Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-01-10

or taking SUCH 3 liberty with her. 1
fear you are no disciplinarian.
..He does not take any liberty" said
Margaret. flushing angrily. eff he or
any one else" she paused ''were 20
take a liberty with me, should know
how to correct it.
That is a most useful talent to
have" replied he, smiling blandly.
cit is sign of kindly feeling, is it
not, Rupert?'' she said.
'.Of course" said Rupert, decidedly.
Miss Flint, Imagine any one calling
Miss Flint by her Christian name. Ii
she had one don't know what it was.
And Margaret is not like Miss Flint-a
machine tor slowly grinding horrid in
formation that one doesn't want into
one. Margaret is my friend
"Proud Distinction replied Louis;
and Margaret's choler rose, though he
spoke in slow, gentle manner, pecul-
iarly his own, and without the trace of
a sheer or any ill will. Perhaps he
continued. '.by the time Miss Percival
has been at it as long as Miss Flint. she
will be more like machine and less
like friend" He looked at her with
a slight smile. as if he had been saying
something rather complimentary than
otherwise.
Margaret's first angry impulse was to
retort that there was not the least need
for her to be friend, or machine. or
anything else, unless she chose; but she
fortunately Tor OtherwiSe) restrained
her tongue in time. All that she could
say was:
Il know nothing about that, 1 am
sure"
Il liked Miss Flint" Baldwin went
on. She was tough old soul. She
thought discipline the great motive
power of the universe, and order Heav
en- s first law-that was the prophecy
for her! And dare say she was right
in so far, that by enforcing strict disci-
pline she gained to herself the maximum
of comfort. with the minimum of wear
and tear, compatible with the life she
led But she failed to win the heart OF
this ungrateful youth.
Implying that if can win his heart,
don't know how to erp'Oiter NV con-
quest when have got it, said Marga-
ret. involuntarily.
'.Implying absolutely nothing was
thinking of Miss Flint. not of you, Miss
Percival, if you can believe such a thing
possible, while YOU are here
He was atrociOus. Margaret thought.
and her face famed. She had never
been covertly laughed at before, and
the experience was hateful one, in
deed-the more so, in that she had
desire, which she could not altogether
repress. to be on good terms with Louis.
How could Rupert feel for him the de-
votion he spoke OF? She replied, coolly
and dstantly:
knowing Miss Flint. should quite
have understood that your thoughts
should wander to her sometimes"
Louis burst out laughing.
." Say rather that you have the great
felicity of not having known her."
Rupert corrected her, dryly. cdr.
Louis and / don't agree about Miss
Flint in the least"
81 think her talents were wasted
upon you"
81 know her talents eXasperated me.
I always connect her with Richard the
Third. and I'll tell you why. Twas not
doing any lessons one day, and she was
teaching Damaris English history by
question and answer-which is an ex-
ploded idea now, 1 think. Damaris
couldn' remember. Miss Flint glared
at her over the top of the book.
What can you tell me about Richard
the Third?' she said, with full stop
between every word. Damaris looked
awfully guilty. She said he had a
hump-back. Miss Flint Strengthened
hers, and said that was n matter of no
conseJuence-she wanted to know
about his character. Damaris was per-
fectly and hopelessly ignorant, so Miss
Flint had to tell her at last, which she
did in capital letters, and evidently en-
ioyed it-'rhis King Waded To The
Throne Through The Blood Of His
Nearest Relations Damaris-she's
awfully soft, You know-lOoked at her.
and said: oh, Miss Flint.'
Then caught Miss Flint's eye, and 1
roared. She never forgave me-"
Now you won't be surprised at my
having such an esteem for her, Mr.
pert, if you turn round, you will per-
ceive your pony-carriage standing at
the end of the pier, and John making
his way toward u.s."
'.Oh, botherr' said Rupert. II don't
want TO go.
But Baldwin had risen. saying Rupert
had sat in the open air long enough,
"Well, let John carry the rugs, and
you help me along" said Rupert. look
ing into his face, with what deep and
yearning devotion of expression Mar
garet could see for herself. A pang of
something like jealousy. a sensation of
being shut out into the cold, contract
ed her heart.
Baldwin's answer was to raise Ru-
pert from his half-lying position, and
pass his arm round him, as John came
up. The servant collected the rugs.
camp-stools, etc., and returned toward
the carriage. Rupert stretched his
lame foot toward the ground. with a
twinge of pain. He caught more
tightly at his friends arm, and now
Margaret saw why it was possible for
Rupert to love Louis so devotedly, for
the expression of compassion, of deep,
if undemonstrative tenderness which
overspread the young mans face was
like the revelation of another nature.