Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-03-08

Detroit was briefly but wildly sketched;
and, lastly, the death in the lonely little
lake cabin, and the simple cross of
wood with only Viola rudely carved
thereon. 81
Stella had lain back on the pillows.
and shaded her eyes from the light with
her hand; but Ralph. who was watch
ing her. saw that she was listening in
tently-so intently that she hardly
seemed to breathe-and was as motion
less as a statue, and as white. Even
Ben Anderson noticed her extreme pal
lor. though not generally very observing
in such things, and Notwithstanding she
still kept her face shaded with her hand.
Il think you had better put our little
guest to bed, wife, he said; II am
afraid she has sat up too long already"
Mrs. Anderson had slipped out when
they first rose from the supper table,
and kindled fire in her "spare cham
ber." so that it might be comfortable
and pleasant for her guest. She would
have put her in her own bedroom, but
| she knew intuitively that, stranger as
she was, she would feel more at ease by
herself.
I'VE have family prayers. dear: but
you need not stop, for YOU no look tired,
and really ILL., Mrs. Anderson said, ris-5
ing and taking down lamp from the
mantel behind the stove o. {
Please let me stay; 1 am not ILL.,"
Stella cried, eagerly. and as if to sub
stantiate her assertion. soft crimson
glow famed Suddenly in her cheeks.
I'll haven't heard any one pray for
SO iong;;'' with a little desoiate sound,
ike a wall. in her voice. e
Certainly, we would like to have
you. if you are not toe tired" and Mrs.
Anderson put down the lamp and came
and sat down while her husband read
the beautiful parable of the prodigal son,
and then put up plain. simple prayer,
in which. with rude eloquence, he be-
sought Heaven to bless each heart ac-
cording to its needs; to keep very ten
! derly through all the future years the
young life which it had pleased Him TO
save that night; to lead it through all
pain. or sorrow, or temptation. to Him
self. And then he asked that over her
blossoms Of earth might fall with equal
sweetness and grace; andwhen for them
the silver cord was loosed. He might,
out of His own infinite good pleasure,
unite them all in Heaven once more.
There was little moment of hushed
silence. and then Myra Anderson took
down the little lamp again and lighted
it. Ralph sprang suddenly to his feet
and lifted Stella in his arms as if she had
been baby, and started for the Stairs.
She struggled little. but he said. i'm
peratively:
"Lie still! Do you think l am going
to see such a face as this going up
stairs, and a strong fellow like me look
! ing on?'
As he said this he touched his hand
I am not sure whether by accident or
| deSign-against her cheek: it was wet
with tears! Ralph Anderson felt his
heart glow as he had never done in all
his life before. He felt strong impulse
/ to hold her close--so close to his heart.
/ that she could feel its strong, warm
throbbings, and feel never sad or alone
any more while that heart beat. He did
not stop to ask himself if this was alto
| gether loyal to Blanche, but he did real
/ lie. vaguely, that all the fascinating arts
OF his beautiful cousin had never woke
such deep tender glow in his heart, as
did this small. pale, tear-wet face lying
against his bosom.
He put her down in a chair. said
"good night softly and lingeringN,
and went out.
| 1t was pleasant little room, with a
summary warmth that contras ed charm
/ ingly with the cold and stormy outside.
| A soft. bright carpet covered the floor.
but the bed was the special pride of
Myra Anderson's heart. 1t was the
! lighteSt and Invest thing Imaginable.
! Getting into it was literally true-you
did get into it,, all over, and something
on each side would come up with sud-
| den puff" and shut you in almost as
/ etfectually as the ''spring lock- did
| poor Inflated "Genevra. Over this
! clever trap just now was spread an
/ - albumquilt whereon was written q
tsscore and half of names, each name
! surrounded with halo of pink and
! green calico: This quilt was very dear
| to Myra Anderson. 1t had been a sur
prise from her friends when she left the
/ old home the home of her heart, still,
! nignly on the new. than it ever had
! on 1T. p
| Just outside this room door was a
| broad. low shelf. and on this shelf q
1 small black, hair trunk, studded with
brass nails. The door was open, and
! the light shone out. and directly across
it. The dull glare fell on the nail heads,
! and this attracted her attention. aided,
perhaps. by Miss Blake's glance in that
direction e
- II you felt like stepping here she
said, hesitatingly, going toward the
door; THAT is the trunk. "-she stepped
along. and lifted the lid-Miss Blake was
at her side. and those were our little
girls clothes. keep them all here to-
oct her: / like to come and look at them
| Sometime" STOPPING over she
| touched one of the dresses, softly and
caressingly, as if it had been the dead
| face of her lost darling.
1t was perhaps an hour afterwards,
when the house was wrapped in dark
ness and silence. and only the soft light
| fingers of the snow tapped monotonous-
ly at the windows, that door opened
noiselessly, and a light. white-robed
figure giided to the side of the little
| trunk, and sank down before it, sobbing
in passionate abandon of grief.
! Poor little Viola! dead! yes, dead