Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-09-23
IN THE MIDDLE WEST,
a Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.
BY AIvA MILTON KERR.
COPYRIGHT, 1856, BY THE A. N. KELLOGG
NEWSPAPER COMpANY.l
CHAPTER VII.

looked down benignly upon Openstone,
at no point, perhaps, did her coming
seem so inconsistent-for at no point,
perhaps, was her light SO evidently
superf1uous as at the windows of Mrs.
julius Popp. For the windows of Mrs.
julius Popp. SO designated since it
would manifestly be untruthful to
more intimately connect them witt
MIR. Popp for the reason that Mrs. Popp
held all right and title to the little
house in which the windows were built,
blazed very brightly. The little con-
way were fairly effulgent. while the
barber-shop below threw out stream
of light, and the one small window in
the gable above shone like star.
Scarcely less provocative of mention as
an especial illustration was the pres
ence of Julius. That he quite scintil-
lated, as he received the hastily-invited
guests and led them to their seats,
were not, perhaps. an over-statement.
That the quiet Mrs. Popp as hostess
was eclipsed, or at most shone but as a
pale planet in Julius radiance, was
certain. That Julius, too, had during
the afternoon as fortifying measure
been in suspicious contingency with a
certain black bottle in cupboard of
his Office, was also well-nigh capable
of being set down as a naked fact. For
nothing in julius case was more surely
indicative of such a meilowing contact
than the seemingly aggravated state of
hostilities between his mustache and
htc ond fhic aunnffnl n
ing they We're certainly unusually
belligerent, the one being quite purple
with feeling and the other utterly in
capable of control. That those present
attributed julius exceeding happiness
of spirit to the proper cause was per-
haps doubtful, considering the cheerful
nature of the occasion, for that he
should be unusually springy at the
knees, luxurious of language, and
beamy of visage, seemed not at all un-
natural, albeit his remarks by time
were rather irrelevant, and some of his
attitudes quite startling. To say that
many, or perhaps even any, OF those
present were of Openstone's upper
most social crust would be at the very
least a use of doubtful color. But none
were of wholly bad repute, and some
were quite as worthy, doubtless, as
that more highly-reasoned strata SIM
mering goldenly ut the top of the stew.
This fact. presumably, was occasioned
by the counter fact that the reputation
of Julius Popp, lawyer. was OF slightly
doubtful flavor, though Mrs. Popp was
everywhere respected, and their signal
want of riches. Many weather. men
there were in Openstone, however, of
conscience scarcely less elastic than
that which so slightly swerved the feet
of Julius. and few in truth among her
women were more truly COED than
Mrs. Popp. but III 0penstone. as
throughout the world, the lofty sinful
and the lofty virtuois were about
equally careful that their social skirts
did not touch the apparel of theil
humber counter-parts. Perhaps from
somew here in the shadow eff this gen.
eral rule came the soft cloud that made
the brow of Mrs. Whitney seem slightly
more sallow than its wont, as the eff.
fulgent light from Mrs. Popp's little
Conservatives smote against her SILK
attire. Joel, however, was in high
feather.
"Aha. Mrs. Whitney! Mr.. Whitney!
said Julius, coming forward springily
s.This is exhilarating! brilliant! Ahen
Mrs. Whitney, allow me to conduct
YOU to seat. Honor me by accepting
this chair, Mr.. Whitney," and Julius
went smiling and bowling rather wav
eringlv toward the door again. The
cloud on Mrs. Whitney's brow deep
ened a little. and julius good-natureo
yisage relaxed into smile as he nodded
to those about him.
Presently Julius came bowling II
with a pleasant gentlemanly person
Reverend Mr.. Cuttleton, he was say
inc. ..this is brilliant! pray be seated
sir; have this chair, sir. This is uncom
promisingly brilliant! Nothing coulo
exceed the sickness of the occasion
sir!'' and Julius went bowling TOWARD
the door.
Mrs. Whitney's cloud disappeared a
the Reverend Cuttleton shook hands
and the smile on Joels face became
less definite. After the room had huzzeI
a time it suddenly fell silent. as Ahsa
lom. dressed in a suit that fit him rathe
snugly, entered from the dining-roon
with a quick stiff step, bearing TIT
blushing Ether on his arm. Yer,
brightly danced the cross-eyes of Ethe
under her frizzes, and around her neci
was fine chain and on her feet whit
satin slippers. JOei " Hiehoy i"o
plowed as Mrs. Whitney gave him
Searching glance, and Julius was hear.
to murmur: ..It' s slick! It's Brilliant
Then Miss Yeslit Popp, aged twelve
and Salvo Popp, aged two, being ar
RANGED on either side, the Reverend
Mr.. Cuttleton arose, Bible in hand
and made the contracting parties one.
Mrs. Popp kissed them silently an'
stood aside with tears in her eyes; thel
Julius came up in springy, waverin'
sort of wav, and kissed Ether, graspe'
Absalom's hand, and said in declam
atory fashion: 'Absalom. my son, m
latest boon, shake with your newborn
father! Bless you, sir. bless you! Thi
is brilliant. slick! You have won he
vorthily, sir, and l commend her to yo
as being as noble nugget as eve
shumpeda piano or hustled pot, SIT
Ne are soon to lose you, for they hav
nat ,em to the touch, as l understan
E thew have put Fem brilliantly to tn
fouchi But the cause is noble, sir, tn
intent exemplary, and whatever fort
me may-''Where Julius in his mel
lovness would have left Oft 1T Is quit
5mpossible to conjecture. had not Joe
come up with twinkling eyes, an
Kissing she bride, stepped heavily upo
Jnl;us foot, who broke off from hi
Toonenee with sudden jerk an
bonped away with wry face and So
down holding and rubbing his gres
Xa- An audible litter ran about anon
he ouests as they crowded up to cor
91ta tho happy pair. AbSalOI