Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-04-19
three times before they would be

satisfied.
Il wish you'd set tonight, Ralph"
Mrs. Anderson said, walking restlessly
about, and looking wistfully through
the snowy atmosphere in the direction
of Montford House. though she could
not see ten rods from hhe house, and
knew She cofifdanots 6
L. And tolthink that you told her that
story about herselt, father she broke
out. "and that should show her the
little trunk, too. dear child! Was there
ever, such a curious thing? And that
is what that NJ. is for on the trunk
Montford. Well, who cares for the
Montford property? Iguess We We got
enough to take care of our darling, and
then the little woman broke down and
cried again.
"1think tits right she should have
someof it," Nj. Andersonsaid, gravely.
land think this.y Dung man should be
told the whole story. / don't believe in
plotting and secrecy, and there is where
our girl has donesyeryl wrongly. l can't
uphold herin til at.t@F2s sssr 81
"But what could the poor child do9
And then, you know what Il determined,
passionate little thing she was. and she
has had nobody to- wal en- over her, and
help her-poor lamb! o Ben, you mustn't
blame herAyolrmlstnS.s say one words
only if she comes back to usz-O Benz
and Mrs. Anderson cried rs if her heart
.lkThesrre-there. mother, DON'T. You
don think I would scold> the child, do
you? my pretty girlie!' aud the strong
voice trembied. = ~But this story must
be told after we get her, home, and this
Iascahtv looked into,,i he said. more
firmly. Il reckon this DeVries is at the
bottom of it all, and perhaps now the
young man mas control, he cannot man
age things rs he has done
Before he went to bed that night,
Ralph confided his love for Eiola-as
we must learn to call her now-to his
mother, who, notwithstanding her
mornings partially to Blanche, went
over body and soul to her rival: a
striking instance of the ficklcness of the
feminine heart. =.
I have suspicion that there was
very little SLEEP that night in the
prairie farm house, though the snow
came down but lightly. and by. and by
ceased altogether, and q jocund-lOok'ng
moon. with a chronic laugh on one side
Of its shining face, came out from be-
hind the clouds or up ont of the far
away roll of silver-white prairie land.
and with numberless bits OF queer little
winking stars--the probable remnants
of all the cold moons since the world
began-shOne down upon the soft, pai-
pitsting bosom OF the virgin snow with
delight.
Bess was Weakened before light. and
set to eating her breakfast, and just as
the sun came up, golden and glittering,
she stood at the farm hOuse door, har-
messed into an enchanting, little Scarlet
and gilt cutter, into which MIRA Ander-
son seemed determined to pile every
comforter. to say nothing of buffalo
robes, that there was in the establish
ment. And when at last Ralph got into
it and drove away, what tender thoughts
and hopes and anticipatiOns went with
him-and. ali! what tender ones waited
for his return. = s~r, sgr-
! Victor Montford had sought Miss
Blake soon after Ralph's departure, and
laid his proposition before her. She
said, very quietly, that She "would de-
eide between then and morning." and
she looked SO wan and pitiful, and there
were such great hollows under her eyes,
which gave evidence of heavy weeping,
that with q gentle word Or two, and a
faint pressure of the little hand, so cold
and white and nerveless, that lay in her
lap, he had withdrawn and LETT her to
her sorrow, as he could not but think
now it was.A And he made a secret VOW
that out OF the property his father had
left she should have a liberal portion,
even if it left him short.
+I,a 60 nd
wants were all asleep. and only light
burned dimly in the parlor, where
neighbor dozed the long, lonely hours
fauterils, going once or twice. into hH
room. >witha quick, nervous ,step, K and
returning hastily and closing the door
after him, Il slight, dark-robed form
glided noselessly down the padded
stairs, and paused a moment in the. haH.
Then it Slided on through the dining
room. and pausing again at q door,
seemed listening intently. Then door
hinges. and the figure gliled into that
watched alone.
There was faint, stifed sobbing-a
kiss-a tear on the still face, and then
NV h'iSSiS'o CO cN uiit3 pttCh
and the same figure glided out again,
out through the dpingroom and the
long hall-out the heavy mahogany
door. with its heavy silver plate bearing
his name-out through the lightly fall
ing snow, down the long flight of marble
steps. and away over the mly-outlined
prairie road. O, such a small, small
figure. and. O. such white, hopeless
weary face it was! - &
Ralph Anderson had the most elastic
spirits int the world; resolute, impet-
uous. indomitable, it was impossible
for him to be long depressed or, de-
spending. -a
As he drove swiftly over the white,
glistening prairie, over which skies of
pale sapphire and gold bent like a tent,
shutting in the glory of the sunshine
and the rosy simmer of the dawn, he
could not help thinking that ALI this
purity and brightness and peace was a
sweet prophecv~of the new day that
was dawning for himself and for her.
A faint smile rested on the resolute
face, softenings and clarifying it, and
tho blua 9yaS bad COT cba DOW dapthS