Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-04-12
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eloquence-she would listen 70 kA
All, what would his mother say if he
brought Viola back to her. and as his
| wife?-for he would not wait an hour.
he declared. his pulses quickening at
the possibility of such denouement.
Let us go back an hour and look in at
Montford House. Mr.. Gilbert Montford
and Mr.. DeVries are in the back parlor.
Its likely we are to lose Miss Blake,
understand
"Lose her! What do you mean?"
asked Montford, starting up--he was
Very excitable of late.
"Oh. nothing very unusual; refer to
her intimacy with young Anderson.
When young lady goes out and walks
two hours with a young man immedi-
ately upon his arrival in town after sew
eraI days absence there is but one con-
clusion, viz: that they are greatly in
terested in each other
"It's lie; you re jealous because she
prefers me to you. and you've made up
this whole story" cried Montford, with
rising passion.
DeVries coolly stepped to the bell
cord and moment after Susan Dale
came in. She looked SO conscious, and
was so ready, that naturally suspicious
person might have fancied the whole
thing had been arranged between her
and DeVries, but it's not likely it had.
''By the way. lassie," said. DeVries.
in an Indifferent tone, Ibid any one
call here for Miss Blake, yesterday
afternoon?''
why. yes, that young sea Captain,
Anderson"
Ibid he come in? of course, he did"
mo. sir, he did not. He expressly
stated he wished to see Miss Blake
alone, and she very readily,,went off with
him, and did not get back till quite
dusk. They've walked out together
afore, too, [ guess.
s.Never mind, it's of no consequence.
That will do, Susan DeVries said,
quietly, and the girl went out.
''Well?'' DeVrIes said, turning round.
81 say don't believe she cares for
him." was the sullen answer.
40, we'll, it doesn't matter to me. I'm
not smitten. Only if she drops
off some day without asking leave, you
will not be surprised, suppose, now that
you have had lair warning
stop! here, ring that bell"' cried
Montford, springing up, and obeying
his own order.
'.Send Stella Blake here he ordered.
peremptOfllV, or the servant VINO an
swered the summons.
In moment she came in. looking
family surprised, but otherwise cool and
unmoved.
''Ncw call Victor and the girls" he
said, turning to DeVries, who obeyed a
little reluctantly.
They were in the front parlor and had
heard the summons and met him at the
door. ''You have gone too far.''
Althea whispered, as she passed him.
II want You all here" Mr.. Montford
said, looking round upon them as they
came in. II am going to do an unusual
thing. and as have been under guard
ianship so long. it might not stand if |
hadn't the proper number of witnesses"
His face was pale. but his eyes had a
strange, almost insane glow in them,
and his hands trembled convulsively as
he walked across the floor 10 where
Stella sat.
Miss Blake he said. pausing, Il
ask you here before these witnesses. to
be my wife. / love you better than
anybody in the world, and will be good
to you, and stand between you and tie
hardness OF the world, and when / die
for I'm much older than you, l know
I will leave you half my fortune, and
more if you say so. Will you accept
my offer?' he asked, eagerly.
lTO BE CONTINUED.