Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-03-01
mel she said, dropping her brush on

Heasprang forward to pick it up and
their hands met, whereat they both
fstarted. and felt just little awkward
BHt ictor was too generous to subject
her to moments needless embarrass-
lment. He had been waiting there for {.
purpose, and he. was ready to declare it
without circumlOcution.
81 came UP here hoping you would
come up, and 10! my hopes are fulfilled.
see that You are not Pleasantly Situated
here, and have dared 10 think-to-to
hope" After this little bit OF STAN
mering he lifted his face boldly, tossed
the curling auburn hair back from his
fcrehead-what q pure, open face it
| was!-and said, looking straight in her
| eyes: i have dared to hope it might
| be possible for me to make it easier for
you. You understand me, Stella? l
| want you to be my wife. 1 love you.
and viii try to make YOU happy. 1t
grieves me to see you insulted by him,
| as you were just now. You do not
think L believe his cruel insinuatiOns.
dear Steila2" he took a step toward her
and would have taken her hand, but
something in her face forbade it. Il
am not paining you by this, Stella?' he
cried. his sunny eyes clouding.
. mo, and yes" she answered, smil
ing family, the angry colorall gone out
OF her face. 80 am glad you love me
it is pleasant to have the love of one
SO thoroughly good as [ believe you are
and l am glad you believe in me
rather than this Mr.. DeVries-heavens!
how | hate that man, she cried with
sudden, passionate vehemence. %
+ He shall not stay here ii he troubles
h., 4 It 8.
growing suddenly firm.
WAIT. she cried, putting ont her
hand with a little sharp, quick gesture
wait and let me tell~you. You do
not tore mel mean you DO not love
do. Blanche Arnold-you simply like
me-"
"Stella. IL
Waitn', she cried. impatiently.
"Do you believe that l have eyes for
nothingP l have heard the story. Miss
Arnold is to marry her cousin. your
heart is thrown back upon ITSELF and
you fancy you are in love with me.
Now. tell me truly; if both of us were
equally free, and you could have either
for the asking, which should you ask?"
y Il should ask Blanche" he said,
looking up fearlessly. II will never
tell lie to win any woman's favor
"Take care! You will make me fall in
love with you, in spite of myself" she
cried, laughing, land l want to keep
you for a friend. / have need enough
of one, Heaven knows! since l am not
friend even to myself?'
The bright young face took on q look
of ineffable sadness. and the great, lus
trous eyes dropped under a weight of
sharp. fierce pain.
..Stella. listen to me-" he said, COM
inc close to her and taking her hand.
This time she did not repel him. II
want to tell YOU that | love you very
much, dear little girl, and she can never
be anything to me. now. l am willing
She should marry him if he can make
her. happier than |. | do not feel
angry with him. l like him; and [
know he is more attractive to a woman's
fancy than | can ever be- ~
Victor she cried. with sudden, in
tense passion flaming in her eyes and
cheeks. 81 could not say that. 1
should hate the persons who came be-
tween me and my love. / should hate
them so that | shouldnever want to look
in their faces. or hear even theirnames, if
l could help it. I could never, never,
never forgive them so long as 1
lived-nO. not if it were a thousand
years.
She paused. painting and breathless.
while the fire died slowly out of her
face, leaving it white, almost, as though
she was dead. Hepasscd his hand caress..
ingly over the little limp fingers that
lay in his.
You see we are not at all alike"
she said, smiling family. II wish | was
more like, you. because you are so much
the better. But one doesn't make one
sell, so who is to blame? But about this
other m:ttter: No. don't think it
would be sest for you or me. [ think
we had much better be friends than
lovers. Perhaps the day will come
when yon cannot be even that to me-
I don know, but | hope not. L am
not like other young girls-1 am not as
good.
A step sounded in the hall below; he
drew her into his arms and kissed her
forehead. lightly and tenderly.
"My dear Stella, [ will be your friend
as. long as l live" he said, gently; then
released her quietly and went out,
meeting his father on the stairs, vino,
for some reason he could not divine,
looked at him suspiciously as they
passed. -
Stella's sweeping seemed destined to
interruptions that morning. She, had
but lust taken her brush in hand when
Mr.. Montiord came into the room, look
ing little uneasy and excited. He
walked across the room and then came
back. 81. e
..Stella Miss Blake, are you and
Victor iovers?' he asked, abruptly.
'.No sir, we are not; what made you
think SOP"
Il think so? I didn't thinkso. 1 told
him l didn't believe it," he cried, ex-
ultingly. his good humor restored
'.But DeV ries-always knows a deuced
sight more than anybody else.'
Your son, and 1 are very good
friends, but we are not, nor never shall
be, lovers. You can ask him, if you
Doubt my word,s she replied, quietly.
struggl ng to overcome the intense feel
ing of hatred growing every moment
more and more bitter toward this De-