Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-12-20

be able better to come to an understand
ing with him. Indeed, you need not
mistrust me-"
'.Be it sou said Mrs. Lascelles. after
| pause. 81 have never reposed such
confidence in any one before, but your
face inspires me with trust.''
She looked gratefully at Margaret,
whose eyes sank, as she felt an uneasy
sense of confusion and embarrassment.
, Mrs. Lascelles went on discoursing for
some time on Rupert's idiosyncrasies,
and enlarging upon his cleverness.
Thus the evening droned away, and
about ten O'Clock Mr.. Lascelles arrived,
and Margaret was introduced to him.
He was rosy, healthy, bluf-looking
| country gentleman, known far and wide
as 1.-The 'Squire;;' startling contrast
in appearance to his wife-on whose
looks and words, however, he appeared
to lang with much devotion. He pro-
fessed himself tired and sleepy, and
seemed anxious that the household
should retire early.
"How has that lad been?' he asked,
| abruptly.
"Oh, much as usual, DEAR" answered
his wife. II am Just going to look into
his room now. Ii he is asleep, Miss
Percival, as think he viii be, should
like you to see him."
They went upstairs. Margaret fol
lowed her to the end. of corridor; she
noticed the geography of the upper por-
ton of the house, and remarked that
her own room was at the opposite end
of the same corridor. of which circum-
stance she made a note.
Mrs. Lascelles, after looking into the
room, turned, and beckoned to Mar
garet to enter. She did so, and stepped
up to the side of low iron bed, beside
which lamp was burning low on Il TIA
BILE. Mrs. Lascelles turned up the light
and she and Margaret stood, one on
each side the couch, looking down ON
the face of sleeping boy.
Even in sleep it was singular face.
One saw that it was sallow, as if with
habitual ill-health, and there were dis
tinctly marked lines on the brow and
about the mouth-lines which, fort
unately, are rarely to be seen on the
faces of boys of fourteen. The forehead
looked even too large and massive for
the delicately chiseled outline of the
face. The mouth was large-the lips
drawn, as if with pain, even in sleep.
A quantity of Ight-brown hair was
tumbled back from his forehead. Mar
garet could not guess what his eyes
were like. They were yelled over by
the mystery of sleep.
She gazed silently at the pale, pa
thetic face of the boy, who suddenly
stirred in his sleep, and turned over,
his face toward Margaret. Mrs. Las
celles quickly turned down the light.
One of Rupert's hands stretched itself,
as if seeking some answering clasp to
which it was accustomed. His eyes
half opened. Margaret put her hand up
on his. His fingers closed for a moment
over hers, and she felt the clasp,
strong and nervous one, though the
hand was thin to emacation. He
sighed, as if satisfied. Then his fingers
relaxed their grasp, and once more he
was plunged into deep sleep. Margaret
looked up, smiling, and found Mrs.
Lascelles' eyes fixed upon her. Tears
stood in them.
cit is a happy omen,'' said she.
They left the room and Margaret
asked softly:
"Does ne sleep alone, then?''
"Only q dressing-room divides his
room from ours. Well, what do you
think?''
81 think should like to take care of
him, and try to make him happy"
said Margaret, looking earnestly into
the mothers troubled eyes.
'.Ah! you shall try. God bless you
for your goodness!' she answered, with
clasp of the hand, as they separated.