Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-06-28
CHAPTER Y
ONE MANS HAPPINESS AND ANOTHERS DE-
SPAIR.

SPAIR.
Brilliant lights, soft music, ''swish of silk
and sheen of pearls" flashing jewels and
brighter eyes-a most unusual scene this to
Norris Bergman, who nevertheless made
his way through it with the case of one not
altogether unused to such ways, and came
up unperceived by the young hostess of the
evening, until his voice caused her to turn
eagerly.
"Will you welcome a repentant guest,
Miss Everleigh, in spite of his regretss"
morris! You honor me by coming to my
birthday iete. Welcome-twice welcome;
you know that l have never despaired of
you, notwithstanding your persistent re-
fusals for years past.''
sit is kind of you to forgive my ungra-
ciousness, but you know my reasons. One
with his daily bread to earn has no place
here"
s.Very false reasoning. Norris, in our view
of it. But come, my guests are all here;
let me present you to some of them. Father
will be glad to see you, too.''
Il spoke to him near the door. He looks
scarcely well, think"
'Then it is not simply my fancy. He shall
see a physician Immediately. urged it on
him yesterday, but he laughed at the idea.
You know that young lady, do you:"
81 shall regard 1t as favor if you will
present me to her." answered Norris, and
there was that in his manner which caused
Althea Everleigh to give him a searching
glance.
Carol Childers' frank eyes were lifted
smilingly to his as the introduction was
spoken. There was no shadow of conscious
ness to mar her bright face; no subtle intu-
ition informed her that this was the rather
shabby young man who had figured in the
contretemps of q previous hour, and Norris
found his spirits relieved of an uneasy
weight. To be here, to have the rose-clad
figure of his hearts new idol on his arm,
to float to the dreamy measures of the waltz
with the fluff of her sillsen hair brushing
his cheek, to lead her afterward to pleas
ant nook which they had for the moment to
themselves, had in it something dream-like
and unreal, despite it's delight The dream
was rudely broken, though it was only by
the appearance of Mr. Ingot, claiming Carol
for a succeeding dance.
II did not expect to see you here" he
said, with level look of insolence into Nor
ris' eyes.
ssThe pleasure is reciprocal. 1t did not
seem necessary to explain that Mr.. Ever
leigh is an old family friend during your
call this afternoon. l think if 1 desired a
situation in the bank that he would give it
to me-"
And Morris retired best from the en-
counter, if one were to judge by the CULVER
about the coarse lips, that had trick of
turning pale with unpleasant emotion.
He dropped back unnoticed among the
guests, waiting for an opportunity to make
his adieux and retire quietly, for it was no
part of his purpose to drink to intoxication
out of this pleasure cup.
1t was only an impulse which led to his
coming--the irresistible wish to meet Carol
on equal ground, little pride, perhaps, in
showing her and her brother how he stood
with the Everleighs- and now that this
much was accomplished, he was ready to
go back to the sphere which, in manly indie
pendence, he had chosen for himself.
Rather an expensive fandango for a
man who is on the verge of bankruptcy,
isn't it!''
"Oh. depend on it, this is the daughters
doings. These women! They're the ruin
of a struggling man.
"No, don't suppose she knows of the
straits he's in, but any one who isn't will
FIJI blind r,-or,lI COO tharo 10 Somaf n m q