Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-07-19
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
"NOTHING SHALL PART Us"
Through the brassy splendor of the
afternoon sunshine, through dust and
heat, over grassy common, into the
green GOODNESS of overshadowing trees
Mr.. Quest made his way from the vii
lage station, straight almost as thecrow
flies, to the pleasant abode where he had
been summoned to attend. Z ! II
1t was roomy cottage, quite lost in
a tangle of green, through which one
caught glimpse of the gold and Grim
son FLASHES of rioting roses. the SHIN.
mer of fountain playing in the sun.
the white CLEAN of the graveled drive,
way, and perhaps the waving of sum-
mer drapery at the open windows OF
in the low porches which surrounded
the house.
"a deadly quiet, dull place." was
Mr.. Quests inward comment as be
turned in at the gate. 'It may suit
Mrs. OGphant for reasons she best
knows, sand anything that pleases. her
will please her husband; it don't mat
ter to her daughter, who is in love, and
has her lover with her; but doubt If
it is the sort of life the fair Alexia is
signing for SGD
The fair Alexia'' was lettering dis
contentedly in the grounds when he
came out, two hours afterward, from
his interview with Mr.. Oliphant.
She was dressed in some wonderful
combination of Swiss ruffles and en-
broidery; the abundant mass of black
hair was disposed in the latest approved
style of waves and braids; the milk-and-
rose face held its brightest color, and.
in short, Miss. BraxtOn made vivid
picture of well-dressed young lady
hood, who should have been dazzling
some gas-lit scene instead of wasting
her sweetness in the shadowy recesses
of a lonely garden, with no one to see
her but a fourth-rate lawyer of uncer-
tain years.
She took step forward, neverthe-
less, frightening visibly. -
1T is good to see even you..' she de-
clared, frankly, if not hatteringly.
.'Why don't you make the best of Your
opportunity and stay with Uncle Power
as his secretary or agent or whatever
he wants, instead of starting off on such
a wild-goose chase as that you were
speaking OFF" ~
"Stay, to let you practice flirting
with me when nobody better offers? Is
that the idea you have in your mind,
Miss Braxton?"
s'What a sharp little fellow he is to
find it out" said Lex. composedly.
That's it, exactly, Harmon. a little
Irritation won't do you any harm and
it would amuse me. 1t was bad enough
in Philadelphia, but it's worse here.
Uncle and Aunt Oliphant exist in each
other, Dana lives in. the light of Mr.,
Farrington's smiles, and am left out! in
the cold-driven so desperate that you
would be a relief. I've set my hopes
on you ever since I heard Uncle Power
say he thought of getting you to fetch
and carry between this and town.
What's the use of having pretty dresses
and wearing them if no one ever comes
to admire me in them?" --------.
Something like CLEAN of inspiration
flashed swiftly into Harmon Quests
eyes.
"You are mistaken in one thing" he.
said, in a low tone. Il would be liable
to infinite harm. / would admire YOU
too much for my own good if / were to
see you often. Your amusement. would
benny madness. And yet, sAlexia--s'
A peal of laughter from Alexia cut
short his words 49, 9 -
"Oh, my goodness she gasped.
'.Do stop! Harmon. i didn't think you
would take me quite so literally at my
word. You do it capitally, but / really
couldn't stand it to be bored by love-
from you. came out here in
bad temper, as dull as death, envying
Dana her Launcelot, but you have re-
stored me to my naturally amiable con-
dition.'
Yet you object to my playing
Launcelot to your Dana?'' said Mr..
Quest. plaintively. .''You might have
your own Launcelot if you We're she,, 1
suppose. If you were the .heiress,
your charms would not be lost in OBJ
security. What would you give to be the
heiress, Miss Braxtonaa - So -
ssYou are talking nonsense now,'''
said Miss Braxton, shortly.
you may live to see. What would you
give if were to make you an heiress9
Would you marry me out of gratitude
if l could put you in possession OF
fortune?'
Lex laughed again. The idea of
Harmon Quest making love to her was
HAD ne attempted 1t Win
Dana, it would have been quite in keep
ing with her appreciation of his illimit-
able check Lex rather liked him
for that quality. She was cheeky"
herself: but not ungrateful, withal.
I'D do good deal for money" she
said. If you had the fortune and We're
to ask me to marry you, ISmight-
But no, Harmon, 1 wouldn't; not if you
were to lay it at my feet. ! won't raise