Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-03-02

back to her all the old agony. This man
officiated at the last sad ceremony. Oh,
papa, this man is an undertaken ."
The old man May fell back in a chair.
His face became of an ashy pallor, and
with trembling, stubby forefnger he
pointed to the door. I made one final
effort to reach Florence. She shud-
dered, and drew back. In her beauti-
full face struggled an expression of pity
and loathing. .sGo away, you misera-
BILE mani" she said; ''oh, do go away!"
And 1 went. started for Omaha that
night, not even waiting to bid Cousin
Jack good-by. could not reach home
quick enough. Only to press on to the
dear old city, to see again the sweet face
of Cousin Sue, which every moment of
my journey rendered dearer and more
precious. Not that was weak enough
to disparage the beauty of Miss May in
my disappointment and chagrin, but it
had never held the domestic and solid
charm that invested the attractions of
Cousin Sue. Here was a woman who
would share life with man honestly
and fearlessly, help him to bear misery
as well as appreciate happiness, help
him to make money as well as to spend
it, help him to dispel bugbears instead
of raising them-a warm-hearted brave,
religious girl, who took the world as she
found it, tried to better it as she went
along, confiding innocently and happily
in the will of the Almighty. Oh, for a
balloon to Omaha! And reaching
Omaha, still more YEARLY the road
heightened. / scarcely slept wink for
the last two nights, and gaining the city,
half worn out but glad, haggard but
happy, l jumped into cab, offering
the driver double fare to push ON double
quick, and we went rafting over the
dear old streets, while craned my neck
out of the window, and fretted at every
delay. went direct to Sue, knowing
the dear girls heart would beat all the
warmer for a weary traveller, and reach
ing the house of my aunt, found it, as
usual, with the blinds cheerily open, the
familiar geranium poisoning Justify at
the windows of the front basement, the
canaries singing away, the CRATE fire
blazing, and the oleander in full bloom.
A warm, spicy, fragrant odor of cakes
and preserves and all manner of dainties
came floating out of the kitchen, and
Aunt Cynthia ran in, kissing me at arm s.
length, for her hands were full of -four.
t'Getting ready for Christmas?" said.
s'Better than that said Aunt Cynthia !;
but I paid no heed to this remark, for
was looking about for Sue.
"She's down at the warerooms,"
said my aunt; ''she's never happy un-
less she's fussing with that old ma
chine.'' Away I sped for the ware
rooms, and rushing up the stairs,
bumped against somebody coming
down.
"By gracious!'' said the man, .'it's
NORTH And looking up, 1 beheld
Cousin Jack. Something in his face
sent chill to my vertebra; something
in my face probably sent a chill to his,
for he grew pale at once, and said, in a
peculiar shaky, distrustful way:
"How did you leave Miss MayP'
81 left her forever!" cried. "I've
come back to take your advice, Jack
to marry Cousin Sue, and settle down. :"
"Hold on, Mort" said Jack, selling
me by the arm. ''Be a man now, old
boy; be just, anyhow. What did you
say when 1 begged you to go home and
marry Cousin Sue?''
81 don't know-I don't care" said,
beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"You said you'd cut your throat first,
didn't you? Now, honest, Mort, before
Heaven, didn't you say that?'
"And you told herP'' said, sitting
down on the step, for I began to guess
the truth.
"No, didn't. I never said q word
about you that would disparage you in
her opinion, except that you were heels
over head in love with another woman,
and that was fair, for I've been fond of
her for years, and only went West be-
cause I thought there was no chance for
me.'
"And now you've got herP" 1 said,
sick at heart.
eyes, and please God I'll keep her,"
said Jack. 'I'll give up all idea of the
partnership to you again, but it won't be
safe for any one to interfere with my
claim to Cousin Sue.''
/ smiled bitterly. "She's not the kind
of woman to give her word and break it
lightly" l said, and softened, for after
all Jack was worthier of her than 1, and
so many blows would break the most in
domitable spirit.
UOu UlcSS YOU UOtu: Sdius uOIu-
ing out my hand to him. Commiser.
alive tears sprang to the good fellows
eyes.
Won't you 60 up and see herp' he
said.
"Not now," I replied.
"Well, come in at Christmas, Mort,
anyway, to the wedding, won't your I
ask it as favor, Mort.''
And did 60 in at Christmas, and saw
them married, and Sue seemed so per-
fectly happy that almost distrusted
her old fondness for me; but only few
nights ago, at the christening of her
third baby, when Sue and were talk
ing together in corner, in a jolly, con-
fdential way, and I had told her that
my money and share of the business
should go to her eldest boy, Mortimer,
in the impulse of the moment asked
her if, upon that morning in the ware
room. before went West. I had made