Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-12-23

| whose loving heart he had well nigh
| broken. May watched and comforted him
| as best she could, with a few tender words
! of hope for the future, and tried to lure him
| away from the tempting presence of his en-
chantress. But he turned from her with
an angry shrug of the shoulders
| 'They are calling you below" he said, as
| the voices of the girls came up to the organ
loft. II suppose they're afraid to come up,
ha! ha! This is Christmas eve, isn't it,
What was to do! let me think. o, there
| was the festival music. / have it now, all
but those lost chords. And there was a
| wedding march. Who was to be marriedF ~
with a sudden touch of suspicion in his
manner-''you, was it May, to Hiram
| Wrght!''
| "Oh, no! nor' cried the poor girl, cover
ing her face with his hands. ''In mercy,
| no."
90 He has no music in his soul, but he is
rich, and he has always loved you, May.
You know can never marry you. The
! eagle does not mate with the dove Yes,
May, marry your black browed lover, and he
| can blow the organ bellows while / play
| divine symphonies for the world to hear
| and applaud. Music-mad, do they say! Oh,
| it is sweet madness! are you crying!
can play tears and signs! love them-ha
| har'
Then she left him and went downstairs
with a heavy, heavy heart. There were
the girls and the young men who had called
| for their sisters and sweethearts. Among
them was Hiram Wright, who had neither
sister nor sweetheart there.
He's waiting for you said Kate Bios
som, rucking her little gold thimble into her
pocket. II wouldn't lose it for any
thing, she admitted in Mays ear, "because
George Simpson sent it to me from Paris,
and it has our initials on the band There's
Hiram Wright waiting to see you home"
"DOn't leave me, Kate, DEAR" said May,
eagerly, ''walk that way with me. l can
| not bear his company just now"
The church was prettily trimmed with its
arches and wreaths OF evergreen, and the
star that was to be Illuminated by a lamp
at the evening service. The girls hurried
about getting their wraps and hoods on
for the air was cOld-and chatting alto
gether as they did so.
II hope old Michel will have it good and
warm this evening"" said one, as she shiv-
cred about.
There's Maurice upstairs, girls; he
mustn't stay there,' suggested Alice Baker
ooh, he goes home when he gets rea ly,''
whispered another, fearful that May would
overhear her. "Poor fellow they say he's as
poor as church mouse since he's given Up
his business, and gone to studying music
May did hear, and smiled to herself at the
congruity of the statement. What if he
were, she had enough for both, if only that
were needed. But an unbalanced mind!
Who could restore the treasure of intellect
that he had so nearly lost!
On their way home, Hiram Wright man.
aged to walk by Nays side, and whenever
there was an opportunity poured into her
ear his insidious words. At last, stung by
her silent contempt, he asked her taunting-
ly what she had done with her ''mad lover"
He must indeed have believed that all
was lost, when he could so far forget him
self, but he was not prepared for the superb
anger of the woman he loved and who now
openly Scorned him.
'Mad he may be, as you say" she retort-
ed in a loud, firm voice, 'but call Heaven
to witness that 1 would rather die with him
than live with you.''
The young man persisted as if she had not
spoken.
"Why do you refuse the love of man
who can give you every thing, for one who
can give you nothing? What comparisoni is
there between us!"
None; or if you insist there is one, that
l can give you. You are in love with your
self, but Maurice is in love with me. 1t is
disioyalty to him to even speak his name to
you"
"And yet" he sneered, che leaves you to
come home in my company, while he fol-
lows the promptings of whim, and makes
an idol of an idea, chimera of the brain"
I'VE will not discuss him further, and
after this l do not wish your further &C
quaintance, Mr.. Wright said May, with
dignity.
do you mean what you say, May
Allen!'
II do; you have proved any thing but a
friend to Maurice Dawson since calamity
overlook him. You knew that l was his
promised wife-that this very Christmaf eve
we were to have been married; but for this
unhappy visitation. Yet you force your
unwelcome attentions upon me, when you
would not dare to address me if Maurice
were himself
''Have you finished." inquired the
young man, in husky voice, "be-
cause if you have 1 will go, and
if I can help it-never see your face
again. And, as for your mad must
clan, you may think less of him when he
goes to mad-house, where he is certain to
end his career"
Poor May. She walked into her home
with dilated eyes, and such an expression
of despair on her face, that her mother rose
from her chair by the open fire, and de-
manded in a frightened voice:
what is its What has happened, May,
to make you look like that!"
And May sobbed it out on her mothers
shoulders, ending with the despairing re-
frain:
And this is Christmas eve, when every
one ought to be so happyr'
''May," said Mrs Allen, gently, tive are
not put into this life only to secure happi-
ness. The great Founder of Christmas
came into the world to suffer for others.
Can you not think less of yourself. and of
and wait natiantlv until iS q |
change. Sometimes, my child, the darkest
hour is just before the dawn
Il will try, mother" said May, sadly. 81 |
wish now | had not spoken as l did to |
Hiram Wright. But he looked so strong |
and triumphant and seemed to rejoice so at |
the misfortunes of poor Maurice that 1 |
could not bear it. l only wish may never |
see him again.
1t was the echo of his own wish. But on |
his way home Hiram met the old sexton of |
the church hurrying off as fast as his |
rheumatic old limbs would bear him.
81 promised my gal would look in on |
her an the babies on Christmas eve," he |
said; ''now you're smart young man, an |
would We mind being bit obligin' like, |
and lookin' after the church door tonight. |
The fire is all right in the furnace. Only |
when We come out, mind ye don't lock emmy |
one i'm
Hiram had it on his mind that he would |
hand the key which the old man thrust on |
him to the first one ne met who was likely |
to be at the church that evening; then he /
concluded to go himself. May would be |
there and he wanted to show her how little |
he cared for her-he would sit with Alice |
Baker and see her home
But Alice Baker was not there. Pretty |
Kate Blossom was as saucy and piquant as
ever and May Allen looking more COM
posed and happy than he had seen her for