Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-09-13
CHAPTER xxi.

it. grandmother. 1t depends upon hel
whether you ever see me again"
CHAPTER xxi.
| AN OLDER STORY.
As Gordon Marquis had gone once,
Launt harrington went now, straight tC
Alexia for information of Dana.
! Miss Braxton consented to see him,
and made her appearance, very icy,
| very constrained, very much inclined to
visit his past dereliction most severely
upon his offending head, but relenting
after she had looked into his haggard,
! miserable face, and heard the justitica.
! ton which she did not in the least
understand. A secret had separated
them, which was cleared away now.
! and if she could and would direct him
| to Dana, he would be grateful all his
life. Miss Braxton could; whether she
woufd-ah. that was a question
| "Iou see.' said Lex, Dana mightn I
like it. And if she don't care, why,
he nightn-t like it. l wouldn't in his
place. 49,
'He?s. Who?" asked Launt, with a
sudden pang.
1 Gordon Marquis. to be sure. Be-
cause you went off and left her is no
reason why all the rest of the world
should do the same. Ibelieve he thinks
all the more of her since she has been
| in trouble; and he beh;ended Aunt
| Rose-or do You know about that?'
| Il know nothing replied Launt. a
| blush pallor coming about his lips.
{. Be kind enough to tell me, viii you
note
Lex did She dwelt upon Gordon
faithful friendship, and upon the serv-
ices he had rendered Mrs. Oliphant.
upon his devotion TO Dana and the lat
tiers gratitude.
ANY one with half an eve can see
what il all coming to-" concluded
Lex. ''ani as to letting you go and
raise a muss between them, | don t
know that have any right
Il via not ask it of yoH," Launt an
swered, rising. i will 90 to him my
self
Go to the rival who had won or would
win what he had lost! There were bit
terness and humiliation in the thought.
but it would be easier to learn the truth
from him than from Dana herself
! -2On the following day he presented
himself at the New York studio. Mr..
Marquis was not there. His pictures
Were, suggested the art-student who
had been left in charge of the rooms.
and who fancied Il possible patron IN the
caller. There's his Modern Gree
just done, which he has entered for the
academy. that great many are coming
to look at, and here's In Fog which
is sold, and a companion piece ordered
If YOU are wanting anything in this line,
sir, don't think Marquis can be sur
passed.
I'M not wanting ANYTHING, Mr.
Harrington explained. and the otficious-
ness of the student very naturally sub
sided. 1t was rather a grievance to
him thai the visitor should avail him
self of the, permission given to examine
the pictures. "a Modern -Circe. -
Launt caught his breath at, that 1t
was the picture of fashionably -dressed
girl standing on the sea-shOre with the
soft light of evening falling over her
upon the dinplin~ water and yellow
sands. and touching more family the
masculine figure which was stridinr
Saway in the distalce, with head bent
down. You knew st;nctivelv that he
had put the all-importantz question. and
mad for his answer. ''A0.' There was
no shadow of sorrow or regret upon the
face Of thez modern Gree. The bright
eyes We're full OF exultant light, soft
smile fingered on the perfect lips; you
knew at once that she was thinking of
some one else who flied her whole
h art-some one who had driven away
every remembrance of the disap-
pointed individual who had put
his fate to the touch and lost
all. No lovely monster. this with
face S"raphic fair and heart of stone"
but bright and pretty Girl. who Is
careless of the love which is offered her.
because she already has what she prizes
more. and the girl is Dana-Dana as
he has seen her hundred times with
that very love-light shining un at him
from fItr matchfess eyes, She had
looked like this at Shoreden- before sor-
row touched beE.- Gould it be that she
looked like it stiIl. and that the look
was for another? The mans face was
turned away, but the figure looked
strongly Ike his own
:. Can you tell me where Mr. Marquis
NAV be found?'
The student threw streak of car
mine into an amber cloud, and then
looked up. =
He might be found at Riverton, per
haps. He takes the one o'clock train
there. -
AT Ri+ertoni Launt knew the name.
His mind instantly connected that trag-
edy OF the past which had occurred
there with a possibility of the present.
He glanced at his watch 1t was quar-
ter to one, hardly time to catch the
train. but he left the studio with rush,
hailed a passing cab, and was driven to-
the depot, reaching it Just in time.
1t was five O'Clock of the same dav,
and dismal March afternoon. There
had been drilling rain falling until
an hour ago. and tie leaten sky prom
ised more to come; the straight road
which led into the little town was in a
horrible state to contemplate. a thin
yellow ooze of mud and water filled the 7
roadway, and thefoot-path was scarcely
better. - J
Not a creature was visible as far as
she could see,' when Miss French came
out of the schoolhouse and locked the !
door, behind her. She had staid to
make out her monthly report after dis
mi SSir,rr bar ,oY,,,ilS aDI +b. aarI1- Cbadn-