Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-06-25

Rob was down, and we were all about
him. and the queen-dowager would have
torn Harold from his arms if he hadn't
been firm.
NO, no; let me give him to his
MOTHER he cried. Poor. poor Lefty!
to have had such fright!'' There
was shrek above as he rushed into
the hall. and Lefty came running down.
They met halfway. and it's wonder the
] child wasn't smothered between them.
But it was pretty as picture. Rob half
kneeling, and Lefty leaning down. all
| in white, and her golden hair stream
ing. and the light of the sta ned Win
dow on the landing bathing them in
crimson.
"It was nv fault. darling" we heard
Rob saying, ''but I never dreamed of
your having such a fright
And Lefty answered. wildly: mo,
no; it was mine-to doubt you SO. Oh,
how could I?''
That was all very we'll as sentiment,
but not precisely explanatory. We had
all that presently, however, and simple
enough it all was. In the city, the day
before, Rob had met his old friend Car
thame, the protrait painter, just out for
few days from New York, and at
sight of him the idea had flashed on
| him that a crayon sketch of Harold
would be the protest possible surprise
for Letty's coming birthday. Carthame
has spec: al reputation on children.
and his being in Northington was a
chance not to be missed.
"Al right" Carthame had said.
| I'll do it for you, though | wouldn't
for everybody in such a hurry. Bring
| the boy down to Northington to-mor-
row, and I'll manage head for you, at
any rate
So Rob had hastily arranged with
Marie the night before. charging her to
tell the queen-dowager. And here
Marie dissolved in tears, and owned
that she had met her-her cousin that
same evening, and it had driven every
thing out of her head, and she had
quite forgotten that part of the scheme.
IF l had not been really obliged to
run into the city this morning l could
have managed it better,' Rob went on
"But all could do was to tell Marie to
bring the boy down, and would meet
| the fuss, till an hour ago there was a
he's with his sister there-and in walked
q
Frank admitted the pallor. He had
been. he said, so taken aback at find
ing the two together that for one
dreadful instant he had not known
what to think
OF course when it was explained, it
seemed nothing at all. We laughed at
our agonies, our frantic kilograms, our
messengers, and the rest. But | must
say it had results that were far from
unimportant. 1t was really lesson to
Lefty, and she has behaved better
since; it brought about an understand
ing between Annie and Frank, and,
Really Pam said, delighted to be
able to abandon gracefully her aristo-
cratic objections. latter what has hap
pened, we must be glad to have him
one of us. Only I'm sorry for Mr.. Tai
bot. I suppose he understood that
day." she went on, innocently. ''He
hasn't been here since, l notice"
'.It is about all you have noticed"
laughed Lefty. ''or you'd know there
was no end to lamentation over him."
..Oh, 1 dare say, he'll console him.
SELF" Pam said. ''Of course, at this
time of life-and can't say ever sup
posed him in love with Annie"
Il should hope not, indeed" Lefty
said. in high good humor. LAS for
his eonsoling himself, if you take it
that way, he's done it already. If
you hadn't been half blind for the
last month. you'd have known what
brought him here. Mamma wouldn't
think of it at first, she so hated the
idea of leaving me and marrying
again" ooh, indeedD But he s
been so urgent of late" (since he
found he couldn't get Annie), land
after all she's just nice age for him,
and it is only ten miles away, and such
a lovely house, and mamma is SO SEN
sitive over her position here (to be
queen-dowager isn't enough, l sup
pose), land so last night she said
yes.
Well, that did take our breath away
for a minute; but when we came to
think of it, we saw how nicely the
queen-dowager had played her cards,
and it WASH t so amazing. And it was
blessing for Rob. Mrs. Talbot has
something else to think of now, and,
left to herself, Lefty is more rea-
sonable. She is still jealous wife
what's in the nature won't come out
with stroke; but she does control
it better. and there is peace between
our houses.-Emily Il. Wheeler,, in
Harper's Bazar.