Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-12-17

held the treasure near the light. At first
glance it appeared to be twenty franc
gold coin, but on closer inspection it
proved to be a medal Of Napoleon Bona
parte, commemorative of the battle Of
Marengo.
s'The man must have dropped it from
one of his many pockets,n thought Mr..
Merridew, dazzled by the shining gold. 81
will give it to him when he comes back
with the address for the envelope."z
returned, but the placard disappeared from
the shop window, almost magically, unless
a woman took it who entered to beg.
III.
Harry Lewiston was of a sanguine tenn
permanent, yet he could not deny that the
prospect of the opening year was gloomy.
He wished to marry Rosy Merridew, for
whom he felt a rapturous devotion. He
was clerk in chemical mandatory,
and as he possessed unusual quickness
of intelligence, his employer had prom
ised to promote him to the post of book
keeper on the 1st of January if he would
invest the sum of one thousand dollars in
the business. This advancement meant an
increase of salary, marriage with the girl
of his choice, and a home.
'sHe might as well ask me to fly to the
moon on a broomstick," grumbled Harry,
with a wrinkle in his white forehead.
"How am l to get a thousand dollars
scraped together by the new year: Does
he expect me to take the first old gentle
man by the nose l happen to meet in the
street and demand the sum or his life?"
He was two years older than Margaret,
and had always cast the burden of care on
her shoulders since childhood. She had
made him home on the fourth floor of
shabby house located on dirty street.
Brother and sister belonged to the class of
toilers who must earn their own bread in
la TOW Shn LODI in, ha. oh Ia
and, like Mrs. Merridew, dreamed of fresh
fields, with pot of plants growing ON the
window ledge. On holidays Maggy b~ked
and scrubbed, washed and mended, setting
Boarding would bring me to an untimely
grave" she said. 81 like to make my own
oatmeal porridge, and break the tea-cups
myself"
A light step on the stair aroused Harry
from his lugubrious meditations, and Rosy
Merridew appeared ON the threshold,
wearing captivating jacket of blue cloth
trimmed with gilt buttons:
ST did not expect to find you here" she
exclaimed, all smiles and bushes.
Harry took her in his arms and kissed
her. ~ have a business appointment at
noon, before going to the factory" he said,
Maggy warmly seconded the caress, and
put on her bonnet. She was going shop
ping with Rosy, as the day was Saturday.
The two girls departed In gay spirits, Ten
minutes later other steps assembled the
stairway, and small boy knocked at the
door, demanding bandbox left with the
lady by poor girl.
'There's no bandbox here, and I never
heard of one" said Harry. testify, after
that there had been some mistake, and,
with his accounts adjusted, went out, dis
missing the matter.
Nobody in the great city extracted more
l. L. i. \
garet Lewiston. On the present occasion
she went about with Rosy, and at noon
they ate chocolate cakes at the counter of
a confectioner, after the manner of women
kind.
sOh, Maggy, if we could see the skating
at the Parkw exclaimed Rosy.
"Come along, them" rejoined the valiant
Margaret.
81 must run home first and tell mother"
Rosy sped away, and Margaret fingered
velvet and satin fabrics, wondering vague.
ly how it would seem to be thus arrayed
instead of being condemned TO fiimsy black
cashmere. a man paused beside her. She
recognized the bearded individual
that evening a week before when
she went to the teachers meeting.
She edged away with a flush of resent
ment. To walk rapidly along the street
following her. Why: Her heart beat
more quickly. She entered a large store,
and passed out at right angels by another
door. The second street gained, Maggy
slipped into an area behind the ash barrel.
After waiting few moments she smiled
at her own cowardice, emerged, doubled
back, and regained her post of waiting for
Rosy, with a certain exhileration in hav-
ing led her follower a fruitless quest.
Scarcely had she resumed her place when
a hand grasped her arm, while a voice
said:
"This time have you"
Maggy grew pale. The bearded man
was again beside her.
"What do you wish?" she murmured,
'Much," he replied with GOODNESS.
"How dare you touch mew she ex-
claimed, with sudden courage, for she saw
Harry and Rose approaching, arm in arm.
81 beg your pardon. For Heavens sake
don't run sway again n cried h the stronger
the lovers.
Harry is going with US to the Parkw
was Rosy's joyful announcement.
ASK this--person-to explain his con-
duct" said Maggy to her brother.
The stranger stood his ground. He con-
tinued to gaze at Margaret with an abb
sorbed expression.
81 never saw hair like that out of
Titian's country of Galore" he said, medi-
tatively.
"My hair!" echoed Maggy.
"Win yea all come with me?" he inquired,
hurriedly.
Harry assented, while curiosity struggled
with disappointment in Rosy Merridew's
breast.
Richard Woutner was an artist, with a
studio in neighboring building. He led
the wondering group into a spacious room,
with large window to the north, and all
the picturesque confusion characteristic of
such quarters. Margaret submitted to
~, iOhf nd wit of fllr.,,
of her fingers brought the coil of golden
red hair down on her shoulders, whence it
fell ripping below her waist. Never was
aimsy black gown covered with a more
superb mantle than those abundant locks,
tawny in shadow and warm living gold in
the light. Harry and Rose regarded this
name with new respect. The artist rev.
eled in its silky fineness with warm tones.
Maggy looked at him beneath her level
brows with unfeigned perplexity.
The homage of his admiration was like
some sweet and unfamiliar music. Mar
garet's womanhood had doomed into vivid
beauty under this fostering ray.
"Wait" The artist dragged rich stuffs
from a chest, and stripped a cloak from a
lay figure in the corner. Maggy's every.
day raiment was concealed by a sheen of
velvet and damask; her tresses were
caught up in a golden net. Next he
twined strands Of artificial pearls about
her neck, and placed great fan Of feath-
ers in her hand.
"She looks like queen" sighed Rosy.
Was this their plain Maggy? When
Richard Woutner's face was on level
with that of his model they gazed into
each others eyes, and his lips trembled.
He seized his painting materials with a
sort of rage.
"Row can hope to reproduce the shad
ow of such a creature!" he said, fiercely.
Brother Harry was dumfounded. Mar
garet, the queen, stood calm and stately in
her rich mantle.
"Why did you knock off my hat?" she