Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-02-19

she had not looked up, so could not see
how fxedly he was looking down at her.
that he continued. 81 can not tell you
how the bare idea has distressed me. My
sister was in despair at the telegram, and
was only too happy to make it an oppor-
my anxiety to coma, when offered to take
back with me Mrs. Coventry"
Two pretty white hands were put up to
cover the confusion of very red face.
whisper.
The Colonel drew back and stared at her,
while she, feeling straightforward con-
fession was the only way of maintaining
the little rag of her dignity left, stood up
and began speaking hurriedly:
"Colonel Seymour, I don't know what
you must think of me, but the whole thing
was, On my part, sort of bad practical
joke. our sister, You know, wrote to me,
and Miss Hamblin was to have travelled
down with you. At the last moment she
was unable to go, and some madness
prompted me to pass myself off in her
place. Oh, you don't know how distressed
I was! / couldn't tell you what suffered!
1 shall never forgive myseif-never! Of
course Mrs. Lambton must know, and
what will she think? What can you think
of me?'
And the heightened color and the brown
-
lovely that the Colonel was forced into
saying: well, Pm afraid if l told you
now it would make you very angry. But
you are making great deal too much of
told? I am the only one," he continued,
''who ought to be distressed to think I have
fallen victim to the charms of a lady
who does not exist"
"Yes, but she does-there is a Miss
Hamblin."
He shook his head dismally.
''Alas !" he said, ''there is Mrs. Cow
entryv'
And then they looked at each other, and
both began to laugh.
sob, that Kitty" said the Colonel.
''Isn't she shameful? know now that
she made us both believe each of us was
dying to marry the other"
"And I'll tell you what We'll do" said
| the Colonel LET us in turn play her
trick, without informing. her that we've
ever met before-go down there 20.
gether."
at would serve her right, but" and
pentance for her escapads, and this led to
the motives each had for distrust and sus-
picion, so that by the time one O'Clock
struck they had grown quite confidential.
Colonel Seymour had heard how, when
years ago he had come to see Kitty at
school, all the girls had straightway fallen
in love with her brother!
eyes, but you were not among them?'
he asked, pointedly.
"Oh, indeed was, and did my very ut
most to make myself most cons picuous.
Of no use; you passed without throwing
second glance in my direction"
"Impossible!"
"Nothing of the sort. Besides, after
that, we met many times in society,""
But this the Colonel denied at all risks.
No earthly powers would induce him to
believe he had ever met Mrs. Coventry: if
so, he must-he should've could not help
remembering her.
He stayed to luncheon, ne came back to
afternoon tea, and sat hour after hour
chatting, in the vain hope that Mrs. Cow
entry might be driven into asking him to
dinner; but, as she was resolved not to do
this, he had to frame an excuse for reap
pearing early ON the following day, when
she consented to travel again to Ashridge
Manor in his company.
And to prove him equal to profiting by
opportunity, when, radiant with the hope
that her cherished scheme was beginning
to work satisfactorily, Mrs. Lambton ran
to embrace him, whisper made her ex-
claim:
"You don't mean it's settled? No, not
really-it isn't possible. Nelly, say it's
true! Why, how did it happen?"
"Oh. quite in the usual way" A nd
Colonel Seymour began laughing, while
Mrs. Coventry murmured something unin
telligible.
"But l never knew anythin so delight
full, so romantic! Love at first sight evil
dentlyv' And then, with another shower
OF kisses ON the fair face before her, she
added: 81 must say, Roslyn, that you are
a bold man."
Certainly, my dear; it's my trade-I'm
solder.''
Eyes. but to propose like this, at once
and to Nelly, who is SO particular. Well,
if Id been asked, should have said you
were mad!"
$50 am. Haven't reason to be?''
eyes, but Nelly?"
"Oh, I've been bewitched evidentlyv'
said Mrs. Coventry. 81 feel that 1 must
be somebody else, I don't know who, but it
can't be Helen Coventry"
"Why, there, that's hero' exclaimed I'M
grammatical little Bah, whom the sound
of her fathers voice had brought down.
''She's the lady who was in the train
didn't tell you SOP"
Mrs. Lambton stretched out her hands,
more mystifed than ever.
"What does it all mean?"
But Colonel Seymour had caught up the
child, and was holding her toward Mrs.
Coventry, saying that this lady had prom
Used to be her new mother; then, grasping
his sister by the arm, he said: "Don't ask
any more questions now, Kitty. You shall
be told the whole story; only keep in your
curiosity until we three can sit down
quietly together, and We'll let you into
the whole mystery. "-Temple Bar.