Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-07-13

: baton.
Amy's thoughts flew in all sorts OF
wild directions during the stately sym
, phony, and when the sweet-voiced sim
ger stepped forward in her festival robes
, and sang one of the immortal songs OF
the master whose birthday was being
celebrated, she started violently. 1t was
as if she had been asleep and was just
becoming conscious of her surroundings.
But he did not direct one more glance
toward her for the remainder of the
evening, but kept his eyes fixed I'M
waveringly upon the musicians while
they played, and during the intervals
between the music still occupied himself
} with the mysterious writing, which, by
the expression of his face, she judged
to be important.
When the concert was over, and the
crowd was preparing to leave the hall,
quite by accident Amy dropped her
muff over the back of the seat by which
she was standing, and it rolled to the
feet of the young gentleman. who, with
gloves and various other things in one
hand and hat in the other, was about
leaving the hall.
She colored deeply and stood looking
after it, the image of vexation, while her
| AaoACAS duItC ObhNlouS Va thO hAlohbPS
was playing the gallant to some ladies
OF his acquaintance.
The young gentleman did not, at first,
perceive that she had dropped anything,
but turning suddenly and noticing the
direction Of her gaze and her disturbed
countenance, with quick, 81 beg your
PARDON" stopped and restored the muff
to her. But the proceeding seemed to
| ho offorIoH 1tx, hiS
part, as his hands were already over
burdened, and in his haste he had not
thought to disburden them in order to
perform the act more gracefully. He
smiled slightly and with some embar-
rassment as he acknowledged her bow
of thanks, while she, for some indefna-
BILE reason, colored still more deeply
until the ''red, red rose" was not to be
compared to her lovely countenance in
depth of bloom. But almost invOlunta
| rily she returned his smile, and for the
space of a half-moment or so, which
seemed an hour, the two stood gazing
into each others eyes with the air of
| long-separated friends who are vergi ing
on recognition. Then drawing herself
up with sudden dignity Amy turned
away, and, looking somewhat amused,
he followed her example and hastily left
the hall.
On her way home she discovered
bit of folded paper, tucked away in a
little crease in the lining of her muff,
which, upon investigation, proved to be
a note written in a somewhat hasty and
scrawly hand. She made haste to read
it by the subdued and unromantic beams
of the carriage lamp. 1t was a highly
dramatic and ardent declaration of love,
commencing mysteriously, "Unknown
beloved one,'' and signed "George,"
with simple familiarity which was
calculated to induce surprise, whatever
other emotions might be sleeping in the
bosom. Her father, with his usual and
exceedingly convenient drowsiness, was
aoblivious to all things, leaning back on
the cushions, and the girl read the note
over and over again, with pale cneeks
and loudly beating heart. Then her
eyes caught sight of q familiar name
written in a finer and more careful hand
in one corner of the sheet, t'Robert
land" 1t was the address of her own
uncle, her mothers brother. elbow de- |
lightful!" was her first thought. s'Did
he know him?'' Then an angry flush |
succeeded the pallor in her cheeks.
How dare he write to her in this strainp |
and she tore the paper into little bits |
and threw them energetically from the |
carriage window, but, watching them |
whirl away in the wind, she exper-
fenced a feeling of regret and a longing |
to recall them.
She reached home in state of un-
usual excitement. The whole world |
seemed to have been performing strange
antics, and, like the old woman In
Mother Goose, she said to herself: |
"This surely can't be I?''
She had no young lady confidant with
whom to confer upon such an amazing
happening, and to be obliged to lock
such a secret in ones bosom was con-
ductive to madness. Its presence
changed the color of every moment, and
made the commonplace days over into
something half sweet, half tragic, and it
was the longest week that ever stretched
from sea to shore, from workaday to
holiday, from pain to pleasure, that
between those two recitals of
the Beethoven Club. But the fateful
night came at length, and with many
deep resolutions to scornfully ignore it
all, if he should dare to gaze upon her,
Amy went with her father to the hall,
her head adorned with q new hat and
new dignity, also.
1t was early when they arrived there,
but he was already in his seat, and to
Amy's CONSERVATION, directly he per-
ceived her, he arose, bowling with as
much politness as if he had never
dreamed of sending her love letter. or
had ever gazed too frequently in the
region of where she sat.
She involuntarily glanced toward her
father, but, as usual, when not doing,
he was conversing with some acquaint-
ances who sat Immediately behind, and
her no protection whatever.
evil you permit me to inquire?'
he commenced politely; but Amy's
cheeks became so deathly pale that he
paused in dismay, begging to be ex-
cused for troubling her. L.
She took courage, lifting her head
very high, and the color returned to her
face in crimson flood.