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

~~~s~~O
Hamblin?" she said.
Not this morning; nobody had been in
Quired for.
Mrs. Coventry turned to CO.
edy here o. the name o. Hambiin?"
called out a porter, against whom she ran.
eyes; this lady," said the waiting room
woman, beginning to explain. But mat
ters have to go rapidly at railway sta
ranged her plan of action, Colonel Seymour
had shaken her by the hand, said he was
pleased to meet her, much obliged for her
venturing on such a morning, put his little
girl under her care, and des red the porter
to see them to a carriage while he went to
She had come so far, and now she must go
on.
An hour later the train was crawling
slowly past Saltwater. In one corner of
the carriage sat Mrs. Coventry, opposite
her was Bah, at the far end Colonel Sey-
mour.
The usual civilities had been exchanged,
and since then the Colonel had been in
trenched behind his paper, keeping it up
as screen, under shelter of which he was
taking stock of his fair neighbor.
"Uncommonly fine young woman; re-
markably good style, tool" And then he
shook his head and sighed compassionate
they have some of Mr.. Bob's chums down
there to stay, there'l be the very deuce to
pay at Ashridge Manor"
At this moment Bah took possession OF a
seat which Mrs. Coventry had offered next
to her. The movement attracted her
fathers attention. What big girl that
child was growing! She would be old
enough to have governess herself soon.
Pshawi What nonsense next? and a single
people talking. Colonel Seymour laid
aside his paper, moved nearer the lady he
was observing and began:
81 hope you are not feeling the cold.
That's a famously warm cloak you have
on.'
man. Good gracious! His voice seemed
rather pointed. Did he think it too hand
some for a governess to wear? To allay
his suspicious, if he had any, she said:
SIT is Mrs. Coventry's cloak; she was
afraid l might feel cold, and lent it to me-"
OF course, he remembered who Mrs. Cow
entry was; her great friend Kitty had
told him that it was she who had recon-
mended her.
Mrs. Coventry rose full fifty feet in the
Colonel's estimations ''Ah," he thought,
s'now that's a very kind action" and he
smiled approvingly, as he said:
"My sister tells me that Mrs. Coventry
is charming-very nicer" and he looked as
if he expected an emphatic affirmation.
Yes-oh-I have known her so long that
1 am hardly able to say. She has great
many friends" In what sad voice she
said that. Poor girl! The Colonel felt
to explain his reason for doing so, said he
felt q draught from the window.
"Won't you have your rug?" she said,
taking one from Bah, and wrapping her in
half her own. "Your little girl and will
share this one."
Colonel Seymour protested, but allowed
his scruples to be overcome.
81 don't think you know Mrs. Lambton,
my sister, do your"
ISIS she at all like you?" asked Mrs. Gov
entry, evasively. The Colonel smiled.
''Some people think So" he said. He
was not at all displeased at the way she
had asked the question:; there was look
in her face which gave point to the in
MRS. Coventry thinks Mrs. Lambton is
so handsome" she said, naively.
"Mrs. Coventry, herself is very good
looking, isn't she?"
ssOh, she has a lot of::money, you know"
and she smiled rather meaningly.
mot tenth part so pretty as you are,
I,lI take odds" thought the Colonel, but
aloud he said: 81 nominate women with
money!"
"No, really; do your" and she sighed
audibly. 81 thought that was all men
cared women to have.'
"Im sure you're not speaking from ex-
perience now" said the Colonel, gallantly.
'How do you know" She spoke sharp
ly, and looked the Colonel SO straight in
the face that he stammered:
sob l am-judging from appearances"
every unsound policy. People often are
not in the least what they seem to be-"
and she opened paper as If she intended
to read.
sob, oh! we have claws under our vel
vety paws, have we?' thought the Colonel;
and then he betook himself to his paper,
and on they went in silence.
"Dear me, the train seems to have come
to a standstill!" TWAS past three O'Clock
they had been due at Ashridge an hour
ago; Mrs. Coventry felt her couragerapid-
ly ebbing.
our journey on" Colonel Seymour said.
with vain attempt to see the cause of
the obstruction. The windows were
blocked with snow; the carriage was all
but dark.
"What can it be?" she asked anxiously.
81 really wish we were all back at home
s'Well, don't fancy that would mend
matters much in my case. Ny house at
having general scrimmage there to see
who shall be master"
SIS that why Mrs. Lambton wants you
to" She stopped; her eyes had fallen
on Bah.
have long ears. So my sister acquainted
Mrs Coventry, did she, with her philan-
thropic views concerning my future?"
Eyes, and she told you that Mrs. Coven-
try had lots of money, didn't she:"
ranged charmingly. You will be asked to
witness tdbledu Uiuant we shall play to-
gether."
"We! What, you and Mrs. Coventry?
You are sure of her consent, them"
"Certain-when l ask it, which, with all
due respect to the lady, 1 have not the
slightest intention of doing"
mo? 1 thought that it was because you
had made up your mind to marry that she
had been asked to meet YOU"
SON the contrary. nv sister SaenS n
think that the fair widow intends taking
to herself another husband, and has so ar
ranged that l should meet her. Wicked
little intriguer, it was only at the eleventh
hour she permitted her hand to be seen,
and then it was too late to change my
plans, or should not have had the felicity
of making this journey in your company"
"Upon my word, you are the very pluck
lest woman ever knew in all my life 70
Colonel Seymour said, enthusiastically.
He, Bah and Mrs. Coventry were getting
ing-room of Yoebury Station. Although
it had struck eight O'Clock, they had
reached no further; and considering that
their last four hours had been spent all but
buried in a snow drift, from which with
difficulty they had been dug out, thankful
indeed did they feel that they had reached
a haven of safety. Bah was the only one
of the three who had had anything to eat
since the morning.
1--WE can do better without food than a
child can." Mrs. Coventry had said, in
sisting that her sandwiches should fall to
Bab's share-and after this she had taken
Bah on her lap to keep her warm, and the
child, growing drowsy. had fallen asleep
in her arms.
The time. after all, did not seem so very
long, and Mrs. Coventry was sensible of
certain amount of exhilaration produced
by spirit of adventure. There was, how
ever, dismay when it was discovered that