Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-09-29

There was no more "copy" due for nearly
q week to come.
l would be idle for while; I would stroll
into that park of which we were all 80 proud,
SIT on seat under a tree, and watch the
shabby children turning summersallts and
standing on their heads in the grass; take
glance at the rhododendrons beginning to
break out into blaze of color; watch the
laburnum shaking its golden locks out in the
soft. warm wind; mediate on future diff
cultes into which to lead aristOcratic feet,
future depths Of unspeakable bliss upon
which to let the curtain drop.
L would weave an intricate and exciting
plot-a plot that would hold my reader
GREATNESS, and cause my editor to greet me,
on my next visit to the editorial sanctum,
with his blandest smile; and my picture
should be limned after the pattern of that
sweet faced, calm-eyed woman, my new
neighbor.
Ihad chosen a delightful seat, quiet and
retired, yet within earshot of chidren's
voices and the quacking of ducks 1or we
had pOnd-quite large pond, too-in our
park, when, moving slowly, and in strange
timid fashion, MY new neighbor came along
one of the side walks.
confess to experiencing shock. l con-
TESS that Pegasus, just about to soar aloft,
floundered pitiably. IL
The Madonna faced woman was what is
called, in hOmely parlance, a crook back.
A simple brown bonnet was tied over her
brown hair, the two nearly matching each
other. Her blue eyes-WOnderful eyes they
were in very truthful Of sort of pathetic
pleading, as if asking all the world to be toll
Grant Of her deformed shape and awkward,
stumbling gait-lOoked at me as she passed.
L almost fancied she would have stopped
and taken place upon the bench beside me
but for the fact that she was on her way to
keep an appointment. / came to this con-
clusion UNDERSTANDINGS, because have learn
ed to read peoples errands from the way
they 90 about them, and know the look of
person on the way to business Interview
off by heart.
Poor people do not wait for introduc;ions
to make each others acquaintance. 1t is one
Of the advantages of poverty that it is UNI
trammeled by conventionality.
A week later l knew Hetty Deacon to
speak to as we passed each other i'll the
street, to nod to as we looked at each other
from opposite windows. A month later l
seemed to have known her all my life. /
wondered how had ever managed to get
on without her sweet companionship-he
ready sympathy.
For you never saw any one so interested
in the beautiful young COuntesses and
wicked young Dukes as Hetty was. She
would laugh right merriy over the funny
bits of my stories, and Pm sure have seen
her eyes quite bright and fearful over my
death-bed scenes. You know people al
ways die at great length, and very much
more picturesquely, on paper than they do
sort OF thing. l am a very old woman now,
and an unexpected legacy has made it quite
unnecessary for me to write ''fiction for the
mlliOn,' as we called our weekly paper, SO
l may say that much without laying myself
open to the charge of being vaing loriOus.
Yes, l was a good hand at the pathetic
parts. l often brought the tears to my own
eyes, and my voice quite faltered as l read
aloud to Hetty about pale faces on white pill
lows, and wan hands that clasped those that
faIn LOT fhnro On
How clever you arev' she would say;
81 should never have thought of that
Success had had in certain small way of
my own-success that meant due and reg
cheap trip to the sea once every autumn;
but this, [ felt, was fame-this was incense
this was sip out of the Intoxicating cup
of glory!
It was such help to me having some one
near at hand to take an interest in the webs
l spun with my busy brain! ..s
Some while back l had tried the land
lady's daughter, but the attempt was
failure. She ate surreptitious sweets while
l read to her, and made nasty sucking noises
thrilling part OF a most thrilling story, max
ing vulgar signs with her fingers to her
brother through the chink of the
room door. Then gave the thing up, con-
vinced that the higher education of the
masses was hopeless affair. But it was
And grew to love the girl (she was but
eighteen) with all my heart. There had
been black and terrible troubles in my past
life. All loved had been reft from my
hold; worse still, those l trusted in most
blindly had proved untrue. Mine was a sad
story enough; grief and disappointment had
seemed to wither me. 1 had made no ties,
formed no friendships, in these latter years. |
But now, was like an old tree that sud-
denly sprouts out into little fresh green |
branches Of leaves all about its hOary trunk. !
l let Hetty creep into my heart of hearts and
nestle there.
Hetty was an artists model.
u" L only sit for the face and head, of
she said, faint flush rising in her
check, as she alluded to her deformed and
twisted frame; ut seems 1 suit for Saint
Cecilas and that sort of thing.''
$50 should fancy" answered, glancing
at the beautiful, spiritual face opposite me.
"Of course, with mother to keep, it has |
been hard work sometimes, and the sewing |
for the linen shops is a good thing to have at
hand when studio work chances to be slack.
l was getting very hopeless just when first |
we came here, though 1 said nothing to
mother. 1 never do. Do you remember |
the morning passed you sitting under the |
laburnum tree in the park? Well, L was on |
my way to see an artist them"
81 knew you were on your way to see |
you looked like business all |
Dyer.'
ayes, dare say did. felt like it. l |
never made better bargain than 1 did that |
day. l was afraid that should break out |
singing as came along the streets home
my heart was as glad as the lark over there
1t No. TO-"
81 thought so," I put in here; 81 heard |
you singing next morning at your work"
Patience, l think we always loved each
other, even before we ever spoke to each
other. I used to peep at you across the
street, and then the milk woman told moth
er you were the lady who wrote stories;'
20 peeped oftener than ever. think 1 |
was little frightened of you at first"
''But not now?''
''Ah, no.
Hetty's mother was nearly blind, and yet
t was wonderful how much she managed to
10 in the way of SETTLING up' their shabby
title room. 1t was the very picture of
cleanliness and tidiness. The last tenant
lad been musician at one of the minor +
heaters, man who devoted himself to two |
hings in life-his violin, and the rearing Of
nignonette in the box outside of the WIN
low The sun of pros perity seemed to he