Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-02-12

hers and pressed II HOW pretty sne
was In gray gown of mime. adorned
with bunch of rose-colored ribbons
Day BY day she grew more lovely. and
day BY day discovered fresh virtues
In her.
/ had not any one TO consult st
home. so went 70 our old clergyman
and asked him TO write letters on Do
lores' behalf, making inquiries con-
corning her husband This heidi, and
after some weeks the answers came, all
with the same result No one had
heard of Lieutenant Walters, and
there was no such name on
the list of officers IN his Majesty's Navy
Bv degrees we left of expecting to get
any good news, only cherished Sc
cret hope that when Ambrose. my hus-
band. came home-in a couple of
months-he would throw some light on
the subject Dolores stayed on with
me. and learned 10 love her dearly
The neighbors were all pleased with
her society, and no one knew besides
Miriam that / had found her on that
autumn evening BY the Black Pond
After that there came bitter days for
me. PhGbe Lyneombe- Ii was Easter.
and the good ship --Thunderbolf was
long due at Plymouth, and there was
no news of her. had thought 10 have
nv husband with me- before the prlm-
roses were out and now the hedges
were yellow with blossoms and he never
came Nv uncle. an old Admiral who
resided 81 Plymouth. had long promised
to send me 8 mounted messenger as
soon Is he should have tidings of the
.-Thunderbolt." and day after day l
stood BY the garden gate and looked
down the road in vain In my trouble,
Dolores seemed TO forget her own; she
cheered me. bore with my fits of de-
spair, and was in all WAYS like loving
sister during that dark season One
afternoon she had gone to the par
sonage with a message, and L sat Try
ing to sew by the parlor window The
ivy was beginning TO put forth Its
Young shoots. q delicious perfume OF
violeIs was waited in from the garden
The room was trim and ORDERLY bowl
of yellow coysiips stood on table by
the side of NV inlaid work-box-it was
one Of Ambroses many presents L
saw myself reflected in the mirror
hanging on the wall opposite. sitting
on a high-backed chair over my tam
bonr frame. with nv hair gathered
high on my head handkerchief
pinned across nv neck and the pulled
sleeve of nv gown ending above my
elbow. Behind NE was the door: even
as I looked il opened quickly There
was q step knew the sound Of a voice
| loved: Where ara Eou2 Ph9be- my
wife,, No more signing over the
frame, no more gazing in the mirror.
no more watching for the messenger;
before could well jump from my seat
he was there. his face was close 10 my
lips Well II is Dolores story that
l am telling YOU not mine
Safe. safe home at last and there
had been 10 mishap beyond contrary
winds: he had outridden the messenger
on the road. The time passed quickly.
As we sat side by side looking out on
TO the landscape. the hills and dales
all green with the sweet freshness of
spring. he took nv hand again in his.
and then noticed that he wore ring
that | had never seen before What
a magnificent ring, Ambrose [ said
holding his hand up 10 the light that l
might see il better. 1t was of foreign
workmanship. curiously chased. and in
the center was flashing stone set N
diamonds To my surprise. Ambose
did not answer al once. but looked
troubled; Al last he sad: i can not
tell you the whole story Of the ring
now dearest Phebe, il belongs 10 my
brother Charfford- he Is III al Plymouth,
tomorrow you shall hear all about it
/ knew that Charlford's mad freaks
and misbehavior had long been a cause
OF anxiety TO Ambrose (Charlford was
his Youngest and best-heloyed brothere.
so | foTbore TO grieye him with another
word on the subject
is that our good Miriam al the
door?" asked Ambrose. presently
There was certainly a step in the pas
sage: but when l went TO seek Miriam
found her in her own room At the
farther end Of the house Afterward.
remembered that some one had
passed along the hedge and gone out al
the garden-gate. but az that time took
no notice of the occurrence When the
supper-ben rang | began to wonder
where Dolores could be. Ii was long
past her usual hour for returning. At
last / sent q maid 10 the parsonage bid
ding her hasten home Alas, she had
Left an hour ago We searched all
through the house. in the garden and
the paddock: II grew dark. and / could
10 longer conceal my distress Am
brose- too. looked grave He went
with the coachman- and they made III
quiries in the village: they even walked
as far as the Black Pond. but they
found no trace of Dolores.
There waSsnothing more TO be done.
We could bat wait for the morning.
when my husband said that he would
himself ride 10 Plymouth. and send out
mounted messengers TO scour the coun-
1rv- she cOaSl8 nos be far of.
Very early the next day a little piece
of paper was brought to me. With
l deciphe7ed the words that
were written in pencil: Dear and hon
ored Senora-Do not seek 10 find me.
shall never return. have left with
my free viii. Ever and ever viii pray
for you your devoted and grateful sery-
ant kiss your hands and your feet
Dolores de Riano Walters
Ambrose was ALWAYS 8 man of few
words. He made no comment on the
letter Very shortly he babe me a
loving farewell. and set forth on his
journer. | spent the 1ay alone. hoping
for the return of Dolores. Surely. I
said 10 myself. Ambrose. or one of the
men. must find her Soon-she could not
walk far. and there was no coach to be
hired In the village even if she had the
10 engage one; and / knew how
slender Were the contents of her purse.
WHY had she left mes Was her brain
uRhinged by trouble? Would she again
seek to pat an end 10 her life? Late
in the afternoon l wrapped mantle
round me and went out 10 breath
h.