Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-09-13
Lex would have Kept Dana II She

could. She used all her powers Of per.
suasion to that end, but Dana would moi
be persuaded. 1t was better. to work
better to drowngrid inthewearyt tread.
millw left her noatine for its in-
dulgenee. SO. she had coms back to
| Riverton and taken up gherfask, and
/ life looked very long before her.
| 1t need not have seemed either SC
| long or so lonely.a There was one who
was ready to take every burden upon
| himself; that one, of course, Gordon
! Marquis. 1t was of Gordon Marquis
! that Dana was thinking as she stood
| under the weeping elms. She had a
/ little note from him in her pocket. the
merest line to tell her that he would be
| in Riverton that evening, Eand perhaps
bit was this fact rs much as the monthly
| report which had caused Dana to linger.
| There had been no recurrence of love
| making on his part, she had hoped
there would be none, but thrill of COM
| junction went home to her as she an
ticipated the errand which was bringing
| him now.
- ought to have told him." she muir
INJURED, half aloud.
Told him what?' asked voice at
her side If the person referred to
should by any chance be- myself, sup
pose you tell him now''ss
The sodden ground had deepened the
sound of his footsteps, but Gordon Mar
l. quis himself stood there, smiling rather
gravely into her startled face.
You have been standing here long
enough in this damp and chilli. he
said. drawing his hand within her arm.
Il watched you for fully five minutes,
and you were SO absorbed in your own
Thoughts you never knew l was near.
Of what were you thinking so intently,
Dana? Of what | once said to You
here? You must know. | think, that l
have come TO repeat it. though perhaps
it is my duty to tell YOU
Gordon, don't. Be my friend still
if you can. More than that, you-no
one, can ever be-
mo one?'' He stepped stock still,
looking down into her face. Not
Launt Harrington himself? Dana. is it
possible you can love him still?''
Three months ago, had he asked her
that question, she could not have an
swered it as she answered now, lifting.
her eyes with an EFFORT to agneet her
glances. t~
4 love him still, [ shall love him
while l live And he was not to blame
for leaving me, NE could Iiave- done
nothing else. Shall ! tell yduwhy he
did, Gordon? l don't want you to mis-
judge him in a wistful tone.
Tell me- p :
He could have done nothing else. It
seemed incredible to Gordon, but even
his incredulity melted away as he lis.
tened
She did not really-at least, not
wilfully-cause his fathers death. but
Launt believed it, and believing it, he
could do nothing else.''
There was little silence when she
paused. Darkness was falling fast, it
hid his face when he spoke again.
u have great deal of faith in mis-
takes like that coming right in the end.
This will be no exception to the gen
eral rule. / cotne to ask grea test
happiness at your hands, Dana sbut I
want you to believe that if | could lead
you directly to your happiness l would
do it with all JOY. and-and good wish
es for both of YOU
They We're drawing near her board
ing-place, He paused at the gate, and
took her hands.
.. We will say goodbye here. Don't
forget, Dana, that l shall be glad when
yo&r Happiness comes. Once more,
ro6d-Bve."
He was gone then, and she was look
ing after him with tears in her eyes.
She dried them. and turned Kithin.
Miss French!n Her landlady way
laid her in the hall. There a Visitor
for you in the parlor, a gentleman
that 5 been waiting there foF' an feur.
/ d run and slick myself up if.sI Was
YOU beforeI went in s1@'azza~s szas-s =--s
But Miss French chose to disregard
damp wraps on the hall-rack and
passed. in directly. The red freight
from the open crate ate, made a rosy gloT
face of the man she had never expect
ed to sac on earth again. He turned to
her. a great eager light in- the eyes
that qesEoned herss tbea BE took a
step toward her, and held out his arms
imploringly.
My darling. oh, my darlingr' was
what he said. The next moment she
was caught and drawn close, held there
as if he would never let her 90 again
MY darling. forgive me, forgive mel
1t was all mistake, Dana; a great and
terrible mistake. And to think that il
nearly parted US. Nothing shall ever
do that again, nothing if YOU can for
give metnow. :
Nothing? She made a vain struggle
to free herself. Was there not dark
shadow of shame aud guilt petweenyto
part them forever But 1arnt held her
fast.
Murder had been done, but no kindred
blood cried out to him for vengeance.
If they were to:bejudged by the crimes !
of others, would not that of his father
the crime of sself-murder as
heavily as the homicidal deed 10 which
frenzied woman had been provoked?
He heard alf that story from her. later.
He had only one answer for her as he
stopped down, and for the first time.
kissed her lips.
You are mine. Dana, and nothing on
earth SHAH part Us again-'
T That settled it. When April came in
there was the quietestaof weddings, and
RIr. and Mrs. Farm gtan. departed for
tho South vYhara f,1+J,,n bnr,,xa