Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-06-28
Tould rather die than betray any emo,

would rather die than betray any emo,
ton.
rs Not if can help myself" said Miss
Braxton, decidedly. 8 Here, Peter-I
boxed your ears once, didn't I?-take
this to remember me by. |
| But Peter resolutely declined the sill
yer dollar she would have pressed into
his grimy hand. He wore the face of a
Spartan youth; not for this wide world
would he have given utterance to a
| blubber; yet shock-headed youths of
fifteen have their feelings, for all that
Goodbye, Peter cried Miss Brax-
ton from the stage door I'm your
first love, I know, but I won't be your
| last: let that thought comfort you. ''73|'
| The door was shut; the numbering
vehicle started and Alexia ,Braxton
turned an inquiring glance upon the soil
tary passenger which it con-
tanned. He had settled himself for q
nap, and only the tip of his nose was
visible between the turned-up coat col
lar and drawnsdown hat. But with the.
1 advent of a rosy and. charming young
lady he reconsidereds his Intention, and,
sat up.t reveal himself, a man of thirty
odd years who evidently had some
struggling memory of having seen her
| before ..s
| SIS it Miss Thomas?" he hazarded;
cor Miss Deane, perhaps? The name
has escaped me, but | believe we had
an Introduction last evening"
| / Its Miss neither, and we had no
| Introduction at all. - ! ,....f Esf-.
oh, l beg pardon, but l certainly
thought
THAT YOU saw me- at the lecture, as
|. you certainly did, and l don't believe l
know anything more. atout' Esthetic
Culture THANH did tefora.. -@A- 2 --@'
"Oh, I daresay,' said the lecturer.
with perfect good-tumor. '''You see,
after trying my hand at iabout every
| thing else' without very much success
am just trying myself at that. [
didn't imagine 1rwould tindga critical
audience down here. I've tried the law.
both sides of it, and don t'know, but ]
| find my forte in that.'' ? 60 :. ?
Both sides. of it:?' .queried Miss
Braxton, in a puzzled way. '-'
You see, have been reformer,
also, in my day, and, to be reformer
with effect, one must be a reformed
man Don't look so very doubtful, my
dear young lady. / never did anything
worse than to .'prig a wipe if you
know what that is, and there was an
Interior object behind that little act;
but [ did come near committing bank
robbery once. 1t was eighteen years
ago; | was a mere lad, but | got
fright then, which persuaded me that
honesty is the best policy, and I've held
fast to-that line eyer since. y ..-'
"a fright? Were You caught?'
"Worse than that. [ caught some
body else, not at robbery, but at mar
der"
Murder!' echoed Alexia, in a hor-
rified tone.
Her companion laughed Miss Brax-
ton had started out by snubbing him,
and he had succeeded in awakening her
interest most thoroughly.
I've kept the secret of that murder
to this day." he said. :: though it would
have made an excellent point in my re-
formatory speeches. Pray, don't be-
tray it II you ever have occasion to
mention me, s-ah!-Braxton, AS
AleMa supplied the name. Tive all
ways had an idea that Il would. make
capital out of that affair yet before my
life is oyer. I'd likesto get the. chance
before 1t goes much further, = with a
pathetic glance at his. rather seedy
habiliments, from which one might
Judge that .Mr..Quest did not find the
lecture business one of accumulatiEe
profit.
FRO BE Continued