Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-10-22
CHAPTER yu-cox-rn
Or, JUST A CAMPIN'.

CHAPTER Xu-Cos-rSuEp.
From Erastus they heard but seldom,
but knew him to be at work on his claim
at the Slough
Mrs. Parsons had written him of the
destruction of the old home, and of
their removal to the new, soon after its
occurrence, and also of Jennie's mar
mage to Ensign and their removal to
Chicago.
Of Lucy's breaking with Mr.. Annel-
sey she did not write, thinking possibly
1t might not be permanent. in which
case it would be better for Erastus, if
still feeling attached to Lucy, not to
have his hopes raised to be again dashed
to the ground
MIR. Annelsey, however, did not plead
very earnestly with Lucy to reconsider
her action in dismissing him. 1t was
several weeks before his reply came;
and then, while he expressed regret at
her decision, he did not urge her
very strongly to reverse it Knowing
that his parents would oppose his mar
rage with poor girl, he had not in
formed them of his engagement, and
no comments would therefore be made
at its being annulled; fact upon which
he now congratulated himself.
He had already begun to feel his at:
lection for Lucy weaken with absence;
was. In fact, becoming enamored Of an
other young lady in whose society he
had frequently been thrown since his
return to New York, and whose posi-
ton in wealth was equal to his own;
and although he told himself that Luz
hol J.,
probable that after the shock to his self
esteem was over he was rather glad
than otherwise.
If Lucy expected or desired q more
vehement protes alton of love from her
disguaTded sutton than she received, her
manner upon opening his letter did not
reveal it.
She read the letter in the presence
of the family. and then calmly handed
1t to her mother. The next day she
replied to it, re terating her desire to
be free from their engagement and ask
ing the return of her letters.
Il shall send yours. together with the
ring and other iewelrv, by the same
mail that takes this letter" she wrote
him, and having sealed it and seen it,
in COMPANY with the package. safely on
its way to the Office, she went about her
~ air, which was great source of COM
fort 10 her parents, and of especial sat
isfaction to her father.
IF Rastus nd only come back now
it nd be all right. he unused, and feel
ing certain that the young man ; alice
ton for Lucy had not waned because
OF absence. fully expected him to come
back and ask her to BE- his wife.
For this he waited with Impotence,
wondering at Erastus delay and in
venting excuses for It
.''Spect the poor fellow hasn't jest
got the money By him to come on" he
said to himself.
And then again: '.May be he's put
tin i'll his crop an wants to finish so
It will lie CROWN while he's gone" Or,
'.like enough, he's a-workin' for some
body else for 4 spell an can t honorably
get of right away"
But as the weeks passed into months
and the only evidence that Erastus had
not forgotten them was a letter express
ing his sorrow at the loss of their home,
and hope that he might some time as
sist them if they should require If, but
never a word about Lucy or any inten-
ton of visiting the family. all hope of
seeing Lucy married to the man whom
he loved as a son and respected for his
manly qualities began to die out of
John Parsons bosom.
..'Rastus was always awful proud"
he said to himself, Fan l reckon he
can't get over the girls preferrin' of
that young jackanapes to him in the
first place
He still supposed that Mrs. Parsons
had written Era tus of Lucy's dismissal
of Annelsey. aud it was not until
months had passed and summer was
giving place to fall that he learned diff
ferently.
He had never mentioned his hope that
the young folks would make up to
any one
Erastus knew that Lucy was with her
parents, but supposed her only waiting
for her affianced to come and claim her,
and SO worked on, striving to conquer
his love, but never succeeding, even for
moment.
And Lucy, although knowing that she
loved Erastus, had always loved him,
either supposed that he knew of her
broken engagement, and knowing it
was silent because he had no love for
her, or. if she suspected he did not
know, was restrained by maidenly re-
serve from taking any steps to acquaint
him with the fact.
one Jay MIS- 1aTSOnS was heIplng
her husband in the garden, when some
thing was said about Era>tus.
Il wonder, remarked Mrs. Parsons,
'what he is doing now? 1t is good
while since we heard from him. l wish
knew how he is getting along. Poor
boy. he must have hard time of it
with no one to keep his clothes in order
or do thing for him. I wonder if he
ever thinks of getting married?
''Of course he must, ;" she added. an
swering her own question; "he has got
little start by this time and every
young man on a farm needs a wife. l
hope ne viii get good one when he
does marry.
John Parsons gave his clothes little
hitch, habit he had when at loss for
a word. Then turning his back to his
wife and putting an extra bit of force
into the hoe lie was using. said:
4 had sort o. thought may be he an
lucy'd make up, now Annelsey's out o
the way, but it seems they don't
Pears like 'Rastus is too proud to take
mp with bein' second choice, though l
don't b'iieve the girl ever cared half as
much for that ar popeniay Annelsey as
cine did for him. even if she did prom
Use to marry him. / wish she'd write
to 'Rastus and tell him so. / know
that 'ud fetch him. 'Ras amt the fell
low to get over that kind of thing in
q hurry. and know he loved her des-
pFit, an it seems no more'n fair that