Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-02-22
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Thrice Lost d a Struggle for a Name.
By NRs. R. B. EDISON.
CHATTER VIII -CoSTrSuED.

CHAPTER VIII
But Stella Blakel Like the Mordecai
OF old who sat at the Kings gate-she
-embittered all his happiness Not that
the girl opposed him, or was rude, or
forward, or interfered in anything out
OF the line of her general duties: On3y-
and this meant a good deal-onlv she
went to Mr.. Mont;ord for instructions,
ands deferred to~him in everything,
which, seeing that he was master of the
house wasn't certainly anything so very
deserving of blame to an ordinary OBJ
server. But Mr.. DeVries wasn't an or
binary observer, by any means-there
was nothing ordinary about him-you
q. teit that instinctively when he looked at
you with those strange, opal eyes, which.
beautiful and smiling as they We're, had
a cruel, treacherous CLEAN in them,
which seemed to belle the pleasant
voice and the smiling lips.
Ordinarily MIR. DeNries had no more
difficulty IN seeing through men and
women than he had through bit of
glass. Somesweres so very transparent
that he felt little sentiment of dis
gust toward them; but Stella Blake
went to the opposite extreme; she dis
gusted him, because she was so very
hairs breadth past the inscrutable face
and defiant eyes. Very naturally he
didn't like it, and very naturally the de-
sire to penetrate beyond the pretty
mask became the absorbing wish of his
heart. He didn't understand her-he
didn't know what to make of her-but
one thing was certain: it would do no
ham to. keep an eve on her. and this
he fully resolved TO do. So
81 Mr.. DeN RES, whenever it suited his
pleasure, or purpose, made love to Al
thea Moutford.zs He had donethis more
or less ever since she was sixteen. He
knew that she would never marry any
other man while he continued to do it.
and though he didn't particularly care
- to marry her-at least, unless circum-
stances made it for his interest-it was
rather gratifying to his vanity to know
that he could twist this proud girl round
E his finger and keep ler single. by now
and then a look, "a touch of the hand,
and aafew tender words 1t would serve
mis- interest to have Althea's co-opera-
ton and sympathy, for. if Miss Blake
obtained too much influence over Mr..
Montford, she coul id get her out of the
house in some way. In pursuance of
this idea he satmtered into the parlor
"HCIC AiIiicsi was ~ d. tiC IL SoliiC INV
music. Coming up behind her he
lreached overland pushed it away with
rone sweep of his white. firm hand
pardon me, Allie.'' his voice was
low and thrilling, rs he leaned over till
his breath touched her cheek-''but it
+, is so seldom that / find you alone, that
i am going to be very presumptuous,
and ask favor. namely: That YOU fore
90 the pleasure of practicing for an
Z hour, and devote il to me. And. first,
], want you to sing my old favorite,
Annie Laurie and let me sing it
5 with you. What do you say, ma
6eite?' looking down INTO her ewes
with one of those sweet. tremulous
smiles. which made his face so fascinat-
ing?'
For answer she ran her fingers over
tie Keys. striking ont the tune. l--
Eo,li putting his hand over and
stopping II. 81 only want to hear your
voice. What do care for that insensate
thing? Anybody can play Annie Lau-
rie,' but never care to hear them. l
only care to hear you sing it." All. how
low and tender and thrilling his voice
was.
Need say the song was sunga Need
] say that a brighter color came into
Z
pale blue eyes grew soft and starry,
and almost beautiful when his intense,
rslling voice gave force and mean
ing to the pathetic sweetness of the
words2
i "There, don't ever ask me to listen
when any of your friends sing thatr' he
said. drawing q long breath. Il want
to keep this song sacred to you. and this
memory, Allie.
A step went through the hall-a light.
tripping step. and grew familiar as it
assembled the stairs. ~ 81 ~
s. . Our new friend?'' he half asked, half
asserted. i.- -+HF 'a# i'H ~
a Eyes, I think so,' she said, rousing
/. herself. Evidently she was more thor
f.oughly stepped in the delicious trance
WHICH the song had inspired than her
companion. and was not 50 alert for
oufside sounds fi e -
- miss Blake is very pretty. y he said.
quietly y ~ Il
! 1..T thought you liked fair women.
; and Stella is as dark as mulatto, al
most she replied. sharply. +H i
/ Gy..I do like fair womenLat least L
like ONE. a tender smile lighting up his
face; -" but, nevertheless, Miss stella is
very attractive, and it. would be well for
us to Keep it in mind, ~
There was a meaning in his look and
words that startled her. =.
= :. You do not-tyou cannot mean that
he that NY father ----,T,,L.f :
might be fascinatei?" he inter-
rupted, smiling oddly. -. g. 1 think that it
certa My looks like it. my dear Althea,
though. of course l may be mistaken
hope am. - 80 =
:. But he is SO Old s7.
.sJuss ten years older THANH I sup
1919 Ysean so old TO YOU, Allie; / am