Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-12-06

By JEss1 ForHERGuL,
j Asahor Of "Probotson,- The We,aesds." Etc.
CHAPTER I.-Cosr1surD.
81 see. And are they very particu-
lar? Do they require certificates and
things?''
"Oh. yes. But am provided with
all those -
- So am l." was the irrelevant re-
ply And you would go at Whitsun-
tide. Have you written yet? Do they
know your name?'
Eyes. of course. NJ. PercivaL I
signed myself" she answered, with a
look of surprise. 81 am waiting to
hear from Mrs. Lascelles whether l
have to go over and see her first"
"Oh, indeed!'' said Margaret, very
gravely, 81 see. Well, L can not tell
you how glad am that YOU came. /
suppose we must dress now. Be sure
you make yourself look very pretty,
Miss. Pereival." ~
sprightly under the influence of Marga-
.ret's sympathy, said she would do her
best, and tripped away, thinking:
81 wonder if Mr.. Biddulph really is
very much in love with her. l never
III w aS, SChs AJLiC lilAhS 81,
though, that is plain enough -
Margaret rang her bell, and gave her
maid scant attention as she attired her.
The young lady was almost entirely
free from personal vanity. She had other
faults less common to the feminine
character and perhaps from their un-
usualness more obtrusive and trouble
some. but from that one she was almost
wholly free. She was as little given to
being solicitous about her appearance
as is a healthy school-boy, and she had
the same frank contempt for, or, rather
: carelessness about dress, and whether
: it became her or otherwise, as such
boy has. But she had a keen nat
ural sense of beauty, and when she
was dressed and surveyed her own re-
Election in the long cheval glass, a
pleased smile broke over her face. and
rhe said to her maid, who had been her
Moid since she was a child:
thy, Norah, look quite. nice,
don't i::' - .-
i" ''Therell be others ready to tell you
that, Miss Darlington" was her retort,
with n little sniff, as if to say: elf you
are so dull as to Feed such informa-
ton" s'E!
Indeed, Margaret did lock very beau
tiful in her sheeny dress of curious
half green, half blue. metallic tint q
believe peacock is the technical term).
1t was a puffy, cloudy dress, and the
clouds We're caught down here and there
by "strange bright birds of small
size. but sparkling with iridescent lus-
ter. the hue of the dress varied and in
tensified like so,nany Jewels. One of
these feathered creatures was fastened
with diamond pin into her hair. Her
maid put quaint-looking fan of pea
cocks feathers into her hand. and gave
her her gloves and bracelets, with which
in her hand, Margaret went down
stairs.
The drawing-room was lighted up in
readiness for the expected company,
/, but was empty, save for boy of fifteen,
4 who Sprang up as she came in, and adj
Tanced to meet her.
We'll, Tom. what do you think'
Shall l dos''
Tom stuck his hands into his pockets,
walked slowly and silently three times
round her, and at last said emphatic
ally: .yts;a. ~ IN
:.Stunning! No fellow need be
ashamed to open ball with you"
u "Howg glad am that 1 can return
the compliment, retorted Margaret,
laughing. . ! really am deeply CRATE
full for your expressions of approval.
Come! sit down ON this stool. and but
ton my gloves and fasten my bracelets
for me-"
Delighted with the permission, Master
Tom Sat down and bungled or1some
time over the process, glancing up
every now and then into the face above
him., Margaret Darlington was his idea
of beauty and enchantment; and if he
only succeeded in expressing his wor-
ship in somewhat clumsy school-boy
fashion, it was worship all the same.
And mingled with his admiration for
what he called her stunning looks !,
was the deeper appreciation of certain
points in her character-pointsv vaguely
seen also by Mr.. Pierce, utterly un-
known to his wife. Tom was wont to
saw that Margaret could not sneak
that when she said thing she meant
it-that she was not bit like girl
that (final and supreme commendation)
it was an awful pity she was not boy;
If she had been, there would not have
been better fellow going"
As he slowly and awkwardly fastened
on her gloves and bracelets, he per-
ceived that her eyes wandered,l her
brows were knitted, she was absent and
did not seem to see him, her hand
dropped Imply.
..Come. ! sayr'g observed the. youth,
ssif YOU don't stiffen your wrist q bit ]
can do nothing with you. What are
you thinking aboutr" AS
Margaret started, looked down at him
and smiled. .4sa
II beg your pardon, Tom. dear. ]
vas thinking of something. l am On
kheeve of taking great resolution"