Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-06-22

"a thousand pardons, madame" b,
said to Mrs. Devereux. ssMrs. Rush
ton begs you to come to her, for a mo
ment."
The old lady arose. He stood aside
for her to pass. When they reached
the window, Mrs. Devereux said, in an
annoyed tone:
"What did you want, Adelia?''
sIt Was the Count wanted you,' re
piled Mrs. Rushton, nesting down in
her chair, like white kitten.
81 have asked this lady to be my
wife," said the Count, trembling and
agitated, yet speaking very firmly. 81
love her. 1t is not her fortune I want
it is herself. I will not denv thai
at first did think of her money. But
whether she loses it or not is of no con.
sequence. 1t is she-she alone-whc
can make my happiness. love her. >
s'My dear Mrs. Devereux,n said the
widow, in her very softest voice, ''you
can draw on your banker. I have
/ gained my wager. Count de Sarde,
! your bet was that you could win me in
four weeks. Mine was that in three
you would ask me to marry you; no,
for my money, but because you loved
me. Good-day, Monsieur De Sarde. The
next time you indulge in such wageri
be careful you do it in a room with
thick walls.''
The Count had grown white as ghost
while she spoke. AS she ceased, he
bowed, and turned slowly away. He
reached the door; then he came as
slowly back; paused at little distance
from her; and said, in a muff1ed, diff
| cult voice:
81 don't ask your pardon. That would
be useless. want only to say that /
am rightly punished. II think ought
to tell you, too, that Langdon was
ashamed of the bet. We were both
mad, 1 think; and he wanted to get out
of it."
Mrs. Rushton arose quickly; went up
to him, and held out her hand. The
| tears were in her eyes; and she said,
rapidly:
"You are an honest man, at bottom.
did so hope you were. If you will only
let your true self act, you will be wor-
thy an honest woman's affection some
time. Goodbye
She went away, beyond the arch
and he left the room. The next morn
ing he started for Berne, and took the
enough to telegraph to Langdon, and
the telegraph ran thus:
81 hare failed; and 7 must tell you
that she k'aoaOs about tho wager.n
That telegram did not reach Noel. He
had already left home and within thir-
ty-six hours after De Sarde's departure
had arrived at Thun.
The porter who carried his luggage
upstairs informed him that his friend
was gone. Noel, though ignorant of the
facts, suspected the truth; and said to
| himself that De Sarde had rushed upon
his fate, and had met with a refusal.
Judicious inquiries subsequently clio
tied the information that the two Amer
| lean ladies were quite we'll. Then the
man proceeded to give news in regard
to others; to mention new arrivals, etc.,
etc. But Langdon's interest in the af-
fairs of the house had suddenly failed i;
and he dismissed the loquacious por-
ter with an unfinished sentence on his
lips.
Langdon flung himself into chair,
travel-stained and weary; and sat think
ing and wondering. s'Have not been
fool to come backp'' he said to him.
self. cam not madden than De Sarde,
to tempt my fate? No, no! Without
this bewitching woman life would be a
desert. 1 can not risk losing her. She
was so gentle, so yielding-protectio
was 50 necessary to her," he went on to
say, ''that she might, while he hesi-
tated, give herself to some man who
had the wit to be masterful and insist !;
and whom she could not bear to refuse
for fear of giving pain; she was just the
sort of woman to make some sacrifice
like that"
And she cared for him. She must.
Her beautiful eyes had shown it. When
he reached that thought a memory
which he had studiously banished for
weeks started up in his mind, showing
so loathsome and black that for a space
he felt utterly overwhelmed-u
ever even to see her again.
He sat for awhile brooding over his
dark fancies; then stern resolve fas-
tened upon him; he could not shake it
off; he tried, but he failed. He must 90
to her. He must tell her the truth. He
must reveal the fact of that vile wager.
1t was useless to argue-to assure him.
self that it was downright madness; he
must do it. Not to do it would be dis
honorable.
He got up and began to dress in great
haste; it seemed to him as if he should
never be ready. But he was at length
out in the hall giving his card to serv-
ant and bidding the man inquire if Mrs.
Rushton could receive him.
Then, presently, he found himself in
her salon; and after few moments
waiting she appeared. She was dressed,
as usual, in white, looking so ethereal
and lovely that his misery and remorse
swelled up in higher, blacker tide;
and even if he had not been already re-
solved to tell her the whole truth, he
could not have kept his lips from its
utterance.
"Mr. Langdon, how nice of you to
come back" she said. approaching him
with her dainty hand extended, and
that Circe-like smile on her lips.
He hurried forward to meet her. He
stretched forth his hand. Then ne
drew it back, and stopped short, and
said, brokenly:
81 can't take it. I'm not fit. Pm
the meanest wretch alive, and came to
toll vO11 On -