Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-01-17

strength and his weakness (she be-
hevcd), but about Louis there was al
| waye the hint of some unrevealed power
some quality which, when the occa-
sion offered, would spring into action
and be grand. And to one of her
nature this reserve force, this undis-
played side of the mans character,
possessed an irresistible fascination.
Her life became like a dream. She
forgot how time passed. The occasion
al reminders of the outside world
| letters from Miss Percival, from Mrs.
| Pierce, from her faithful ally, Tom, who
was willing for her sake to put himself
even to the torture of writing letter.
| all these came more as vexations than
| as pleasures. She wanted no letters
she wanted no reminders of world
| outside; she wanted to be allowed to
| drift on in peace, in this dreamy house
hold (for they were all dreamers, more
| or less), with Rupert eyes hanging on
her as she knew they did, and his heart
| with them-with his mothers love en-
circling her also with the squire S
| hearty kindness and bluff gratitude:
one day it took the shape of present
| of gorgeous black silk dress, and the
| remark that no woman in England bet
ter deserved such a garment, which gift
embarrassed Margaret sorely. With
all this, and with-yes. this was the
core of the matter-Louis Baldwin s
glance on their daily meeting, the clasp
of his hand on her thrilling fingers, and
the slow, measured, gentle tones OF his
soft voice, which to Margaret had more
power to thrill and subdue than the
| most vigorous utterances of the most
| far-reaching tones.
One afternoon, toward the end of
June. Rupert, Margaret and Louis sat
alone in the schooi-roOm. Mrs. Las
celles had set off on one of her unfre-
quent rounds of afternoon calls, and
had taken Damaris with her. Louis had
lunched with them, and since their re-
turn to the schOol-room, had been busy
explaining to Rupert, whose appetite
for Information was Unsuitable, some
new geological theory. They both
listened with the deepest interest while
Louis piled books in different ways. so
as to show the position OF the strata of
which he was speaking. Margaret re-
joiced in the sweetness of the moment.
The only thing about which she had
ever heard Louis express any earnest
desire, was. that he had only the means
to forward certain branches OF scientific
inquiry, and she was thinking at this
moment: '.How could help him! And
how delightful it would be to do sou
Louis was on his knees on the floor,
and Margaret lent helping hand.
holding up one book while he propped
others against it. She leaned sideways
over low chair in which she sat, and
as they were all thus occupied, the door
was opened, Il footstep paused, and
then voice said:
Il fear L disturb; is Mrs. Lascelles
not in?"
Margaret started violently, changing
color. Not so Baldwin!
"Halloa, Jack! is that you? 1 thought
you were in London" he said, deliber-
ately.
MIR. Mallabarr! II also thought you
were in London" was all that Marga-
ret found to say.
Mallabarr had paused on the thresh-
hold. his whip and hat in his hand. He
looked the picture of fine young En-
glish gentleman-proud, erect and
handsome; but the smile which oftener
than not relieved the darkness of his
face. was absent. Something more like
frown-still more like pain and dis
tress-a Disconnected expression sat
upon his brow and looked from his eyes;
his nostrils were little dilated, his
head thrown back. Margaret had new
er seen him look like that. and the ex-
preston caused her much uneasiness;
but mastering her first embarrassment,
she said:
"Will you not come and sit down? 1t
is true Mrs. Lascelles has gone out; but
Il, Ill IL
will be disappointed if she misses YOU"
Mallabarr hesitated for moment
looking at Margaret in 4 manner which
she did not quite comprehend, and then
said. reluctantly:
"Since en- here, will wait short
time, at any rate
He laid his hat and whip on side
table, pushed his fingers through his
hair, and sat down beside Rupcrt's
couch.
"Well, old fellow, how are you getting
on?" he asked, in a tone which sounded
rather weary, and his sentence ended
with sigh.
Mech just as usual" said Rupert.
listlessly. Studying geology, with the
aid of books as strata. But what brings
you back so soon? L thought you were
so fond of London"
He could not well have asked ques-
ton more ungrateful to the ears of the
three grOwn-up persons who were his
companions. Mallabarr did not imme-
diately answer. Margaret sat motion
less, looking steadily forth from the
window; but her heightened color,
which she could not control, annoyed
herself. and was perfectly visible to
Louis Baldwin, though he appeared alb
sorbed in further experimental combi-
nations of imaginary movable strata.
At last John sad:
81 used to be fond of London, when
I was young. Now every place bores
me. l was bored to death there, so l
came away"
81 should think you'd be blessed
lot more bored here" answered Ru-
pert, who was not too well pleased at
Mallabarr's return, and who spoke
Grossly.
John laughed little, and replied:
Darh,rc NAV ho Tf Gu I oor rr/>