Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-04-21


I had determined to do, even If I should
have to sit in the park day after day till
I left Steepletown, waiting for the owner
to pass by Thinking that the contents
of the purse might help me TO carry
out my virtuous purpose, l opened
it. 1t contained a little money, Thin
BILE, an elastic band, an advertisement
cut from paper, and half-sheet of note
paper covered with bad writing, which
took the liberty of trying to read, and
which, as well as I could make out, re-
ferred to certain transactions in eggs
and butter with E. Higgles, of II Luci-
fer-lane, Steepletown. There was moth
ing to be done but to return to the scene
of my sketch.
My second sketch was decided fail
ure; for whereas l had forgotten the
figure yesterday, to-day it was the only
thing could think of. My trees toppled
over, as if they had taken to drink since
l saw them last, and the path deviated
from the course of rectitude which it
had hitherto pursued. I was vexed at
heart because had not the opportunity
to restore the purse to its owner, and
returned home later than. usual, for l
had delayed with the hope of seeing her,
and presented my shameful sketch to
my uncle. He took it, and thanked me
cordially for it; but could see that he
preferred my first one, although he
would not for all the world and every
thing in it have hurt my feelings by say
ing as much. l explained to him that
somehow had not been in the humor
for sketching, but as had promised him
a second sketch that day did not care
to disappoint him altogether, however
much my sketch itself must do so; I
had made up my mind, however, to do
Justice to the beautiful spot he had
pointed out to me, and hoped to bring
back something better another day.
The next day went to Lucifer-lane,
not to sketch, but to interview E. Hig-
giles. E.Higgles was an irascible woman,
and as was not inclined to tarry long
with her, went straight to the point,
and asked whether she could tell
me the name of the young lady
who had called, believe, the day before
yesterday, to make purchases of eggs
and butter When I had finished, I
paused for Mrs. Higgles to reply.
swell, young man," she mumbled,
"what do you want? Speak up!" and
she literally lent me her ear.
saw at once that she was deaf, and
had not heard word of what 1 had
said; in fact, she did not seem to know
even that had been speaking.
elf you please, Mrs. Higgles," COM
menced.
"Well, well," she said, impatiently.
"Can you tell
"Not well, young man; not at all
WE'LL" she murmared.
"Can YOU tell me- l screamed.
"What?''
Scan you tell me-that?'' and I took
the bill from the purse and placed it on
the counter before her.
She picked it up, and glancing at it,
she told me there were no new-laid eggs
to-day.
requested Mrs. Higgles to read the
paper.
After reading it over six or seven
times, and carrying on long converse
ton in whispers with herself, she in
formed me she did not understand fig
ures, and that her boy John would be
there by and by, and that he would ex-
plain the mistake to the young lady
when she called for the things this after
noon.
Having obtained the information 1
L
ing Mrs. Higgles mumbling such ven
geance against her boy John as she did
not seem to me to have the strength to
execute.
Invent, later on, to the park to wait for
my young lady. After q while l thought
I saw her coming up from Crumble, and
l rushed forward to meet her. As I
advanced, it struck me that 1 had
or 10 nd
creased as the distance between us di-
minished; and when they were con-
firmed, as they were within a hundred
yards, turned back. When the lady
upon whom 1 had wasted so much en-
ergy passed me, L was lying on my back,
pulling up the grass impatiently, and
scattering it to the wind. From the ap-
prehensive manner in which she looked
at me as she went by, believe she must
have thought me mad. She stared at
me as if had been pulling my hair out
by the roots instead of the grass, and
when she caught my eye she made a
curve toward the other side of the
path. 1t amused me highly to think
how strange my behaviour altogether
must have appeared to such demure
old lady as she was. This idea so tickled
my fancy that fairly roared with laugh
ter; and my roaring, which must have
seemed to her as maniacal as my run,
so Mortified the old lady that she scam
pered out of the park as if wild bull
had been at her heels.
should have gone forward to meet
my young lady, but there were two
roads to Crumble, and was afraid that
she might walk out of the village at one
side as walked in the other way; SO I
contented myself, as we'll as I could,
with the survey of both roads from the
middle of the park. waited and
watched restlessly for her coming.
Every bonnet espied 1 thought was
hers; and the poor specimens Of MILL
merry, and the poorer specimens of hui
mainly, which imposed upon my cred
ulity were so numerous that when at
length saw her tripping along. Icould
scarcely believe my eyes. But there she
was, and no mistake about it, basket and
all and if the distance did not deceive
my sight, there was somebody with her,
and-as lived-t was a mani Asthey