Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-12-20
ACTING A PART.
An Heiress in the Role of the Pref
ty House-Maid.

The years preceding or following the
one bright point in Violet Fields life
shall have very little to do with, since
they lack the dramatic interest neces-
sary to even a mediocre story. Pass
by the baby age of down and lacy cur
tain folds, of nursery squabbles, of
school days, of early orphanage, and,
at last, of debut in the high social
circles of Gotham, reputed heiress
and a beauty-though she has honest
ly had no real claim to the latter quail
fication. being only u nice bright-feat-
ured maiden-and come to Miss Violet
Fields nineteenth year.
In the year of which write life has
grown to be quite burden to the
young lady in question; and the emptiest
dream told in the mournfulest numbers
was all she could dig out of the never-
ending problem. She almost wished it
would end; she could forget day in
October day that had led her to the
highest pinnacle of hope only to dash
her to its lowest ebb of despair, all in
the space of its twelve short Indian
summer hours!
October-that was thirteen whole
months ago; yet a pair of Indifferent
looking brown eyes still haunted her;
and a pair of wide. brawny shoulders
doomed up in the zenith of her thoughts.
And even though she was at this mo-
ment on her way to visit Hon. Mrs.
Torrensham at her country villa, with
visions of rides and drives, picnics and
boatings innumerable ready to name
at any call of her fancy, she still pom
dered over the sudden disappearance
of the owner of the pair of Indifferent
looking brown eyes on certain even
ing in October last.
Twenty miles yet to Willough by,
Miss Fields destination. She closes
her pretty gray eyes and woos Nor
pheus. He comes stealthily, and, after
bobbing her head for her in an ex-
tremely undigniied manner for few
uncomfortable moments, vanishes ut
terly before the voice of Miss Fields
French maid, who is gently poking her
young mistress on the shoulder and
calling:
'.Ma'amselle! Ma'amselle! Velobee
ees widoutr'
without what, Finette? Oh, seer
And the two, mistress and maid, are
soon hurrying out into cold. dreary
mist, that is almost as discomforting
as heavy rainfall.
No carriage awaits the guest; and as
there is no depot at Willoughpy-un-
less the long plank platform can lay
claim to so ambitious an appellation-
Miss Field and her maid find them-
selves in sorry plight
Since there is no one near upon
whom they can call for assistance, up
the darkling, unfamiliar streets of the
little town they find themselves obliged
to march, cold, hungry and friend
less.
A big lantern at last looms out from.
somewhere overhead like a yellow
ghost and discloses the entrance of an
inn. Glad of any shelter the two be-
lated ones lift the huge knocker, whose
brassy summons fetches blooming
bar-maid to the rescue. In another
hour Finette has tucked her mistress
in under flaming ''settin'-sun" quilt,
and finding lounge near at hand pre-
fers stretching her diminutive length
upon its chintz-cover rather than to
occupy another room across the car
petless passage.
The next day is clear and fine; and
Violet's first peep out of the high, old.
fashioned windows shows quiet little
village street, with MOSES and all
sorts of rank weeds growing defiantly
upon each side of the crooked curb
stones, while flock of geese, advanc-
ing in Indian file, seem the only in
habitants abroad.
Finette calls Miss Fields attention
from the verdant cutters to the state
of her travelling dress, which article
of apparel. being of that exasperating
mohair quality, has shrunken half
foot since last nights march through
the drizzle.
.Hetas! And vot ees to be did, on
rons plat, ma'ansseiie?"
$50 and borrow me something from
the landlady. Finette. Explain the
matter to her. and am sure she will
lend me something to wear until the
trunks are forwarded and Violet
grows absorbed in the geese again.
At ten o'clock that day her advent
ure begins in good earnest. She
stands at the gate of the old-fashioned
garden adjoining the inn, looking
up and down the street in 3