Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-05-17

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ship might change to tenderer one since
he found how distasteful his plea was to
her. OF course, such thing could. not be.
He was loyal, true-hearted, ''good as gold,
| but only Cousin Tom, after al, j." she as
sured herself, part of the old life she was
eager to escape from.
He looked around the pretty room that
| evening while she told him her purpose, and
| only his eyes said how pleasant and cezy
he found it, or expressed a wonder at her
restless wish to be away; but she read the
look, and answered it half impatiently:
ut isn't just question of home and
pretty furniture, or even of hard work and
small wages, Tom; it is something quite
different. 1 can't explain; you would not
understand if could"
"If you could explain''-with slight en-
phasis on the one word, which she might
have resented had she noticed i'll might
understand more than you think. How
ever, l am not saying you are not right,
Margie: it will be a change, and rest"
She softened at the name; there was no
one else who called her Margie now.
said, in a quieter tone, ''that if I am
ever to do any good true work in the world
anything worth DOING meant is time
/ found it."
gray eyes, but it did not pass his lips. He
only said: =.
"Old: with your face, Margie! Nom
sense!"
She flushed and laughed, woman-like. Of
course, she liked to seem young to Tom;
but in moment she resumed, gravely:
''What have said is true, nevertheless.
want to go-somewhere. want to meet
the real, earnest, helpful lives of the world
| to see what they are doing-and may be |
vague yet, Tom, but you will help me,
know"
Across Toms prosaic brain flashed the
memory of a nursery rhyme they had long
ago learned together: -al,,,
ST went to place q don't know wherel,
To meet somebody II don't know whol,
Who told me something II don't know WHAT,
And that is the reason L Il never tell you.
He understood her far too we'll to quote
it, or to argue with her. She was one of
those not uncommon spirits who wish ito
follow the leadings of Providence by going
ahead and showing the way"
'Surely, Margie," he answered, sitting
sigh. II shall miss you, though; you must
remember that
The triflng circumstance of her not
knowing exactly what she wanted to do
made it a difficult and delicate task to aid
her in doing it. But Tom did his best, and
by the help of railway guides, many dis
cussions and few letters, they discovered
lovely little nook, not possessing any no.
toriety of its own to make it too expensive
for Miss Deans exchequer, yet sufficiently
near to nota BILE places to allow of visiting
them at will. In short, a little quiet bay
from whence one might push out into the
great ocean at pleasure. 1t suited her per-
fectly, Miss Dean declared, and with the
first day of vacation she was ready to de-
part.
Worthy Meggins wiped her eyes with a
corner of her immaculate apron, and prom
ised to take good care of the plants. 1t was
significant of her softened feelings that she
dignified them by that name instead of
calling them "green truck as usual. Tom
looked disconsolate, but Margaret's heart
swelled exultantly as she waved her fare
well. She watched with dreamy eyes the
panorama of hill, hamlet and wood that
fitted past her window that day, and filled
the long hours with visions. Her oppor-
tunity had come at last, and she meant to
improve it TO the utmost. She was free;
she would find the most and best the world
held.
The car door opened to admit a rush of
wind, puff of smoke and an unintelligible
that
Margaret started, reflected, and settled
quietly in her seat again. Two minutes
later the door banged once more, pair of
eyes under gilt-banded cap glared full
upon her, and a hoarse voice shouted, more
distinctly:
"Change cars for Noxton and Meadville."
SIS that the train for Noxton?" asked
Margaret, making her way to the plat
form.
Eyes, I'm. There's your train, right
across there. Only stop five minutes.''
And she was hurried away in the jostling
throng. and found herself breathless on
board the other train just as it began to
move. 1t proved shorter journey than
she had expected. She had miscalculated
the time by an hour or more, she said to
herself, when later in the afternoon her des-
tination was announced, and she found her
self standing on the platform of an unpre-
tending little station, while the Shrieking
locomotive rushed away on its course. She
was disappointed in her first view of the
place. 1t was extremely quiet and coun-
try-like, and she seemed to be the only pas
senger who had stopped there. No sign of
any one awaiting her or of any conveyance
rewarded her anxious glances, and she APP
preached boy who, perched in a window
of the rude building, was swinging pair
OF muddy boots and comfortably whit
Ting.
''This is Noxton, isn't it,"
"S'pose 500
"Aren't YOU sure about it,"
FUSED to be; but, we see, brother Jim has
been up to town 'tendin' some lectures, an
he's told me about em; am now him an
mes an eggnoggsticism-we don't infirm
nor deny nothin'."
The reply, though unsatisfactory, might
have been regarded as an evidence that
she was approaching the great centers of
thought and culture, but Margaret was in
no mood to appreciate it in that aspect, and
she remarked, with the asperity she was
wont to assume toward refractory pupils:
Ii you ever hIItW luo IiiIuc VI lIit place.,
you know it now, of course. Can you tell
me where Mr.. Grey lives:"
The boy twisted his torn straw hat, and
wavered between a good-natured desire to
crafty an anxious inquirer after truth and
his longing to air his recent requirements.
He compromised.
'Well, won't say as there is Mr..
Grey, am / won't say as there amt; but
she lives in that square house up on to the
hill.''
'Who is 'she':"
''Miss Grey"
Margaret reflected a moment, looked
vainly for her trunk, and considered the
smaller articles of baggage in her posses
sion. There appeared no reliable person
about the premises to whom she could APP
peal for aid or information. She turned to
the boy again and proffered bit of silver
81 will give you this if you will carry my
satchel and shawl-strap up to that house,"
The eyes under the straw hat sparkled,
and their owner forgot his new mistiness in
absolute certainty.
"Golly! I'd do it as quick as wink, marin,
if the man that keeps this ranch hadn't
left me to take care of it while he went up
70 no ax-tSt at; No, inn, 70 hot