Iron County register., 1883-09-06

est comprehension to take in at sight. l"
"YOu understand what mean better
than you pretend. Oh, my boy, my
poor bOy!".with a break in her voice,
''is your life, after all, to end in this?
Did you think it would not come to me?
Oh, Launt, my more than son, come
back to me! Give up the ruinous course
which will break my heart
Launt set his lips and looked at her
full.
What is it you have heard?" he
asked, coldly.
What need is there to tell? You
know better than I. If you will have
it, that you are throwing away your life
as your father threw his away, that you
are taking the same path. That you
belong to club which is onlya fashion
able gambling den, that you are living
beyond your means. that you associate
with fast men and faster women
women like Mis-though that you should
be victimized by her, a w0rn-out actress,
a woman old enough to be YOUR
mother, she was about to say, but she
choked at the word Il would not have
believed it. if it had been told me-"
Launt listened very quietly, with
neither anger nor resentment. A light
of scorn and amusement shot for an in
slant across his face, but died almost
Immediately in a look OF utter weari-
| ness.
Il assure you,'. he said. ''you are
distressing yourself without the slight
est cause. l did try the experiment of
some of those fol lies, but gambling,
| wine or women have no charm for me-
think l could 90 through Il fiery fur
mace of that sort without the slightest
injury to my morals. In fact, l am so
thoroughly weary of the course you
deprecate, that have made up my mind
to an entire change"
:. You will come back 10 me, Launt9'
81 shall Join an expedition which is
fitting up now for the Polar seas"
There was heart-brokcn cry, sob
bing wall Of loss and pain.
'.As if | had not had trouble enough
in my life. Oh, Launt. oh, my boy!
have you no mercy on me?'
The look on Launts face told her
more plainly than words that remon-
Strancc was useless.
She rose to go. Some of her COM
posure had returned Whatever Nine.
Harrington might feel, she had learned
well the lesson of stern self-control.
Her eyes fell upon the note which had
escaped from her thoughts.
"At least she said, promise me
that you will not 90 to that woman's
house. No good can come of it, and it
is Il small concession for you to make
now. Refuse Nine. Florine's invitation
to please me, Launt."
My dear mother, | would do so
willingly, but | have already promised
promised so faithfully that l shall not
break my word.
What was it, misgiving, dread, that
looked at him out of Nine. Farrington's
eyes? She seemed for a moment as if
she would urge her entreaty, but sighed
and turned away without another word.
Plenty of light, plenty of color, in
Madame Florine's handsome rooms.
Madame herself was petite, and blonde
of the blondest type; great turquoise
blue eyes looked at you out of the be-
rouged and enameled face, an abundant
roll of the softest ilaXcn hair crowned
the small head. She wore black satin,
a bow of the same in the mass of pale
hair, and she looked at least ten wears
younger than her actual age. ''A
worn-out actress" Madame Harrington
had called her, but Madame Florine
was popular vet. The clcvcrest men.
writer's, artists and others, the hand
soonest actresses in the city, We're always
to be found at these pleasant. after
thcater reunions of hers.
La,Int arrived late, barely in time &c
offer his arm and lead madame to the
table. glittering with silver and crystal.
adorned with rarest flowers. bearing
pyramids of the cOstlicst fruit, with Il
golden flood of light streaming down
from great chandelier, with an array
OF wit and talent and beauty assembled
at the board; but the grace OF the oc Il
sion was quite thrown away upon him.
He was n favorite with Madame FlOrine
for some inexpiicable reason-it was
through no effort on his part-and. |
though he sat like a ''marble guest
scarcely speaking at all, eating as little,
and that little rs unappreciatively as
as if the dainty viands were like ashes
to his taste, she gave him her brightest
smiles and most frequent glances.
Madame had conquered scores or hearts,
turned scores of heads; had young men, I
clever men-men of wealth and posi-
ton on the list of her admirers to this
very day; but if she had any thought of
conquering Launt she must have given
it up long ago. Through the glitter OF
lights, the perfume of flowers, the
ldu0HttI anu titlh SollS Oh All dboIb
him, came the vision of pale, haunt
ing face which followed him forever,
sleeping or waking, whether alone or
in q crowd.
He had tried to forget her. He had
plunged into this gay, enticing, envied-
by-many experience, and found in it
nothing but weariness ss-weariness most |
complete.
'Hon ami. what is this hear? What |
wild scheme is leading you to make a
votive offering of yourself? Surely, |
science has enough devotees without |
you. There are plenty of men who
leave every hope behind them to go |
on those dreadful missions. Are YOU |
irrevocably bent upon that act OF mad
ness, my friend?'
81 am decided"
''And he says it as if fate itself
couldn't shake him a hairs BREADTH
exclaimed madame, smiling her bright