Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-10-07
IN THE MIDDLE WEST,
a Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.
BY ALvA MILTON KERR
NoPYRIGHT, 1856, BY THE A. N. Kr1roco
NEWSPAPER COMPANY1
CHAPTER xLco.r,xr

Earring, gently.
L like the prairies, sir, I think they
are beautiful, said the little maid.
Wnere she sat with her hands folded in
her lap.
For years thereafter John Earring
could close his eyes and reproduce the
slivery voice, and with it the little thrill
that touched him at its first sweet ca
dence.
Judge Bower excused himself and
went up to his chamber, and Mrs.
Bower into the dining-room
Il dare say it is pleasanter at your
home" said John Earring.
'.ln many ways it is, sir. Mamma
has lived long time in Washington.
anu there are many beautiful things
there, and many sad ones, too 1t
seems very free and quiet here and 1
like it.
Her eyes were so steady and lumin-
Gus that for the first time in his life
John Earnings vision faltered. while
the war was going on presume there
were many disturbing things" he said
eyes, sir, we saw many dreadful
sights. and were often much disturbed.
We were at the grand review of the
army just before aunt and [ came
West. 1t was glad time; 1 cried for
Joy. was so so glad that they wouldn't
kill each other any more"
ut is very cruel.'
80 sir, only those who have been
near it can think how sad it was. Ny
papa lost his life at the beginning,''
and the big ewes filled
John Earnings heart was touched
and he looked down. Mrs. Bower re-
entered. Celeste, dear, tea is ready"
she said. Come, Mr.. Earling" Then
she called up the stairway to her hus-
band.
When they were seated about the
snowy table Mrs. Bower said, with a
happy smile:
''This seems good, doesn't it judge?'
Then to John Earling. with laugh:
eve never had any children, and we
get lonely sometimes watching each
other across the dishes, you know"
cit fatigues her, not T." said the
judge, calamity. "We would be glad
to keep Celeste if we could" he added,
Though she doesn't talk much she
might witness that have not outgrown
the honeymoon, as wife intimates. She
thinks it quite orphan-like to be child
less
Then his face became grave; he
seemed to have bethought him of
John Earring and Celeste's loss.
''Your parents have been long
time dead, have they not?" asked Mrs.
Bower, very gently.
Eyes, ma am" said John Earring,
$50 long | do not remember them.
Sometimes / seem to remember them
little, but / think it is a fancy"
''You did not lose them naturally, I
believer"
''No, ma am, MIR. Whitney has told
me that my father was murdered, or
met at least a violent death, and my
mother died of a broken heart"
John Earnings eyes were upon his
plate, and Celeste's grew very soft as
they dwelt upon his face. II have
thought much of it." he went on;
something insoluble, unsettled l some
times think Ishall ultimately know. but
perhaps it is only my desire"
Can not Whitney throw some light
upon itP' suggested Judge Bower.
IS 1 think not, sir.
"There was some property"
I" Yes, sir; but it fell into the hands
of person who had purchased it.
My father was robbed of the money
directly afterward, | believe"
"Was there nothing left?"
Nothing, | think; but / had
thought when my Indebtedness to Mr..
Whitney was paid 1 would look
into it.
Il should think it might be adj
visable," said the Judge.
After supper, at Mrs. Bowers
suggestion, Celeste went to the piano
and sang a song in an ineXpressibly
sweet voice. 1t touched John Earling.
He was very sensitive to music, and he
thanked her. Erelong he arose. say
ing he must go to work again. The
Judge and Mrs. Bower insisted that he
should remain through the night with
them, but he felt that he should be at
work, he said. and hid them good
night. Mrs. Bower went with him to
the door, and the silken-headed
Celeste, whose luminous, sober eyes
had dwelt continually through the
evening upon his face, ran out to the
fiower-garden from the end of the
porch and brought q bunch of tea
roses and put them in his hand. You
must come again, she said. innocent
", Il like to hear you talk and
John Earring went away with his
cheeks very red.
After writing until late in the Office
of Bower & Woodman that night, he
found lodging at the public house
where the book-keeper Fowler took his
meals, and the next morning that quiet
person handed him note from Joel
Whitney, requesting him to call at the
store as he wished to see him. John
Earring went directly to meet him
when he had done breakfasting, and
entering the Office found Joel already
at his desk.
Young man," he began, turning
his huge bulk about with a not very
comfortable or composed look upon
his face, 'you was tolerable brash yes
terday morning with me, and 1 think
made some statements not justified by
facts, but of course it won't 60 outside
the Office as nobody but Fowler was
present, but l have concluded after
sleeping on the matter to give you an
other trial, if you think you can come
down off from your high horse and try
it again. He ended with the corners
of his mouth twitching little
John Earring looked at him squarely
with half smile on his face, but Joel
was turning his watch-fob about in his
fingers with his eyes upon it.
81 was in a passion yesterday. SUI,
and no doubt spoke too sharply, sais
the youth; "but think did not mis-
represent nor scarcely do the subject
tI1 o,,6 l