Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-09-30

who ever offered her the love her soul crayed,
there was tumuituous overflow OF the
long concealed passions of her stormy ma
ture. She was, as you say, seemingly craZed.
Every other interest was Immediately
lost sight Of. The new bliss of feeling her.
self beloved was as ecstatic as to defy con-
cealment. She was rendered incapable OF
even pretending to be her former self:
La, how you do take on" was the cold
shower that Mrs. Dales's enthusiastic spirit
received at this point. You raelly make
Nell out ter be wonderful cretur-the sassy
jade"
:. Really, Mrs. Melton, do not think you
'.Wall, don't keer II don't-the sassy
trollop"
Mrs. Dales's only reply was deep sigh,
and Mrs. Melton, evidently not caring to
pursue the subject further, carefully rolled
up her knitting, then arose and commenced
brisk preparations for supper.
That night, though Mrs. Dales retired at
nine O'Clock, as was the custom in this New
England farmhouse, she could not sleep.
She lay thinking of Nell, and wondering
where she could be so late in the evening
alone; for the hours sped on, and when the
old clock in the kitchen struck eleven she
had not returned.
Presently, however, she heard footsteps
upon the path leading to the back porch,
and, softly pushing aside the curtain, she
in the company of a young man. whom she
took to be Nell Lynn, approaching.
sob, if that were my daughter" she
thought, "what would I do! So young,
and ignorant, and loving that, l fear, I'M
worthy fellow. Heaven protect herO
1t seemed as il the minutes were hours
that Mrs. Dales waited for the whispering
beneath her window to cease. She could
hardly restrain herself from calling the girl
to come in. But when, at length, the clock
,:r.I,% I, oil
Of the dOOr-latch and the sound of retreat
ing footsteps indicated that the couple had
parted. A few moments later, as Nell crept
softly past the door, she heard a stif1ed sob.
Poor girl, +" thought the kind-hearted wo-
man, she is in trouble and has not one
soul to confide in, or advise her. l wish she
would let me help her in some way"
The next morning Nell did not come down
stairs at her usual hour to assist in getting
breakfast, and when Mrs. Melton started to
call her, Mrs. Dales offered to go instead.
She found her with her eyes red and swollen
from weeping, and looking as if she had not
slept moment all night. When she saw
Mrs. Dales she covered her face with the
bed-clOthes, and remained in sullen silence.
But the good woman was not thus to be dis
ISOLATE creature. She seated herself on the
edge OF the bed and commenced stroking,
with her soft, magnetic fingers the bit of her
forehead that was visible above the bed
clothes, trying to soothe her at the same
time with words of tenderness and sympa-
thy. But the girl made no other response to
the kindness of her new friend than by now
and then bursting into fresh sobs. By and
by Mrs. Dales left her, but only to return af-
ter a little space with tray upon which she
had arranged qdite a tempting breakfast
This she urged Nell to eat in her most per-
suasive voice and manner; but she wonld
neither taste mOrsel, nor would she speak.
She was, to say the least, most diSagreeably
sullen. Mrs. Dales's persistent kindness and
forbearance, however, were equal to her
stubtornness. In truth, she felt such keen
sympathy for the poor young creatures
poignant grief, and, withal, was harrassed by
such fear that she would commit some rash
and desperate act, that she never thought Of
resenting any repulse she might receive from
the thoughtless and imprudent child,' as
she called her.
OF the immediate cause of her trouble,
Mrs. Dales had not the slightest mixing, be-
yOnd the various surmlses Which naturally
arose in her mind, until, when the day was
well advanced, one OF the farm boys who had
been to the village of an errand, brought the
news that Nell Lynn was going to be mar
ried that very evening. His bride to be was
the daughter of a well-to-do farmer, and was
also the village school-teacher. Mrs. Dales
drew a long breath of relief, as she heard this
news. In her heart, she thanked God that
Nell was thus to be freed from the unhappy
thralldOm of this unprincipled fellows So
ciety. She mentally resolved to guard the
girl with unceasing vigilance until she should
become more accustomed to her disappoint-
ment, or until her mind should be able to
adjust itself to the changed conditions of her
life.
She had too clear an insight into human
hearts to indulge any fears OF Nell's BROOD
ing for any great length OF time over her un-
after a few days her thoroughly healthy
physique and elastic spirits would be able
10 throw off the incubus that was weighing
now SO heavily upon her heart, and to a
somewhat alarming degree, bewildering her
mind.
As the day waned, and the early hours of
evening wore on, Mrs. Dales felt the increas-
ing necessity of, by some means or other, in
ducing Nell to sleep. She was every hour
growing more delirious and feverish.
''She must sieep," she said to herself, as
she went to little medicine chest which she
always kept near at hand, and taking out a
small vial, she poured therefrom white
powder, which she prevailed on Nell to swal-
low in the cold water she was constantly beg
ging for.
Mrs. Dales watched anXiOusly till she saw
her patient sink into heavy, unbroken
sumber; and then, as it was drawing to-
ward midnight of this, the second night Of
her vigil, she lay down beside her and slept.
1t was long after the sun was up the next
morning when Nell awOke. Mrs. Dales, who
was sitting in q low rocker by her bedside,
noticed with satisfaction that a calm, inteli-
gent look shone in the round black eyes
which had glittered with deirious excite
ment the day previous; also that the cheek,
which had been burning with fever, was
now pale and cool. Her mind seemed not
to revert at once to her trouble, for the first
words she spoke had all the old impetuous
ring.
"Oh, dear! Pm half starved" she ex-
claimed with a yawn; 81 do feel $3.50
somehow at my stomach" But the next
moment the past came rushing in upon her,
and suddenly tnrowing up her brown hands,
she clasped them over her forehead tightly,
murmuring in accents of real pain, "Oh,
dear, dear.'
Mrs. Dales quietly handed her some cruel
she had already at hand, and when Nell had
partaken of all that she desired, which, how
ever, was but little, she began to unfold a
plan which she had been maturing the last
two days concerning her future.
81 want you to get we'll right away" said
Mrs. Dales, cheerfully; s." for / have made up
my mind to take you home with me, if you
are willing to CO."
Neil opened her eyes wide, and stared at
Mrs. Dales incredulously.
What in the world do you want OF me: 2"
she exclaimed,