Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-06-05
MADE OR MARRIED
By JESSIE FOTHERGILL.
Author Of zone of Three" Probation" "The
,zs5.ss - Helfelds," Ets.
CHAPTER xxu.-CoST1NuEp.

,sfs..s - Helfcids," Els. .s 80.
CHAPTER XXu.-CoNTINuED.
She made no answer, but sat gazing
sin an embarrassed manner across the
ssea. How could she say to him: at is
because you have come home that
want to go?' The idea of his guessing
isuch thing made her feel hot all over
for to Mabelle's morbid susceptibility it
appeared as if Philip must lie just as
sensitive as herself on the subject of
her sisters conduct three years ago.
Had he not left England to escape from
the possibility of seeing or being near
iAngela?F She totally forgot that that
escape might Have been an effectual
lone, and that Philip might now be free,
delivered from the possibility of any
keen feeling on the subject. To her it
was sore spot-a haunting memory
-of shame and misery, and rather than
name it to Philip she would even recall
her resolution, and remain at Red Lees
-lat whatever cost of misery to herself
Her feelings of utter dismay may,
therefore, be more easily imagined than
scalm, self-contained manner of one
who was pursuing an interesting but
mot yerysexciting inquiry.
sYou don't speak l begin to think
that Grace was right after all, and that
it is / who am the unhappy cause of
your determination to leave us. Can it
abe so really, Miss Fairfaxp''
"Oh, how could Grace" began
Mabelle. and then overwhelmed by the
dreadfulness of the position. and quite
losing her head in her confusion, she
hastily sprang up, and was about to
fly without word.
But before she could absolutely rise
Philip had interposed, and the touch Of
shis hand on her arm checked her sud-
denly
s@.Do, please. htme go!' she exclaimed,
with a mixture of dignity and distress
in her voice and attitude. cit is really
more than jest; it is not
Evidently it ? is more than "a jest -
,,he replied, rather CURLY. AT least. it
is evident that you consider it so.
Grace didn't, though. Now, Miss Fair
fax. listen!''
Mabelle turned involuntarily, and
found him looking at her with an au-
.thorative expression which made her
pause, whether she would or not.
''You tacitly own that i have some
thing 20 do with your wish to cut short
your visit here" he went on, and his
-deep tones thrilled through poor Ma
belle, while the undercurrent of longing
ITO go, to get away, to escape from some-
thing. she knew not what, grew Stronger
~severy instant. .'And 1 think have a
right to knowyour reason. What have
done to offend youe' I am sure have
@sinned unconsciously, and one word
from you shall produeea change II will
mot offend again.
s.Oh. Mr. Massey, how can you speak
$50 cruelty? How can you turn me into
,ridicule in such manner" she cried,
suddenly sitting down in the little hol-
low, and covering her face with her
hands. DIR. johnson, full of an intelli-
gent and sympathetic desire to console
her, put his paws on her lap, and
scraned his neck to fc6 her hands, while
Philip exclaimed. blankly: /
80 s.Ylrn You into ridicule! / have not
tthe faintest idea what you mean"
''You must know perfectly well my
reason for wishing to co. said Mabelle,
looking up at him with something like
= Indignation at what appeared to her the
widest prolongation of an ordeal which
was becoming uncomfortable to her.
''On my soul and honor, all I know
is that Grace came to me in state of
much agitation. babe me put down my
book and not be so law, and when
asked her in what way I could best
SHOW her my activity in pleasing man.
iner. she pointed out of the window to
Your figure, and ssaid: I've had a
squared with her, and you are at the
bottom oft. She says she wants to GO
;away. Go and make it up with her.
!. With all my heart I.replied, if you
will tell me what 1 have done to offend
her L don't know she said, but if
YOU viii 60 after her, she will tell you,
L am sure, and you must make it up
with her. / am Grace's slave and
yours. so came. Nov, Miss Fairfax,
will you explain? How have 1 offended
your"
ut is not that you offend me. but
Sam sure offend you, said Mabelle,
looking up with a face literally atiame
and confrpnting the calm, bronzed face
land the steady dark eyes of Philip
fixed earnestly upon her own. A look
.of surprise was dawning in them as he
ssaid: rs F8s2 Is
"Ofrend me, Lam afraid am still
5sin the dark How could you by any
possibility offend mep You?"
81 mean that even to look at me must
=arouse painful recollections in YOU
mind. 1t can not be pleasant to you fol
me to be here, after-oh, you can moi
have forgotten the last time we met
acknowledgements
The word was out, and dead silence
Supervened, during which. after one
diashfrom Philip'seyes, his countenance
scarcely changed He looked thought-
fully AZ the headsof Dr. Johnson, while
he still gently stroked back the ears o,
that companionable friend of man; and
4the movement of his hand maintained its
4egalar. uneXcited rhythm. Mabelle
ssat looking at him breathlessly, and
sdoubt. fear, bewiiderment, succeeded
sone another in mad chase through heI
aznind, as she saw, first that dubious
flash of his eyes, then the still more
.dpbiopsI dali smile. which curved his
nipS and then the unshakable gravity,
without a trace of sterpnessS or ldis,
pleasure, which followed He did NOT
speak; he seemed to be lost in reflec-
ton, till al. last, looking up to Mabelle.
after what appeared To- her week
of agitated emotion, she found his eyes
as calm, as steady, as serene as those OF
. child.
- ..Ares YOU aasHryP', she murmured,
timidly touching his arm. Il did not
~ =