Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-02-24

Both are very. good in their way, and We
couldn't do without them; but, you see.
their way isnot 0asr way, and INTENDED
not to look like a respectable member of
our society. But why coat like miller
should be less respectable than coat
like afc1iter is oneOf those things which
I imagine no man can fully understand
or explain. A black swallow-tail is cor
rect-is usual-it is the custom. Yes, l
know: but why? &C.
4 s.Well, George, old boy, how are
yoU?" cried 4 hearty voice, as my loot
steps assembled the stairs. go
"Why, old man, who ever thought OF
seeing you-and on such day too? 1t
is like living in an oven. What has
brought you up to town, away from your
shooting and country breezes? You
don't find it a very good exchange, |
should think, Bruce --~..-.
business, George! Business, you
know, must be attended to-" he replied,
laughing, at the same time almost shak-
ing my hand off, and using an energy
which would have been impossible with
me on such a day, and which, even
secondhand, found quite exhausting.
Business!' echoed. "Why, what
business have you, except enjoying all
the goods the gods provide you with?
All, Bruce! you are one of the few lucky
fellows born with silver spoon ready
to feed you" (for my old schoolfellow
and friend had well-lined pockets and
comfortable estate in prospective, as the
only son of a wealthy man of good
family.
"Never fear, my boy" he answered
cheerily; "the spoon will come to you
some day, and sooner than you think,
perhaps. And now / am going to carry
you off to the theater to night. Where
shall we go?''
"The theater! Why, we should be
suffoeated!" gasped.
"Not bit of it, he answered.
/" You shall have as many ices as you
please to cool you.s I've only this one
night in town, and I'm not to be banked
of going to the play. You ~Londoners
dom know what it is to enjoy things as
we countrymen do"
s'But why come up for so short a
time? | can put you up as long as you
like, and
80, you'll feel more : fit when you
have had your dinner, George. By the
bye, when shuW we have it? am
deucedly hungry, can tell you"
ssHungry!'' I murmured, looking at
nv friend in establishment. "Well, old
man, you are wonder. Fancy anyone
being hungry to-day"
And sure enough he was. l acknOwl-
edged the fact as saw the breast of a
chicken, followed by the wing, merry
thought, and two legs, vanish before him
like summer lightning, assisted by sew
eral slices of ham. and an alarming
quantity of vegetables and bread.
watched and envied him his appetite.
OF course he had his way, the great big
overpowering fellow! He was some
years older than myself, and had been
his /" fag'' at Eton. Not that he had
ever 6ullied me; still, was accustomed
to follow out his wishes and to the the
alter we went. "Our Boys" was being
acted, and upon that he decided. We
took our places in the stalls; the curtain
rose, and the piece began.
My friend Tom Bruce was instantly
absorbed in the plot-ready to laugh at
all the jokes, and pretty nearly to cry at
the pathetic parts. Soft-hearted old
fellow! 1 had seen s Our Boys'' till l
knew Just when to expect the tid-bits;
so was not giving much attention to
the stage And then I saw coming
toward the stalls the very same old gen
tleman whom I had seen in the hanson
cab some hours before; and I fell to
wondering if he had managed to rouse
the driver and stop his friend. smiled
as I remembered his excitement, and
looked up at him. To my astonishment,
1 found him regarding me with a most
annoyed, not to say stern, expression of
face. I supposed he had seen me in
| the afternoon, and had noted that | was
amused at him, aud now was deter
| mined to resent ia fact not likely to
be particularly pleasant, as he walked
up and took possession of the very next
seat to the one which occupied. had no
wish to annoy my neighbor; so fixed
my eyes upon the stage, and tried to be
| interested in the actors; but all the time
! was aware that the gentleman in the
next seat was doing me the honor of
staring intently at me, and that he was
| becoming very angry. And then he
| said Edward"
A man had taken the place on the
other side of him-tbGt l saw without
looking. Could he be Edward? Yet 1
felt that my neighbours face was turned
| toward me. First he had spoken in a
| low tone; but now he raised his voice,
and said again s.Edwardl' so suddenly
that it made me jump. Still I did not
turn round, as it was no business of
mine, and I did not wish to give my
irascible neighbor any cause of offense.
"Do you hear me, sirP" he continued
holly. "What is the use of your pre-
tending not to see mep''
By this time Tom Bruce's attention
had been attracted. and I was feeling
very uncomfortable, for violent jerking
was going on at my left coat-sleeve; and
the idea had returned to me that this
4 excitable gentleman was out of sound
mind, and having the distaste for being
made .. .'laughing-stock"-which is
strong in most people, feared lest he
had singled me out to render me absurd
in the eyes Of all assembled there. A
more violent tug, however, made me
turn with an Immigrant remonstrance.
"Towhat am Indebted, sir, for this
unusual conduct?' l asked.
"What the deuce are you doing here
at alp" he replied in an angry tone.
| Mod - I ia II, y.e3lv9 sSNad a