Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-05-20
MOAT-GRANGE.
By Mrs HENRY WooD.


MI. Cleveland was inexpressibly
shocked. He could not at first speak.
This is very sudden, gentlemen
Not particularly so. You knew that
eryslpelas had come on
Yes, knew that" answered Mr..
Cleveland
There has been little hope since.
And what there was has gone now.
We have done all in our power. but it
has mastered us. VIII you break it to
Mr. Dalrymple?''
les, he answered, quitting them.
1t is hard task; but some body must
do it,
He went straight to Mr. Dalrvmple's
bedroom and remained with him some
time. Charles, who had been dis
patched to the town on a matter of
business, did not get home till evening.
He also went there. His mother left
the chamber as he went in. She had
her handkerchief to her face; Charles
supposed she was afraid of the draught.
He approached the bed.
"How are you by this time, sir?''
MIR. Dalrymple, who was looking
Charles hand and held it between both
of his. "Have they told you the news,
my boy?" he whispered.
mo-" answered Charles, whose
thoughts did not point to the true
meaning of the words. lis there
any?"
MIR. Dalrymple gazed up at him, a
yearning gaze. And an uneasy sensa-
ton stole over his SON.
g am going to leave you, Charles.
Charles sank down by the side of the
bed. 1t was as if a thunde-holt had
struck him; and one that was leave
its trace throughout life. ''Father. it
can not ber'
I'm day or two, Charles. That is
all they allow me now of life"
He cried out, with long wailing cry,
and let his head drop on the counter
pane beside his father.
''YOu must not take it too much to
heart, my son. Remember; that is one
of my dying injunctions."
II wish | could die for you, father"
he passionately uttered. 81 shall never
forgive myself
u forgive you heartily and freely,
Charles. Let that suffice. 1t was
lamentable accident, but it must have
forgive and bless you. / could die in
mother and sisters. | can but leave
them to YOU; will you cherish and pro-
vide for them?'
ale lifted up his head, speaking
eagerly. Il will, will. They shall
be my only care. Father! 1 will never
marry. Here | swear"
BE silent. Charlesr' interrupted Mr.
Dalrymple, his voice raised to hoarse-
ness. .'How dare you? Nerer take
rash OATH"
Il mean to perform it, father"
..Hush! Act always according to the
best of your abilities and conscience,
but never bind yourself to what you
may prove unable to perform. Future
affairs, which may look to us dark and
perplexing. sometimes clear up Won
derfullyt in the working. Perhaps you
may be able to provide for them with
out marring your own prospects. A
way may be found"
Yes, yes" sighed Charles; "be at
ease respecting them; they shall be my
care, as l told you, even before Isabel.
But oh! to lose you thus! My father!
say once more that you do forgive me"
"From my very heart and soul. Do
not grieve, Charles. Take counsel of
your mother in all things, when l am
gone. Bless you, my boy, bless your
elf Mr.. Charles had but let me draw
that there charge from his gum" be-
walled the gamekeeper aloud, as
mourners. friends. tenants and servants
were falling into order. after laying
Mr.. Dalrymple in his grave, 1.-THE
squire would have been here now"
CHAPTER III.
The hot rays of the sun in June were
on the W est-end streets, as three gen.
tlenen strolled arm-in-arm through
one of them. Three men more different
in appearance it would be rare to meet.
He who walked in the middle was by
far the best looking, young man of
four-and-twenty, attired in mourning.
His regular features had an open eX
preston, his blue eyes were set some
what deep in his head, and their long
eyelashes. nearly black, were darker
than his hair. He on the right was
stout man of five or siX-and-tifty, with
amass of iron-gray hair; and his promi
nent eyes shone out, hard and bold,
through his gold-rimmed glasses. The
other was short and thin, and stopped
in the shoulders, with keen jet-black
ewes overhanging hooked nose; and
his ewes looked too keen and his nose
too hooked for his thirty years. The
stout one was Colonel Haughton, the
keen one Mr.. Piggott, and the middle
one Charles Dalrymple. Suddenly the
latter stood still, and gazed across the
street.
What now, Dalrymple?"
There's my cousin Oscar. If ever L
saw him in my life, that is he. What
brings him in town? I'll wish you
good-day, and be after him"
ITO meet tonight" quickly cried
Colonel Haughton.
ITO meet tonight, of course. No
fear of my not coming for my re-
venge." And so saying, Charles Dali
rymple disengaged himself from the
other two, and flew across the street.
Oscar, Oscar. is it you? When did
you get here?"
..Ahi how are you? was on my
way to South Audley street to find you
out"
.Come for long stay?" demanded
Charles. as he linked his arm within
his cousin s-who, by the way, was
cousin some degrees removed.
II came to-day, and / return to-mor-
row." replied Oscar Dalrymple.
you don't mean that, man? Visit
London in the height of the season,
and stop day only! Such a calamity
hos Of