Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-02-18

that outside. There. Do you not see
it moving?,'
1t was the shadow of man, lurking
about the house. Laura.s heart sunk
within her, and she turned IS white as
the falling snow.
Evidently some skuIker," said Will
lam: I'm go out and see who it is
No. no, William" implored Laura,
cllnging to his arm, do not go. beg,
implore you, do not gor'
My little wife that is to be-" he
said. gazing at her in tender concern,
this is the second time tonight you
have startled me without cause. 1t is
right / should see who that man Is; If
he is in want / can relieve him; if he is
here for no good purpose, must get
rid of him. He'll not hurt me, dear"
mo. NO. no." she exclaimed. with
strange earnestness, still clinging TO
his arm; '.you shall not, you must not
90. And sect Is gone. 1t was only
a shadow, after all. We have been
standing here away from the lights SO
long that we have grown fanciful."
Leaving him. she walked into the
room toward Alice Winkworth.
Many Of the guests gazed al the con-
trast presented BY these two girls One,
1.-THE. supple. graceful, pleasant-looking;
the other, deforuned, MANNED and sick
". a world OF tenderness was ex-
pressed in Laura's face as she leaned
over Alice's chair.
Il am glad you are here, Alice. You
are looking so well,'
Il am as well as ever hope to be-"
returned Alice, sadly, but with no sign
| of petuiance-
Laura smoothed Alice's hair with an
effectionate and tender hand. and Sc
Letting a flower and some green leaves
from a vase. arranged them tastefully
among the bright curls-
You have the most beautiful hair.
dear. You should always wear flowers
| in il"
Alice took the kindly hand and softly
pressed it
William sent me to you. Alice"
..Yesr' said Alice. eagerly.
He wants you to come and sit by
! the window.
4 glad light passed into the sick girl :
| face as she rose and walked with Laura
toward the curtained recess. Before
| they reached Laura whispered. with an
/ air OF anxiety:
..Win you do me favor, Alice?'
'+Oh yes, if / can"
Il have something TO do which viii
take me away from the room for few
! minutes. Sit and talk with William
until come back [ shall not be gone
| long"
Alice nodded acquiescently. but not
| without surprise-more from the nery-
Gus. anxious manner in which the request
wasmade than from the request itself.
n
smile at her lover Laura led Alice to
| his side and turned 10 leave
Where are you going. Laura?" asked
| William.
II must attend to the guests, VIII;
shall be back presently.
William was not satisfied With the
| usual seltishness of lovers, he begrudged
| every moment that Laura devoted TO
| others. But the deformed girl was gaz-
ing wistfully at him, and his nature
| was too considerate TO treat her with
| Indifference. Seating himself by her
side at the window he saw for the sec
ond time the shadow Of a man lurking
| about the house.
BY heavens he muttered. There
it is again
| For a moment he thought of run
| ming out into the white plain and ac-
| costing the man. but he was restrained
| by the reflection that Laura might be
| yexed with him for doing so.
Other ewes than his were fixed upon
| the falling snow. Reuben Harrild had
| left his guests for q while to their own
| devices. and had retired to his study.
| where he sat gazing dreamily out of
the window. Oldmemories were pass
| ing through his mind, causing him to
look older than he was Some lives,
filed with vain strivings and mental
struggles are prolific of wrinkles;
| others. free from those wild storms
which are too frequently self-created,
scarcely raise g furrow on the face.
| Too often. alas are the pages of q life
| blotted with tears: and Memory. as she
scans the record, lives over again, with
bitter brevity, the shedding of each
tear. Around Reuben Harrild lowered
the ghosts of past joys and grief-over-
Swallowed al BY one pale spectre whose
| intangible presence raised frowns upon
his face and shame and sadness within
his heart Nor was mis- gloom dispelled
| bv the appearance of the child whose
| pure spirit shed the light of happiness
upon his life and home. He drew her
to his knee. and with her head pillow
ed upon his shoulder. they sat for a
brief space IN silent communion
did you come to seek me, Laura, y
he asked
Yes, father"
u shall lose you soon. dear child.
Doctor Bax asked me tonight what
should do without YOU l do not know;
/ shall be like lost man. But l must
not repine. 1t is the way of life-to
love and lose,''
You viii not lose me, father. Our
home viii be yours. and we can live to-
gether always if YOU wish Do no;
speak so sadly. If we love and lose
memory remains"
Remains to stab u.s." he replied.
with shiver, Ito bring shame and sor.
row to Us to the last day of our lives
She was too well acquainted with his
mood TO continue the theme. and she
strove to lead him to gentler thoughts.
with so much love and tenderness as &c
partially succeed. Pressing his lips to
her cheek he said. fondly:
| You are ike your mother. child
She never failed to win me back tc
cheerfulness-
1T is good to hear that Father.
do so wish could be brave and speak
| TO you what is IN my mind"
You may say what you please. deal
child. on every subject
.-On every subject she interrupted
| in sudden earneStness-
| Some meaning in her tone, unex
| pressed in her words, put him on hi:
| guard, and he answered. gravely:
1 .aOr axov-r snhiaet hut ono which voY