But mightn't it be perhaps-perhaps
with one woman" she whispered. "he
couldn't be beaten even then?'
Astonished ut her own daring. she
gave little gasp. then incontinently
fled. while Kirby stood staring after
her, fearing to interpret her words. He
turned with start as Bunce strobe
through the balcony window.
"Well. have you told her goodbye"
snapped Larkin. who had interpreted
the foregoing passage as species Of
farewell.
NO" said Kirby violently. irritated
ut the Interruption.
"Well. l reckon it's about time to
sit down and take good hard think"
warned the other. pacing the room like
an excited sentry. DO you think you
could git this grip he continued, with
heavy sarcasm. How about It when
she finds out who you are-Camoo
kirby?"
easy on that name. Larkin!'
"'Easy on the manner" beloved
Bunce. appealing to the ceiling. why.
it's been shriekin' through this house
ever since you got here. There's been
two fellers within ten feet Of you all
the time who never took their eyes