Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-07-31
= BETWEEN TWO STOOLS.
eHArfER i. :
~ aass kdmshlng ito tel yeu.I

Il eHArIER u ;
81 aate komahng ito tel ysu,
MARY
Mary Ranley let her work fall into
her lap. and looked up Al the speaker.
She was tail. slim, dark-haired WON
an OF seven or eight and twenty. with
plain. patient face, and wistful eyes.
She wore dress of a quiet gray tint,
and the room in which she was seated
was furnished with all good taste that
now-a-davs IS consistent with strict
economy. She had not single claim,
in feature or coloring, to any of the ac-
knowledged forms of prettiness, and
yet something about fher would have
conpellsda Second those
WHO had obtained a fir5t.
Well Tom. what is it?'' Her face
softened as her glance fell on Ion Dam
vers. handsome, blue-eped fa.fb aired
Tom. whom people spoke OF only to
praise They had been playfellows.
these two. who were alike only in years.
They were lovers now. and they would
be husband and wife one day. It least
that hope had beautified existence for
both of them during seven years.
Seven years. 1t is a big slice out of the
best part of the allotted tbree-score and
ten. thalgh it was only lately that pne
e ,he n s FLIP na ta bsgas to .,t =
yet. What is it you have to tell me?'
Tom crossed the room, and bent
over her to stroke her t&ir,l The novet
ment was caress. and then it~enabled
him TO avoid hereyes.
Il have been offered an appointment
ut kaneoon.
AT bangoon." She echoed the
words without any intonation of sur
prise. That is
..In Burmah. AS if you did not
know that and everything else, my lit
tie scholar; and kangoon is a Big place
with openings for lots of telIexss
Stephens has written, saying he needs
partner any 50 think, if YOU don t,
niaai saf '>5Etaff sfYrflrTsss q "a. .
Mary Ranley did not answer. In the
pause that ensIsed she heard the plr-
ringaG tnel Etl oR die bearth,s and
smeiled the faint odor of the mr. gnon-
cite growing in the wifd6w-iux. 7 SheI
knew quite well that the linnets outside
were piping 10 the roses. and that Tom
Danvers was waiting for her answer;
but she also knew that her pulses We're
CROWN fainter and intery-apd-&h
The weight of a long-dreaded bow had
fallen.
..Are you not getting On heree" she
asked after a pause. II thought you
told me that your work vas Increasing;
iheught You expected that 1--WE miaht,
marry In e spr. Id TT !
ks..lf vas afl a mistake, due to my con-
founded hopefulness. l got a new case
or two when sSmithsQn was away for
his holiday 5. hut thetbolds TIE pstiehts.
and will go on holding them. The fact
is. Mary. there is not scope here for
two medical men. and 1 knew that.
though 1 settled IN the place when you
wished it. But ] have net 4aaae a hut,-4
dred pounds in the past twelve months,
and YOU know that means failure"
..But make a good deal by my teach
ing. and I thought that, working to-
gether. we might got on
..Thas,is lutte OIL # fAe sapes1sn. y
be sai@ fsetnlly, mr9ingS sway from
ne pleadfng. patent eyes II am not
going to have nay wife drudging all day
long that we may not starye. III sup
port her myself, r.dSWthout hef'fSI i
The pale hands lying on the piece of
needlework pressed each other little,
then the sweet voice spoke softly and
firmly
Il have teen thinking often asels,-
Tom. that you would be wiser to do
without me. You see we have known
each other so long that we have really
grown 10 be more friends than lovers,
and am far older thanyou in reality,
thou h HQtvplgbaRs in gears. and so 4
cad 1d hkIp HeieWnG at Zines that mar
ENLARGEMENT has been nr:staIe-
-oh. you do, do YOU" wrathfully.
;99e zee i. has iaftsd vsn ysefS
eomplesels. and SOP think. Tod, de&r,
that it would be far better if you planned
YOUR future without letting anyehought
of me hamper you am safe enough,
You know: the high school PAYS me a !
comfortable salary, and / have grown
to fhe routine of life with
Mrs. t,illet. and so. dear, ! can offer
quite honestly to set yoa free. y ASh
was smiling at him bravely. and her
eyes were very clear and brlght<but
- lad IAN peg lhaf tes heat vas
ssss PM are d me- I.upps-ep
You imagine that ! am likely to be a
failure, ana you women cart ohls ioI
.i6cess,r ?, sheaanswered, bitferlvs So II
II suppose the working ones OF us
knor. that success comes some time to /
he steady and patient. she said, /
he first hard tone sounding in her !
I'll ssssi,3 dis } nosnsln Il her" 400
s.Dear Tom, don't imagine that wish
o find fault critclse,x ! loyg you far !.
90 well for that; there Is nosdne ID All
he world as dear to me As you are /
a,,t do vow not tbink yourself that our !,
;,a. IT, serak hii;as Be- sS;fp rkfractsdsal
eem hopeful now? You don't feel it +
8 do. it seems to take all ms strength
ssz-sass. - <,,,,. 1,fo farofhar a1wayS