Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-04-08

mitted in a moment of rashness, and
deeply repented Off, rescued almost
miraculously from dreadful death, he
should have Travelled back over stormy
seas to the home of his youth. humble.
contrite, purified
ut is he-my Arthur cried Reuben
Harrild, as the shadow advanced. II
am very, very thankful. Dear friend.
you have made me your debtor for life.
Come Laura, let Us welcome your
brother
Upon my word,'' said little DIR.
Bax. as Laura and her father left the
room, ..this promises to be the most
glorious Christmas Eve in my re-
membrance.
Laura was weeping on her brothers
breast. while Reuben stood close, hold
ing her sons hand
Dear sister," said Arthur, ''but for
your sweet counsel this happy reunion
might never have been. Do not weep,
Laura; there is a great blessing in store
for you"
Arthur" she cried, stretching forth
her trembling arms, you did not
come home aione?"
No: a friend accompanied me
whom have learned to love-a friend
who. on the long voyage home, spoke
and thought of nothing but the wrong
he had inflicted upon the girl of his
heart. He saved my life, dear; but
for him 1 should have persisted in the
wilds; and he has come with me to ask
your forgiveness. You will forgive
him. will you not? He loves you per-
fectly. Laura, and has been very un-
happy. Thank God. thank God. this
moment recompenSeS for air.
AT her feet knelt William Fairfield!
She raised him to her breast: and on
that blessed Christmas Eve, under the
solemn splendor of the starlit heavens,
the lovers were reunited. never more
to part in life.
1t was later than usual before the
Christmas party broke up. A happier
company had certainly never assembled
within four walls. There was gladness
around all, and every one appeared to
have grown suddenly younger. Even
Stephen Winkworth's countenance
wore a satisfied expression, and. much
to the astonishment of the guests. he
was observed to smile upon two dis
tinct occasions.
Where is your skeleton now, DR..
Bax?" asked Laura, as she, William
and Alice stood by his side; 1.-The skele-
ton you were grumbling at last years'
Gone. my dear replied the good
doctor. gayly: ''hiding somewhere
that may not get at him. All, Will
lam. before You sleep tonight. fall
upon your knees and thank God for
the good he has bestowed upon you'll
As for you, my dear. if / were not an
old man, would run away with you,
willy nilly. and marry you tomorrow.
But as it Is, l suppose we must make
the best of our lots, and go on in the
same humdrum way as ever. Stephen
Winkworth,' he said, as Stephen ap-
preached. will you let William have
back his farm?''
Yes said Stephen. with a tremor
in his voice as his daughter kissed his
hand; L have been wanting to offer it
back, but / did not know how to do
it."
Then everything is settled" said
DR.. Bax; land. excepting that we are
all very much happier, this Christmas
| might be last Christmas. and the year
that has passed might have been mis-
take. A mistake, however" he added,
| gently. (which will not, let us hope,
be set down to our disadvantage when
our life's account is balanced in the
| ledger of old Father Tim e.
His dog-cart was at the door. ready
| to take him ON his regular Christmas
visits to his poor friends. How he got
| into his overcoat is q mystery. for
| everybody at once tried to assist him
| confusion. Laura's fair hands tied his
cravat round his throat, and Laura s
| lips were pressed to his cheek.
A most inexplicable hush fell upon
| the guests, who were all hated and
| cloaked and bemuffied. and who vet
| made no stir to leave. Mr.. Wvmer
looked at DIR. Bax. and fidgeted in the
| strangest manner-which brought soft
wrinkles into the doctor eyes.
| Il beg your PARDON said the law
yer. nervously, ''have you not forgotten
| something's
| Possibly, possibly, my dear sir. Can
you give it a name?"
Your baylor the poor?'
| With beaming face and fearful eyes,
DR.. Bax produced it magically. No
| wizard, whether of the east. north,
| south or west, could have done the trick
| more neatly, for not a soul was able to
| discover where the bag came from. He
| opened its mouth and held it out. No
need to ask or urge. Willing hands
| and hearts contributed. and DR. BaS
was ready to declare most solemnly
that the paper packet which Miss
Wymer dropped into the bag contained
more than the usual lawyer fee of six.
and eightpence. But had he done so,
Miss Wymer would probably have de-
clared that she had made a mistake.
So he wisely held his tongue.
| DO you not find it lonely" sug.
| gested Mr.. Wymer, driving by Your
self in the cold air?''
| Il might do so tonight" said DR..
| Bax. Il confess l should appreciate
the company of kindred soul to whom
l could talk as 1 drive along to my
friends. William. of course, can't
| come"
William laughed. and shook his
| head.
Il beg your pardon" said Mr.. Wy.
mer, twitching button off his glove;
IF 1 might be allowed to"
DR.. Bax held out his arm and Mr.
| Wymer sedately accepted it-though
he was so long and the doctor so short
that they formed queer conjunction
and they walked to the dog-cart to-
| gether.
The doctor waved his hands and
drove off, MFR. Wymer being compelled
to hold on tightly, for the pony was in
the maddest of humors, and kicked up
his heels in rare fashion.
| An hour afterward Laura and Win.
1 - a OF fhka inn