Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-09-30
A WOMAN'S SYMPATHY,
And What Came of 1t.

"WHERE are you going, Nellie?"
1t was woman OF apparently some Sixty
years, who asked this question OF young
girl who stood before small mirror adjust
ing her hat.
"Don't know" was the sulky answer.
"You will be to home fore dark, won't
yersn continued the woman, whom we shall
call Mrs. Melton, as she raised her specta-
cled eyes to the girls face, in gaze that she
meant should be pleading, but which was
decidedly reproachful.
'sDon't know whether I shall or not.
haven't made up my mind bout what s'll
do 10 fur ahead" was the muttered answer,
as The girl gave her head contemptuous
ssHou know sill be worried bout We,
Nellie, if yer not IN the house afOre dark"
ceH to flash defiant glance at Mrs. Melton
tb3ugh the little mirror. Gathering her
blalk and white worsted shawl about her
pr&ty shoulders, she crossed the big, old
fashioned kitchen, and passed out OF the
dor, which opened upon the porch, as they
ca1ed it. Said porch consisting only OF a
rotgh board floor and a rude bench built
urfer a fine maple tree, which grew in the
adle formed by the ell and the main body
O1he house.
trs. Melton followed her, with her eyes,
though the open door, as she moved briskly
alhg the path running westward through
It'd green field, to the main road half mile
dtant. The sinking sun cast golden glow
cdrs, and so blending the hues of earth
al sky that the little figure of the girl, clad
i4ark contrasting hues, became a promi-
n{t feature in the near view. This golden
CIV also had the effect Of frightening and
b1itifying her tiny form. Mrs. Melton,
hGeyer, saw nothing of this. She had no
eJfor the varied pictures that nature was
c4inually presenting to her careless gaze.
81 looked at the grand amphitheater of
his, and searched the gorgeous clouds piled
NJ h;,,I eip tO dptprmine what the
y1ther was to be, SO far as it had to do with
n LAYING plans for framework. Work,
yfk. This was the keynote of her every
thght and every act from one years end
fknOther At this moment she was looking
sIply at the girl, not at what was beyond,
1around her, in order to make sure that
was well beyond hearing before she freed
h mind to her sister-in-law, Mrs. Dales,
"Nell.o "Nell' was what she invaria-
dcalled her, except on the rare occasions
JAn she was moved to make pretense OF
illness or solicitude for the girl. Pre-
4es Of this kind were all worse than lost
1enlpt for every thing OF the sort, and
Ibid not hesitate in expressing 1t, usually.
lit does beat all how that girl carries on"
Ian Mrs. Melton, presently L never
light I should raise up girl to be so
Nv as she is"
IHow old is she?"
LEST seventeen: an Nell LYNNE 8 the
his son who lives right across the field, In
smart lookin', white house yonder.
IRE ,tis-you can see it right through the
Ider. See what a nice, big barn, all clap
Elled am painted brown. They got it
hfnI @, hav, too, this summer. There
better farm for hay in the State o.
Inc than theirn is-'cept mebbe, it's mine.
int low that mine is to be beat in these
Fins. eft do live in an old, yaller, two
r. house with flat roof. Pve got just
hood barn as old Lynn has got, only it's
kpled instead o. clapboarded, am it's
Eewashed instead o. bein' painted brown.
tive got q good stock o. cattle, an Pve
money at interest, too, though don't
To-, that ter every one," and Mrs. Melton
he'd Mt her sister-in-l law in patronlZlng
"But. as was sayin'," she continued,
Lis Nell Lynn-yer see he's the only child
he Lynns over yonder, he's been maxim
I've court Nell for nearly year-that is,
come here every day. an sometimes
Ior three times: an they've sot out on the
In. under the maple tree, till nine or ten
HEX of eyenin's. AM then we'd hear, ar
Yards how he'd be ga;avantin' with the
& down to the village every chance ne
Ia oct, AM when the boys that work for
kyo11ld tell Nell ont sh'd be just good for
Ein,. am her eyes would look all red an
He'd from cryin' till she see Nell, an he.d
War her over. an make her believe he'd
hr cared jack straw for the rest o. the
Ealk to her? I guess I've talked and
taS till she Jest told me might talk till
Ensday and it woul dn't do any good.
her Nell Lynn wouldn't marry giri