Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-31
We are positively going to-

Z
morrow"
ssYou are--I-I-wonder if I shall
ever see you again.
ST don't know" she said, indiffer-
emily. s.The world is very small. 1t
is curious how. one does knock up against
people"
'sOne does-yes - certainly. Miss
Manners, in case never should see you
again, will you overlook the shortness
of our acquaintance and let me tell you
something"
"Certainly,n she said, with slight
accent of surprise.
ell don't know whether ought to
allude to it, but must begin by doing
so. l know you must have heard some
idiotic and senseless, like the fool was,
eyes," she interrupted. quietly; "we
need not 60 back to that now"
"If you knew" he went on unheed-
ing, show bitterly have regretted that
foolish speech, how utterly retract it,
how, however, might, in my ignorant
presumption, have chosen to regard you
then, you are to me now the one woman
in the world, your face the most beau
tiful, your every attribute the most per-
feet. 1t is now the most earnest hope 1
ever entertained that you will some
day be my wife-but-I love you'll"
A sudden flame leaping up revealed
Gertrude s face, on which neither confu-
sion, agitation, pleasure, nor displeasure
were depicted; nothing but the most In
tense and genuine establishment. The
flame dropped again; the room was
nearly dark, and in the darkness the
answer sounded clear and composed.
81 am grateful to you, Mr.. Hamilton,
for the compliment you pay me, and
am sorry to pain you, but it can not
be-"
She rose as she spoke as if to leave
the room, but he detained her by an im<
ploring gesture.
"One moment, Miss Manners. Is
there no hope for me-have offended
you irrecoverably by my conceited
fony?''
There was some amusement percep-
tible in the soft, distinct tones which
answered:
s'That has nothing to do with it. My
vanity was hurt for moment perhaps,
but less hurt than if had heard such a
speech from person whose opinion l
valued"
There was pause after this, and then
he said meekly:
cat any rate you forgive me?"
"Quite," she answered, impatiently.
s'I am not child, or fool, to bear
malice for foolish words that were never
intended to reach my ears.'' Then she
added, gently: "You have atoned for
them sufficiently to satisfy the most I'M
of women"
t'But you have too poor an opinion of
me ever to care for mep'
ssNo, never said that" she answered,
kindly. 81 like you'll do, indeed-as
an acquaintance but"
The footmen's entrance at this mo-
ment with the lamp put summary stop
to the interview, and Gertrude pru-
IDENTIFY avoided any possibility of its
recurrence by walking out of the room.
One hot day in July, about six month.
later, three people were riding slowly up
Hay Hill. Of these, one was Arthu /
Hamilton, the other two, Mr.. and Mrs.
Finsbury. The lady was as pretty anu
charming as ever, her husband stolid
and somewhat bored, while Arthur wore
his most istless London air, spoke in
the most languid of tones, and appeared
wholly unimpressed by his companions
smiles.
'sDo you know who that isp'' she
said, as she bowed to tall figure in
black, who was coming down the hill.
"No," he answered, 81 did not look
at herr
''Do you remember Miss Manners,
that plain girl who acted at Friar's
Park, that you got into such scrape
with, and devoted yourself to afterward
BY way of making up for it? 1t was
wrong of you, for she might have token
your attentions for meaning more than
hey did. don't suppose she is much
to attention."
s'Miss Manners! Yes, remember
one struck Mrs. Finsbury for the mo-
nent. She gave him curious glance,
out, reading, nothing in his face, forgot
It, and went on.
ssShe has just lost her father, poor girl.
He was the only relation she had in the
world, and he has left her penniless.
She has some wild idea of going on the
stage, which is foolish, as it does not
ollow that because a girl can act well
n drawing-room theatricals she will
aver make anything by it as a profess
ion. However,"
81 think I'll go and speak to her,"
Arthur broke in, with the sudden i'm
oetuosity which always contrasted SO
oddly with his assumed Indifference to
and before Mrs. Finsbury
md her husband could speak he had
urned his horse and galloped down
he hill. He caught Miss Manners up in
Berkeley Square, had dismounted, and
vas at her side before she was aware of
lis vicinity. A faint tinge of color rose
o her cheeks as he spoke to her.
81 am so grieved to hear of your
roubles,' he began, hurriedly, but with |
UGH genuine sympathy in his tones that
he girl turned away her head to re-
over composure before answering him.
Arthur had probably had no distinct
dea of hurrying after her, except the
'leasure of seeing her for a moment;
'qt the sight of her emotion put to fight
my remnants of sense or self-control
hat were left him. Without consider
ne for a moment time, place. or cir
walking beside her with his