The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-05-16
THE ROMANCE OF THE IRON ROOM.

Vows made in summer sometimes be-
come difficult to keep under the chilling
influences of fogs, frosts and snow. 1t
was such pleasant, easy-going love
making, while the tubs at the boathouse
bloomed with geraniums and calceolarias,
and the water ambled gently by. Now,
q turn in a punt, or brisk Scull to some
sheltered spot where tall rushes and fair
water lilies made an enchanted palace;
she in delicate frocks of zephyr" pink
or blue, he in fannels, his handsome face
glowing with exercise and bliss Yes,
this was all easy and delightful, If it
could only have lastedl
Directly the large country house began
to lose its guests, the hostess, Mrs. Hope,
had time to look about her, and one of
the first inconvenient things she saw was
the very evident love affair between
handsome Jack Talbot Of the -th, who
had nothing in the world but his Cap
tain's pay, and her only daughter Lillian,
whose first duty to her parents lay in
making an eligible matchl This would
never do. But the worldly-wise lady re-
fected that Captain Talbofs visit was
only to last three days longer, and with
true art appeared blissfully content with
the position. The night before he went
away the suitor applied to Mr.. Hope,
and begged to have his prayer favorably
answered; and he Chaving received his
brief from his wife) temporized gently;
spoke of youth, changeable affections,
and 30 on, and said he could not at
present give definite answer.
"May I hoper asked the suitor.
eff you like," said the father; and
nothing could have ended better. Lillian
waved damp pocket handkerchief from
her window, and the knight erode
away"
A month later Jack was ordered to
Egypt, and Mrs. Hope thought it highly
probable that all her difficulties would
be removed by the Egyptians. If not,
time was gained at any rate, and Lillian
was growing handsomer every day.
''My dear" said Mr.. Hope, one even
ing, "tord Blackmoor is evidently struck
with Lillian" @
$50 1 SET" !" responded the wife, smiling
'Tshouldn't be surprised if he spoke
shortly.
$50 much the better"
"But, ah-how about the other fell
lowP queried Mr.. Hope, uneasily.
Nothing about him." said Mrs. Hope,
| resolutely; che must not be mentioned 81
"Lord Blackmoor is very old" :"
"He will make the better husband"
LILLIAN is a beautiful, warm-hearted
| grill" faltered the father.
'Had she not been beautiful coronei
would not be offered her."
"But, Harriet-you and / were both
| young when we married"
| Mrs. Hope calmly fixed her fine eyes
on the ceiling, and her husband saw sen
timent would find no response.
And so, while Jack was bronzing hi
handsome face, and fighting for his coun
try in Egypt, his Lillian was desired t.
receive the addresses of an elaborate ole
fop of seventy-ive-and was only
eighteen. But these things happen, 8
we must contemplate them
1t would be useless to describe how tn,
net was woven round the victim, how sh,
was watched and guarded as they trav
eled throughout their autumn tour. Be
tween her mother and Lord Blackmoo
it was arranged that the wedding should
take place ipe-peeembe5 Aad in th'
%eantime Z sPRsfS fSea4s hat Captain
The Hopes 1c&uf1l book place the enc
elect was to come there in December
He arrived, and to the girl seemed nor
distasteful than ever. He followed he
about with an affectation of youthful
ardor, which sorely warred with gou
and dyspepsia.
"Mamma," I" said the frenzied Lillian
eff you don't keep him away from m
noU, Pl say mo- at the altarp' And
fearing this was true, Mrs. Hope rejoice,
in an attack of gout which confined tn
old nobleman to his room, where, sh
treated him with fattery and devotion.
So then the poor girl wandered dow
to the boathouse. 1t was half a mil
from the house, and there was snugl
furnished iron room there, where tes
things and spirit lamps were kept. Lila
had often made tea here in the happ
summer; and now she entered the room
which struck cold and damp from lon
disuse, and throwing herself in chail
sobbed as if her heart were breaking.
The floods were up, and the rive
looked like stormy lead. Little island
visible in. summer now lay buried unde
the rushing waters No flowers, no SUI
shine-all like her own life, blank, dar
despair. .r
A footstep outside made Lillian stal
up quickly. 1t was the postman on b
way to the house.
"Have you any letters for mef' aske
, the girl. e.s
"Yes, Miss, surely" said the man, an
he found three. handed them to he
and passed on.
Lillian re-entered the iron room, san
on the sofa, and with trembling hand
tore open one-it was from Jsckl A
she read it, she found that other lettel
had been sent to her-who had ha
them? Jack, who was in London, sal
he was fast recovering from his wound
I and that he had determined to com
; down and hear from her own lips tbs
she gave him up. And he concluded b
saying he would be at the boathouse b
five o'clock the next evening-would 81
} meet him theref
The next evening meant this evel
ing; this evening that ever was; for Il
letter had been written the day before.
Lilian's delight at this unexpecte
news was paramount. She hastened baC
to the house, determining that nothir
should reveal the change. She inquire
civilly after Lord Blackmoor, had fl,
dresses tried on by dressmaker, dro,
with her mother to pay some calls; an
when they returned home it was
quarter to five o'clock. Mrs. Hope o
dered tea for herself in her bedroom
saying she should sit afterwards wit
Lord Blackmoor till dinner-time. I