Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-08-09

wanting to know If l minded now she
looked, if l thought I'd know her if I'd
see her now, if l ever thought she went
away with the ELEPHANTS, what she
done, and what she said and how she
acted, more n can mind to tell you. |
asked him plump out if she were livin'
yet, and he said to the best of his knowl-
edge and belief she were. But he
wouldn't say no more"
1t was enough. Living or dead, it
was all one to him. He went out into
the garish sunshine with an intolerance
for the brightness which filed the world.
He had hours to wait, and he passed
them in the streets, walking as il he
wanted to get away from himself.
When the afternoon train arrived at
Shoreden, he alighted among the pas
sengers. and as he was leaving the plat
form, found himself face to face with
Mrs Oliphant.
Yelled, and plainly dressed, she had
left the cottage unperceived and walked
through the hot glare over the dusty
road to the village station. She had
seen Launt before, he caught sight OF
her, and one long, earnest look had told
her what she feared to know.
81 thought you would come by this
train, Mr.. Harrington. Can l see you
for five minutes before you go? We
will be quite alone if we walk down to
the beach. There is no use asking if
Mrs. Hickett spoke-I see that she did.
| have only to ask, what do you intend
to do?'
.What can l debut break Dana's
heart and mine. God help us both!''
1T is what 1 expected of you," she
said, bitterly. "You would have died
for her. YOU would have moved Heaven
and earth to take herwhen we opposed
your suit, and.~you leave her because
the sins of the parents must be visited
upon her, though they may not touch
y0u. I have but one thing to ask, that
you do not see her again. 1t would
make your parting no easier; YOU could
hardly fail to drop some hint of the rea-
son prompting your acts: you could not
satisfy her without it, and it is not nee
essary to tell you now how we have
tried to shield her The least you can
do in PREPARATION to her is what ask. -
Not to see Dana again! Not to explain
his conduct! And yet-and yet-there
was truth in what she said. How could
he give any explanation short of the
true one which would not make him APP
pear despicable in her eyes?
Il agree to what you require" he
said, after pause, ''hard as it is. l
promise to leave the cottage without see
ing Dana, but l must have an interview
with Mr.. Oliphant and make my eXpla-
nation to him."
You must not" The sudden in
tensitv of that declaration startled him.
You must say nothing whatever to
him. Such explanations as are TO be
made, will make. Believe me, it is
not to spare myself L ask this, but to
spare my husband.
There was unutterable mournfulness
in her voice as she pronounced those
last words, and a suspicion awoke in
Launt's mind. What if she were de-
ceiving him after all? What if, to shield
some sin of her own youth, she were
ruthles5ly sacrificing Dana and himself?
Mrs. Oliphant!'' he spoke abruptly.
You are enough like Dana to be her
own mother. Miss Powers says you
are her mother. l am rot good at read
ING mysteries, vet / can not fail to see
that there is something in all this which
YOU have concealed from your husband.
What is it? have the right to ask, for
nothing short of Dana being that wom-
ans daughter-nothing short of the
blood she caused to tiow-shall stand
between us.
She flung back her veil and faced
him; for the first time he saw the snowy
hair which the thick veil had concealed.
"You are right There is something
which | have concealed from my hus-
band, but it is not whats you think. He
would tell you what l do if you were to
90 to him, that | am Dana's mother.
Yes, Mr.. harrington, I AMI was. not
Rose Sangerford, but Mignon France,
Dana's mother.