Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-03-26

ginning ~ uFe LOO long. tnaG, IN snort,
he would before long have to think OF
growing old. He tried to pay atten.
tlons-to s. go courting'' they called il
there; but it was perfectly evident that
the girl had not the least suspicion OF
his meaning. And, meanwhile. time
was passing; every month he was a
month older, while she seemed month
younger; and it was very plain that il
he ever meant to live he must begin
and as married man; the last thing
that had ever entered his mind.
1t would take long to tell how he tried
throw himself and his money-bags and
his plans at the feet of not particular
ly pretty child fresh from school, who
knew nothing, it seemed, except how to
laugh and how to spend. 1t would take
longer to tell how, having been at last
driven to conclude that love is fate, he
mesh by mesh, got that big fly, Legs
Croft, first into his web and then be-
| tween his claws. And then, by just five
! minutes, to have lost the game, and to a
| boy whose very existence he had we'll
! night forgotten-it was crully hard.
| Ninety-nine men out of a hundred would
| have broken the web and given up the
| game. Enoch Marrish was the hun
dredth man; and, whether visiting his
| fields or feeding himself with Cruel, he
| had but one thought-how TO weave the
web anew, and stronger one this
time.
Not that Enoch Marrish had become
so much passion slave that he would
really have paid away Legs Croft, the
best farm in the country, as the price
even for Patience Blackthorn. Mammon
is not to be conquered by Cupid quite so
far As that would 90 HIS old web had
been scheme to gain both by one
roke: his new one also must gain both,
and a good bit of revenge besides. But
what, in the name of vengeance. was
that plan to be? He could not see it for
all his thinking; he only knew that it
had to be done.
He had just swallowed his last mouth
full of scaldng Cruel, and was scraping
the saucepan, for the sake less of appe-
tite than of principle, when quick step
came up the graveled path. and radiant
face came TO the kitchen window.
''Marrish!' Stephen Harlow hailed
him. Are you very busy there? want
a word with you"
Enoch's impulse was to throw the
saucepan at the fellows head; but that
would only have damaged a good sauce
pan. and done no good in any way.
He never forgot anything; so he held
his hand.
Here l am. What's Your word?'
''Why. that L IN to be married as soon
as there's been time for the banns! You
We're the first to wish me JOY, you know.
l know your times precious: but will
you spare morning for once, and be
best man?"
ZIP" He was really taken aback by
such a request, considering what his
thoughts had been.
''If you wouldn't mind. | can send
for one to Millport; and. if l could,
you've been so old friend of my Pa
tience that I'd sooner have you than any
man anywhere. Say yes
My Patiencei Had the young lover
taken and stabbed him, his heart could
not have felt the dagger more sharply
than such word. However, he must
not let even so much as look hinder
any scheme that he might form-must,
form-within three weeks at the utmost;
for what he had heard, was both sud-
den and terrible news.
t.. tItI- L Will. Sttit1 itc.
''Thank you, with all my heart. Mar
IRISH. 1 knew you would; and when YOU
want it yourself, I'll do as much by you.
l forget, though-a best man.must be
bachelor. Why don't you do as [ do,
and get Patience of your own?"
won't YOU come in? l have just
had breakfast, or I'd offer you some
thing. So you are getting rich man,
en-"
1--we got my foot on the ladder.
Fancy my coming just in the nick of
time as did-it looks like Providence,
Marrish; it makes one see things clear
that one never saw beforei l wonder
who the scoundrel was that wanted to
buy my Patience. You know, of course
of course, | shan't ask, but | should
like you to tell him. when you see him,
before he tries to buy girl at market
again, to ask her if she wants to be
sold. The scoundrel-the cold-blooded
brute-it makes my blood boil. l hope
shan ever know; for | don want to
be bothered with having to leather
cur But never mind him. No, thank |
you-I can't come in now. I'm off to |
Manchester, and as I'm on Shanks' |
mare. mustn't play by the way"
IL tluliCItSltl. Law buSlutSS. !
Lucky you can afford it. I'm my own
LAWYER
Not this time" said Stephen, with a
laugh, which raised in Enoch the devil /
of murder. Il m going to buy ring /
"A ring?' asked Enoch-rather stu !
pidly. it must be owned.
1.-The ring."
He nodded goCd-day, and went off |
whistling a tune. There had not been a /
happier man in England last night: !
there was none so happy this bright !
morning in the world. He had paid
back his benefac;or tenfold; he was
young and strong; his employers had +
such faith in him that they would make /
sacrifices to keep him; he was we'll up !
on the ladder of fortune; he had not, so /
far as he knew, a single foe; he was in ,
fellowship with all the world; he /
had won the girl of his heart-no Won /
der that his soul sang within him as he /
marched along Manchester road. 1.-The !
ring. and what shall the posy be2 /
There must be a posy; though it's not .
the mode in Millport-but hang the !
mode! Patience must keep to her sweet |
country ways. l wonder what she'll |
think OF that big town-how she will .
open her blue eyes! What wonderful
tn ngs | thought the tail chimneys were
when first came. She'll get on with Mrs.
Preston, safe enough: I'm glad she'll
have lady friend. Wen take one of
those little houses in Washburn; one OF
those gardens would be just the thing
for the old man to prowl about in anu
tnb tho ,,noCn |