Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-04-24

/ Wnlte mower, reDOSlng somewhere In
the mazes of wavy black hair which
| covered her head, which made her look
like some naiad or nymph, realized in
| flesh and blood-and artificial flowers.
'What trial this is, dear!'' sighed
Angela.
| ''What?" inquired Grace"
Phillips going away. 1t is most dis
| tressing. Nothing but a sense of duty
the very strongest sense of duty
would have induced me to go to this
dance a bit" and she sighed heavily.
sharp bitter things, as she was con-
stantly tempted to do when with Angela.
The remembrance of that dear face
which she had kissed in farewell not an
hour ago, and that alone. held in her
| desire to be sarcastic, even sardonic, in
| her replies, and she said:
"Yes; l don't expect any pleasure
| from it, l must say. and in my judg-
ment it would have been better not to
60. But [ could not refuse Philips
last request
Il wish it had been in my power to
stay away sighed Angela; ''but it
would have looked so very marked, you
know"
II thought you and my brother were
now definitely engaged. He told me
So" said Grace.
1--WE are, but not publicly. 1t would
have been more than l could bear, to be
| openly engaged to him, and he gone
| away, for no one knows how longr'
Grace's rage could no longer be en-
tirely repressed.
"You must have a very sensitive
nature" said she, in honeyed accents.
"Oh, Gerry" assented Angela.
but to my mind,' went on the
| downright Grace, If loved a man
enough to marry him, there is nothing
that l should like better than to have it
known that 1 was engaged to him. l
should be proud of it, and 1 should
glory in it. -
"Oh, my dear Grace. how shocking!
You are so young, dear, you really don't
know what you are saying"
Grace laughed shortly and bitterly,
| and remarked:
"Do YOU mean that have not had as
much experience as you on the sub, ect?
l have never had any, allow me to tell
you, except that agreed to marry one
of Philips school-fellows when he was
ten and was zine. But see we shall
never agree upon the subject, SO we had
better let it drop"
Nothing 10th, Angela complied with
the suggestion, and the rest of the jour
ney was pursued in unbroken silence.
They had scarcely entered the dress
ing-room at Mr.. Starkie's before the
Berghauses also arrived; Thekla and
her mother, the former looking rather
pale, but with a certain deeper light
than usual in her blue eyes. Grace few
to her, and began to explain the case.
in series of low, but energetic whis-
pers; while Angela. daintily arranging
her very elegant and very artistic dress,
discoursed aside to Mrs. Berghaus in a
discreet undertOne.
"Mr. Philip Massey has been sudden
ly called away; he has gone to China, 1
believe; so he could not bring US, and
of course Grace was SO busy seeing him
off and talking to him that I offered to
write to you in her place"
"Ah. yes!" said the unsuspecting
Mrs. Berghaus, arranging her cap be-
fore the glass. Il only wonder that
Grace would come without him; she is
so very devoted to him.
He made point of her doing so,
and she did not like to refuse him. It
is very good of you to chape-on so many
girls. Four ladies. and only Mr.. Herr
mann Berghaus to escort u.s."
"And MIR. Fordyce; he came with u.s."
said Mrs. Berghaus, sticking pin into
her cap, and contentedly surveying the
effect. $50 we have two gentlemen"
"Mr. Fordyce! Indeed!'' said Angela,
in some surprise, as she and the others
followed Mrs. Berghaus down stairs.
In the hall they found Hermann and
Mr.. Fordyce, the latter looking stiff,
and with heightened color in his
cheeks.
"What funny little man he is!''
murmured Grace to Thekla.
you, Grace. He had not intended COM
toned that you and Philip and Angela
testified the greatest desire to join us.
We had good laugh about it.
In the meantime Mr.. Fordyce, look
ing exceedingly pink, had offered his
arm to Miss Fairfax, and she, with her
sweetest smile, had accepted it, leaving
Hermann to escort his mother. and
Grace and Thekla to come after them
alone.
SmlIten WIN me, lnekia. WIS
pered Grace, with short laugh, rs they
entered the ballroom.
Grace did not have a pleasant even
ing. She was angry. vexed and jealous
for her brother, and, refusing almost
every dance except one or two w tn
Hermann Berghaus. remained volun-
tary wall-tlower, and looked with jaun-
diced eyes on the proceedings of Philips
fdncee.
Whatever the effort might cost the
bleeding heart of Miss Fairfax, it is
very certain that she made a gallant at
tempt to appear to enjoy the ball. and
it was. like most praiseworthy attempts,
rewarded with fair modicum of sue
cess. While Grace sat glooming at one
side, while Thekla Berghaus danced
for what could Philip Massey's depart
ure to China. or anywhere else, be to
her?--but danced mechanically, and had
nothing but sharp things to say to her
partners! Angela also danced every
dance. and fascinated all who spoke to
how hx,h or 10