Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-02-02
CHAPTER xxx.

Gone were the detectives. Gone was the
''Namovna'' with her precious cargo Gone,
too, Miss Strong, the aunt; even the very
housemaids, the grooms, the coachmen, each
and all were gone and, now, Fairfax was
alone once more in the deserted house, and
tomorrow he, too, would go.
The mellow softness and golden warmth
of Indian summer lay over all the land. For
all the sounds that man might make, Glen
Gore and Ed Field were still as death.
Closed were the doors and blinds and the
curtains drawn. No merry laugh, no hap
Ply snatch of song, no CHEEKY call nor loving
greeting was heard any more within those
walls. Life had fed away with Love, side
by side, and all within was dark and silent
as the tomb, save when the black fly buzzed
noisily in the window-pane, or some stray,
adventurous cricket, essaying his solitary
song in the death-quiet room, was fright
ened again into silence by the unwonted
loudness of his own cry.
Through the lattice of one lone, open win
dow, half hidden by climbing vines, came
the soft breath of autumn, laden with fra
GRANGE from the balsam pine, the sweet ferns
or the Indian grasses. Lazy wavelets droned
on the beach in slow and soothing rythm;
and far away on the hillsides, the herd-bells
tinkled family in silvery harmony, while an
army of chirping insects in the grass inces-
sanity sang their sleepy, monotonous song.
Here and there drifting boat waved it's
idle wings of white on the sea, that "great
sweet mother and lover of men," who gave
back from her vast, slowly heavlng bosom
the deep hues of cloudless sky, blue as
the bluest-vaulted dome of dreamy Italy.
Across the way stood lonely Eld-Field,
empty and still.
Gone, gone, were all those happy days!
Never more to be recalled! Gone with
the sad-eyed Princess. Gone with Dolores
and Max and Medji, far across that wide
waste OF waters Where? alas wherein
And Arthur Fairfax leaning a heavy,
aching head on tired arms that rested in
the window-sill, peered vainly out into the
soft sunlight With sigh, he turned his
eyes back again and relapsed into sorrow
full thought.
All things reminded him of the past
'Old faces glimmered thro' the doors,
Old footsteps trod the upper floors,
Old voices called him from without"
Bit by bit the stealthy twilight drew near
and up from eastern waves rose sad, pale
moon-he remembered how they sat togeth-
er on the rocks only the other night, 81
lently watching it's silvery beams playing
over the rolling pillows. Bright enough It
seemed then-but now? Was she watch
ing it, too? Would it remind her of the
past2
tear stole down over his cheek and,
with a bitter sob, he hid his face in his hands
and wept. Yes! he was crying this great,
strong fellow, who ever prided himself upon
his stoicism and self-control.
All, ha! Arthur Fairfax, how often have
you asked yourself the question: Have
1 a heart, or nots' What is your answer,
nova
The crickets still sang in the grass. An
owl hooted family in the distance. Then
flew belated whIp-poor-will and perched
in tree by the window.
Whippoorwill Whippoorwill ~ cried
the bird.
Fairfax looked up.
A brilliant path of glory lay Frightening
across the sea, from the moon TO the beach,
and, just where it ended, lay little row.
boat at anchor, rising and falling on the
long, lazy swell that boat in which
the two had f1oated over the moon-lit
waters, and dreamed the happy hours
away.
Languidly he arose with a sigh, and,
closing the door behind him, passed down
to the shore.
With thoughts stin far away, almost
mechanically he loosed the boat, took the
oars, and slowly pulled out to sea-that
vast plain which bore upon it's surface his
hopes, his heart, nay! his very life. Though
far apart hey were, did not the same
waters wash their boats keel; were not the
same stars smiling down upon boths
On, on he passed, not needing nor car
ing to shape his course, oblivious to every
thing but his own melancholy reflections
The moon rose higher and higher. By
little and little, the shores of the island
passed into the distance.
How much farther out to sea he might
have gone, or how much longer rowed, none
can say; but sudden Earring of the boats
keel, a harsh grating of pebbles against it's
bottom betokened the fact that his onward
career was ended.
YEARLY raising his head and glancing
about without surprise, as if it were all
matter of course, he slowly stepped ashore
with the rope in his hand, half-consciously
making it fast to large stone close by
He looked around.
fro BE CoNf1NUED,l