Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-04-19

faltered, a vague presentiment that 1t
had something to do, with Stella, sud-
denly oppressing him. "a =
Then ] will explain. Perhaps you
have heard that Miss Blake was en-
ployed here rs q servant-perhaps you
not ced her leave the room after you
came ill., She cOuld not leave till she
was sure he was dead, though L ordered
her TO ito so, twice. - so ! ! =
Please don't, Al.hea," Fannie said.
eprecatingly. ,t.,t.s,ltt .,.e~,t.-sss : Is
But She continued, without noticing
the interruptions:
1T was bad enough to have her in the
house when weidid hot want her, know
ing that she was using her speeious arts
TO entrap one who was no match for her
crafty subtlerv, and Turing linn. on till
he was on the verge of dissracing HIM
self, his family, and The honorable name
he bore. and when Heaven as if shocked
at his folly and weakness, took away his
life, it was more than I ut least could
bear with composure, and see her sit
ting there with her fiery, brazen eyes
..Althean' Victor interrupted, stcrnly,
.syou forget yourself. Our father had a
right to ask Miss Blake to be his wife,
and She had right to accept his offer
if she chose. l will not have her abused"'
the sunny blue eyes flashing. and the
giriish face growing suddenly strong
and firm.
"Perhaps you had better marry her
yourself she sneered. II presume her
affections are transferable; those of such
persons usually are
Ralph turned abruptly, perfectly re-
CARELESS of etiquette, and rushed into
the hall. His fiery temper was in arms,
and like two-edeed sword, it cut both
ways. He hardly knew which heswas
most angry with: Stella for her heart
lessness, as he mentally called it, or AL
thea Montford for denouncing it. He
was, YOU perceive. in Il very mreasOn-
able and paradoxical state of mind. not
TO say MISUNDERSTANDING excessively
Iuncomfortable-as well.
A hand touched his arm. 1t was 4
lrarti piece of self-denial to resist the I'M
pulse to throw it,off. He did not feel as
if he could bear anotherword., He had
been so full of hope, of happy plans, of
eager anticipations-and NV. But
there was Il quiet mesmefism in the
white. flexible hand that rested on his
arm. and something, like a breath of
soft cool air, swept across his perturbed
spirit. go - ~
:. You must not 90 away bearing such
an impression of Mss Blake as Althea
has given you'' said the quiet, firm
voice of Victor Mentferd. -''She has al
ways disliked Miss Blake for some rea-
| son, and she is very bitter where she
dislikes. l want you to remember that
l believe Miss Blake guiitless of using
artifice to induce my father to ask her
| to be hiswife. Perhaps she is not the
only girl. who, poor and friendless.
would accept the oier he made.
think it strange, may be. but | do not
know her heart, nor her motives. and 1
eciN not Judge her. 3
A faint surprise 'crept into Victor 5
face at the quick light that came into
his companions. and the hearty grasp
in which he caught his hand. He is Il
generous fellow" he thought and
am glad for her sake But the her
did not have reference to Stella nor
Hesen to his sister Althea, 1 am afraid
1 s.. SheW not > ay here, now-Miss
Blakc?" Ralph asked; irving to speak
care,cssly, with all that tempest of feel
inc Surging through his soul. +
"She shall stay here as long as she
plcases. | am master here, now. |
was twcnty-one yesterday-and she
shall be protected" the blue eyes dark
ening again.
But do you think it would be pleas
ant?" asked this arch diplomat.
No" the fine face clouding. q am
afraid not. Fannie, l can answer for
her. but
LET me suggest better course,'
Ralph interrupted. "My mother would
be delighted to have her come there,
and it is not as though she was stran-
ger, for YOU know that she stayed with
us that night she got bewildered in the
storm, and she has never been there
since, and it would be real kindness
to us, and relieve you of u little embar-
rassment, just at this time. Other ar
Judgements can be made afterward. you
know" = p
You are very kind, and if she likes
the arrangement she shall accept your
friendly offer. feel. however, that. as
my father asked her the question he did,
and before us all, that she has right
to his home, and she shall be protected
! in that right as much as if he had lived.
| will mention it to her tonight, and
in the morning if you will take the
trouble TO ride down, I. will tell you
her decision, and if she chooses she can
go to your mothers for a few days.
81 willEbes sure to be here in the
corning. ~ Rlph said, and the two
Il miN Nike hsr 'foine,'7" Ralph said,
setting his teeth firmly together. as he
went down the drive, now almost over
shoe in light, downy snow. sc She shall
come home to us, whether she will or
not,'
1t seemed to him that the time had
come when u,ev, MT least, should know
the truth: Not being a woman. of
course. he would have kept the secret
il he wished to-. All the-werld knows
or ought to know that asman me Der
tells az secret unless he 1ikesl His
"bumps OF secretiveness is, undoubted
ly,sthe most assured thing about him,
unless. possibly, it be his self-esteem.
I will not attempt to portray the as
tonishment, and amazed, incredible
surprise, with which Ralph's revelation
was hy- Ron onI Nyro a n1ar-