Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-31

though her eyes filled with tears as she
| replied: ssNo, Mr.. Hamilton; it can moi
be. do not love you.''
6 But you would learn to love me, >
he urged.
She shook her head SIT would be
| wrong. 1t is temptation, for I am
very lonely, but"
Then marry me-" he broke in,
eagerly. ST only ask for the right to
| devote myself to you. You would learn
to love me. / will take the risk
If only the fine ladies who ran after
| this fastidious young man and took such
| infinite pains to secure his favor, could
have heard him!
No." said Gertrude. tsIt is not for
these motives one should marry" Then
she added, kindly: s'You are worthy oil
better fate than to be married for the
sake of your money. L hope you will
find it some day.
He'looked for a moment into her face,
and knew it was hopeless.
Forgive me for having troubled
you," he said. "Only if ever you need
friend, think of me- I shall always
deem it privilege to serve you, no mat
ter in how small a way. Will you re-
member thisi''
81 will remember" she answered,
softly. Snow, good-by."
evil you come to the theater to-
night, Hamilton, and see this new star
they are making such fuss about?'
And Arthur, who was staying for q
day or two with a friend in New York,
expressed his willingness to go any
where his host wished to take him. As
they were leaving the house, one of the
children came, flying down the stairs.
"Mr. Hamilton, have made you a
buttonholes please take it.''
Arthur tlEned with a smile to the lit
tie maidenas she continued: SCI have
tied it up with blue ribbon, my dolls
best hair-ribbon.'' Whereupon she pro-
duced an exquisite white rosebud and
bit of fern, tied with a narrow piece of
common ribbon. It was not an inn
provement to the bouquet, and had de-
cidedly an odd appearance in Arthur's
coat. But .Aaur was no longer the
languid dandy had once been. Hand
some as ever, anM considerably improved
by the sensible, mssly manner that had
taken the place of former affectation
of perpetual boredom, he was greater
AdEOIltc tu1u cf0E With tuc ldiT Sex, UuG
they received little encouragement to
pet him now. To children he was al
ways kind, and never for moment
dreamt of hurting this child's feelings
by rejecting the ribbon. He kissed the
donor, and assured her he felt much
fattered.
The theater was hot and crowded.
Arthur was tired from travelling and
sightseeing. He went to sleep directly
he was in his seat, and was only aroused
by the vociferous applause that greeted
the star. He woke himself up to look
at her, and at the first glance his heart
stood still. She began to speak. There
was no mistaking those clear, sweet
tones, even under the trained stage in-
tonation. 1t was indeed Gertrude whom
he had neither seen nor heard of since
he had parted from her in Berkeley
Square. Breathlessly he watched her
every movement and listened to every
word. She was q greats actress, UNI
doubtedly; she carried her audience
with her in every emotion she portrayed.
Her passion and fervor reduced them to
tears one moment, at another her rip
ping laughter gladdened their hearts.
Only Arthur neither laughed nor cried.
To him she was not the heroine of the
piece, whose vicissitudes of fortune he
followed with eager interest. She was
herself, the woman he loved; he did not
know whether she were acting i'll or
well, hardly what words she was utter
ing. He only knew he was once more
looking on the face, and listening to the
voice that for five years had so persist
emily haunted his memory.
1t was over. He could not tell whether
she had seen him; indeed, till this mo-
ment, it had not occurred to him to
wonder. Now, however, as in. answer
to repeated calls, she came before the
curtain, he was seized with q wild de-
sire to attract her attention. He took
the little white rosebud out of his but
tonhole, and threw it to her. In vain.
A bouquet fell at the same moment, and
his poor little flower lay unobserved near
the footlights.
"Well, my good friend, do you mean
to come away to-night?" asked his COM
panion. Arthur started, then, collect
ing himself, explained that the actress
was a former acquaintance of his, and
suggested going round to the stage-door
to see her. "You would not be admit
ted; she is never to be found behind
the SCENES"
So Arthur was compelled to wait till
the next day, when, procuring her ad-
dress, he started off to see her. She was
at home, and met him with vivid blush
and nervous futter that was most I'M
usual to her. Their greeting was COM
monplace enough, and when her color
had faded, Arthur was not distracted by
the exciting nature of the conversation
from observing how time had dealt with
her. There were silver lines in her hair
hat had surely no business to be there,
and lines on her face that told of weary
But the green hazel eyes
we're soft and expressive as ever, and
The play of countenance even more va
led. But she had lost her. cool self
circumstance he remarked,
Ind attributed to the same wear and
ear that had lined her face and touched
Ter hair with gray.
"May I congratulate you," he said,
ION the success you have achieved"
"She smiled little sadly. eyes, I |
suppose have succeeded; but
Sc Rut uhatp1