Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-10-23
CHAPTER Xv.-CoNrINuEp.

CHAPTER Xv.-CoNTINUEp.
'tMiss Lawrie, pray let me make you
known to my Intended This came
from MIR. Montagu Blake, who felt HIM
self to be justified by his peculiar cir
cumstances in so far taking upon him
self the work of introducing the guests
in Mr.. Halls house. "Of course,
you've heard all about it. am the
happiest young man in Hampshire,
and she is the next.
''Speak for yourself, Montagu. l am
not young man at all. -
you're a young mans darling,
which is the next thing to it,
..How are you, MIR. Whittlestaff ?'
said Mr.. Hall. 'Wonderful weather,
isn't it? I'm told that you've been in
trouble about that drunken husband
which plaques the life out of that
respectable house-keeper of yours.
..He is trouble; but if he is bad to
me. how much, worse must he be to
her?'l
That's true. He must be very bad,
/ should think. Miss Mary. why don't
have tea with my girls and Katie For
roster in the woods? You should take
your chance while you have a young
y
81 shall be quite delighted" said
Blake, land so will John Gordon"
''Onlv that shall be in London this
time Tomorrow said Gordon.
'.That's nonsense. You are not
going to Kimberly all at once. The
young ladies expect you to bring out a
lot.ef diamonds and show them before
you start. Have you seen diamonds,
Miss Lawrie?''
'.lndeed, no. said Mary.
81 think l should have just asked to
see Them" said Evelina Hall. Why
should they join her name with his in
this uncivil manner, or suppose that
she had any special power to induce
him to show his treasures.
when you first find diamond"
said Mr.. Hall, .'what do you do with itP
Do you ring bell and call together
your friends, and begin to rejoice?''
mo, indeed. The diamond is gener-
ally washed out of the mud by some
niger, and then we have to look very
sharp after him to see that he doesn't
hide it under his toe-nails. It's not a
very romantic kind of business from
first toslast.
..Only profitable said the curate.
THAT may be. 1t is subject to
greater losses than the preaching of
sermons.
Il should like to 90 out and see it
ALL" said Miss Hall, looking into Miss
Iawrie's face. This also appeared to
Mary to be ill-natured.
Then the butler announced the din
ner, and they all followed Mr.. Hall and
the curate's bride out of one room into
the other This young lady, said he,
SIS supposed to be in the ascendant just
: at the present moment. She can't be
married above two or three times at
the most. say this to excuse myself
oNI;ss Lawrie, who ought perhaps to
have the post of honor" To this some
Joking reply was made. and they all sat
down to their dinner Miss Lawrie
was at Mr.. Halls left hand, and at her
left hand John Gordon was seated.
Mary could perceive that everything
was arranged SO as to throw herself
and John Gordon together-as though
they had some special interest in each
other. Of all this Mr. Whittlestaff saw
nothing. But John Gordon did per-
ceive something. and told himself that
that ass Blake had been at work. But
this perceptions in the matter were not
half as sharp as those of Mary Lawrie.
81 used to be very fond of your
father, Gordon,'' said Mr.. Hall, when
the dinner was half over. Its all
done and gone now. Dear, dear, dear!'
sHe was an unfortunate man, and
perhaps expected too much from his
friends"
81 am very glad to see his son here,
at any rate. I wish you We're not
going to settle down so far away from
US.
kimberley is long way off,
Eyes, indeed; and when fellow
gets out there he is apt to stay, | sup
pose"
II shall do so, probably. I have
nobody snear enough to me here at
home to make it likely that l shall
come back.
I; ..You have uncles and aunts?" said
Mr.. Hall.
Zone uncle and two aunts. shall
suit their views and my cousins better
by sending home some diamonds than
by coming myself
..How long will that take?" asked
Mr.. Hall. The conversation was kept
up solely between MIR. Hall and John
Gordon. Mr.. Whittlestaff took no
share in it unless when he was asked a
5ouesfion, and the four girls kept up a
whisper with Miss FORESTER and Mon
tagu Blake.
81 have a share in rather good
thing" said Gordon; ''and if l could
get out of it. so as to realize my prop
erty, / think that six months might
suffice"
.sOh, dear Then we may have you
back again before the years outP'
Mr.. Whittlestaff looked up at this. as
though sapprised that the danger was
not yet over. But he reflected that
before twelve months were gone he
would certainly have made Mary Law
rie his wife.
: kimberley is not very allurins
place. said John Gordon. 81 don
know any spot on Gods earth that
should be less likely to choose my abid-
ing resting place. -
{ "Except for the diamonds.
Except for the diamsnds, as you
remark And therefore when a man
has got his fill of diamonds, he is likely
TO leave"
s.fiis fill of diamonds!'' said Augusta
Hall.
..Shouldn't you like TO try your I'LL Of
diamonds? asked Blake.
mot at all, said Evelina. 'sfd
rather have strawberries and cream. "