Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-11-18

ciose-cut hair. tall white hat and
golden mustache, came forward and
greeted her with: ''Aw-it's mother,
DeheveP" She could hardly realize
that 1t was Harry, he was so finely
gotten up. Then others were shaking
MN by the hand; among them Julius
fopp etfusively, and Yeslit admiringly,
ana John Earring disappointedly, with
Aosaiom walking directly away toward
the mill and dropping but the one
word: '1t!' as he went.
In the afternoon Harry was on the
street in tght-fitting suit of criss-
crossed English cloth. with his high
white hat. rattan cane and long-toed
shoes, when Joel coming in from the
country met him at the store door.
For moment he did not recognize this
very slightly son of his, and when the
young man whipped his cane under his
arm and grasped the father by the
hand, that overpowered person only
stared at him a moment with his
mouth open and sat down on a dry
goods box and groaned. The son was
visibly embarrassed by this procedure,
and took off his hat to dry his forehead
with his silk handkerchief, when Joel
saw that his short yellow hair was part
ed in the middle; then he fetched an
other and greater groan and got up
from the dry-goods box and into his
buggy, that stood at the curb, and,
without uttering a word, drove off with
the corners of his big mouth drawn
down and the putfs under his eyes very
dark.
"Jove!'' said the son, as he watched
his father turn the corner, ''evidently
L 60, 10 And
he walked away.
Joel thought of John EARRING; he
could not keep from contrasting these
two young men who had ridden his
knees when children. The one with every
thing to do and every thing to achieve,
the other never having had any thing
to do nor any object compelling him
/ to follow. "!She done it; she never would
let him do any thing or be any thing
but a''-and he closed his big jaw
upon the sentence grimly. He was
J probably thinking of Mrs. Whitney's
indulgent softness with the boy. He
was glum and bitter for some days,
while Mrs. Whitney was in a crickety
ecstasy over the return of her elegant
offspring.
But the big party was coming on
apace, and Joers iron mood died slow
ly into softer humor as he thought
upon his own behavior then andsthe
benignant warmth to be radiated from
that fine event. Presently the evening
came round, moonless one. but clear
and lit up by unnumbered stars, and the
radiant Whitney mansion was palpi-
tant with light and life and fragrant
tiutterings. Every body was there.
and the big house murmured and fair
ly perspired through all its rooms and
halls and closets.
Joel was greatly lifted up in spirit
by this popular and palpitating influx,
and was everywhere shaking hands
with some seen but an hour before
and welcoming, talking, introducing,
joking and exerting himself until quite
purple. Harry was very erect and
faultless of cloth and serene and pas
sionless, with his nose held rather high,
while his mother played the hostess
with florid dignity and eNasperating
stretchiness of tongue. Mrs. Whitney
talked great deal, there could be no
doubt of that, and rather loud, too,
perhaps, but doubtless she could be
consistently forgiven, since well-nigh
every one was talking at a killing pace.
John Earling was there; for Joel
would let no one 60 unlimited, and the
young man was too magnanimous to
seem to resent 1t by remaining absent.
He was talking little STRANGELY with
Harry, for something of the old-tlme
freedom had departed from between
them. Julius Popp was present, too,
and effervescing under a tremendous
pressure of wit and ideas as ne went
about upon those infinitely small knee
jumpings of his. with his prince
Albert coat buttoned tight at the
waist and tlaring open at the breast with
large nosegay in its lapel, and his eye,
glasses high on his agitated nose. 9eslit,
too, was fine in a sweeping train OF
corn-colored stuff and unusually pro-
life of little ecstatic squeaks. She
talked with distracting rapitity and
squealed delightedly whenever the sub
ject was changed or any thing hap
pened, and seemed always aching tC
: be surprised Captain Heater, perspir'
, ing in stiff broadcloth suit, looked as
if, were it not for the cool cross-eyeo
Ethers presence, he might at any mo.
ment break away in a run. SalvO Popp
also, good deal burdened with his slop
, ing shoulders and inability to perform
glibly with his tongue. kept about the
corners, passing now and then a wore
, with the still book-keeper and watch
ing the others. He noticed that JOeFs
quiet accountant lifted his black eye:
toward John Earring great many
, times during the evening, and thai
while he was outwardly composed he
seemed to suffer with the incessan
, buzz of voices, and he wondered if the
: book-keeper like himself, was signing
within because he was not strong anC
tall and definite-looking like Johr
Earling.
| Openstone had never hit upon :
4 freer, grander time. When the joll,
confusion had gone on a short time
: John Earling was standing at the in
, terror end of the two pariors talking
S with Harry, when he saw with surprlst
l the old lawyer enter. He was loosely
) dressed and his eyes glanced abou
: under his shaggy brows as he nodded
, his big STOPPING head TO right and left
Y Behind him came the superbly-moldee
j Maun, softly swaying her shimmerins
silks. John Earring blood gave bount
: at sight of her. and Harry said: by Joe
/ the old boy has let the bird out of the
e cage at last!" John Earling said moth
: ing, and they both watched her max,
o her slow, willowy way to seat; ther
: they fell to talking absently again will
$ their eyes occasionally seeking her out
: Other ewes followed her, too, an.
!. among them the still book-keeper'
t with his thin cheeks mantling at tn
v sight. Then presently every one wa
2 drifting about. and John Earring ant
!, Harry found themselves not far from
| H. HA,