Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-03-04

pure as she was beautiful! Oh, shamei
shame! What Stephen said was true.
All fair and beautiful women were
alike; the love of one man can not
sufficei they trick and lie to their
lovers faces, and laugh at them be-
hind their backs. In what way did his
manhood call upon him to act? To go
to Laura, and proclaim her shame in
the midst of her gay company, and
then fling her from him forever?
Should he in this way openly dis
grace her? No, he would watch first;
this night he would play the spy upon
her, and satisfy himself if Stephens
words were true. If they were, and
if at midnight this false girl met her
lover secretly, why, then-
But he could think no further. A
dozen times his thoughts carried him
to this point, and there he stopped,
dazed and confused. He glanced at
Stephen Winkworth. Was it possible
that he should ever grow like this
man-hated by and hating all? Love
had made the word beautiful to him;
if love were false, in what or whom
could he believer"
If love were false! Was not the
proof strong enough? Already in his
heart, loves pure spirit was defiled.
Oh" he groaned, clenching his
hands in agony, oh, Laura, Laura!
How could YOU thus deceive me?"
He had judged her. Weak as he was,
he had condemned her. The first whis-
per of unfaithfulness. 1t mattered not
from what lips-had been to him a
proof of her guilt.
But he would watch tonight. To
this, amidst much confused wandering,
his mind was settled; and, so resolved,
he moved mechanically toward the
house.
Don't grieve too much, my lad
said Stephen, as he walked by Will
Jams side; .'she is not worth it. 1t is
hard to bear, but it is better now than
after"
BE SILENT" exclaimed William,
moodily. "You have told me tonight
that which may blast my life :.
Yes; this man had poisoned the well
which had sweetened his existence.
This man had made him doubt.
He met Laura in the passage. I'm
easy at his long absence, she had been
looking for him about the house, never
thinking that he had been out in the
cold night for such length of time.
Her face lighted up gladly as she
stepped toward him. Could he not see
that there only purity and innocence
dwelt? Could he not look into he1
truthful eyes and see the reflex of hel
stainless soul?
No. Doubt and jealousy had blinded
him. Maddened by what he had heard,
he pushed rudely by her, and then,
with sudden remorSe. stopped and
kissed her, despising himself the next
moment for the impulsive tenderness.
She drove back the tears that had
welled into her eyes, and, laying hel
head timidly upon his shoulder, nestled
fondly to him.
Il have missed you ever so long"
she said. sweetly. land poor Alice has
been asking after you so anNiously
that she must have been afraid you
were lost"
Laura" he said, with a fierce pas.
sion in his voice, "do you love me?'
"You brighten me, William, replied
the girl. shrinking timidly from him.
He observed the action, and miscon.
strued it.
ANSWER me-" he said sternly; s'dc
not shrink from me, or evade my ques-
ton! You know l love you, do you
not?'
Yes. William"
Every harsh word he spoke to hel
wounded him as though it were dag
gers point. He was conscious of the
suffering he was intiicting upon her BY
his own pain in the infliction, but he
set his teeth close, and did not finch
"You know how perfectly l love
you, Laura. You know the hold you
have upon my heart. You know thai
| had better be dead than live in the
belief that you loved me, and discover
| too late that l had been deceived. You
know this, do you not? Answer me. ,
81 believe it." she answered, with
trembling lips.
'.And now answer me again." ht
said, solemnly; ''do you love me?'
Yes, William" she replied, will
an appealing look.
Honestly, purely, without deceit?'
Indeed, indeed, it is so! Oh, VIII
lam, what change has come owe
your"
Did this content him? No. TIL,
doubts that haunted him were phan
toms that played about every word sh,
uttered, and bore it to his sense will
distorted meaning. What had Stepher
| told him? In another mans arms bu
an hour agone! Shame, shame!
Il suppose" he said. with a quie
bitterness, sit is the usual way il
which girls answer their lovers"
civilian, William she cried, he
sobs now breaking into paroxysm.
He was frenzied with love and jeal
ousy, but he could not be entirely in
| different to her emotion. That sh,
was false and he had proof in words
but not yet in deed. He would wait fo
| this confirmation. and then would de
| eide how to act. In this spirit he strov,
| to sooth her; and although she was al
most heart-broken, her sweet, loving
nature conquered, making excuses TO
| his altered mood, and after time sh,
| looked up through her tears anc
Reuben Harrild's Christmas partie
always broke up early. Some of tn,
merry-makers had far to go, and tn
| weather had to be taken in considera
ton. Upon the stroke of ten, his guest
| prepared to trudge or to be driven t,
their respective homes. The evening
| had been a pleasant one, and each on,
wished his neighbor merry Christina
and happy New Year. Even TIT
Woys and Wymers, thawed into gent
ality, shook hands cordially with al
sorts of people; and as for Doctor Bax
there was not person in the company
who did not behave as though he wer
in raging thirst, and mistook the lit
tie doctor for pump!
The annoyance of it is" said DIR