Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-12-20

| But the grand topiehnder discussion
is Miss Violet Field. She is sweet
morsel to Mrs. Torresham's match
making palate; and her virtues are
| proclaimed until the new girl, Lefty,
| feeling her cheeks grow deeper than
any carnation, locks up to find Silver
tops clear, dark eyes fixed curiously
/ upon her.
| "a glass of water, please, Lefty"
! says the voice of the curious gazer, in
gentle consideration of what he deems
a mere fit of bashfulness; but Letty's
eyes, looking into his own, glow with
something that astonishes him. AS
a rule servant girls eyes are not SO
expressive, speak they never SO in
telligibly.
ALI that day Lefty is busy as a bee
| learning the manifold ropes of Torren-
sham house; and by nightfall she is
| hungry and tired-a thing she hasn't
been since childhood; and after eating
a hearty supper and creeping into a
plain little bed somewhere up in the
attic, Miss Field forgets to be haunted
by an indifferent-looking pair of brown
eyes. but glides into new dream-land
where all objects are statuesque and
s1lver-topped!
The next day the vases are filed
with exotics and the lovely rarer bios
SONS of the north; but in Silvertop's
room, as the library is usually called,
in Silvertop's vase and Silver
tops exclusively study table, a
bunch of violets CLEAN in purple
gloom from between volumes of
Tennyson in scarlet and Longfellow
in brown. She puts her name flowers
there because she dares, and enjoys the
very boldness of the act. Then the
china in the pantry is overlooked and
is about to be set again upon the high
shelf when the door is opened cautious
ly and Dick peers in.
Peers in and then walks in. There
is a mischievous laughter in his boy
ish eyes, and as Violet holds aloft the
half dozen green dragon cups of very
ancient china he comes closer and
Crash! Poor Violet! Out she runs
away from Dick and the pantry-runs
straight to Silvertop's room, and. at
last, painting and breathless, stands be-
fore him.
''What is it, Letty?"
Dick; / have broken the china.''
"Ah-I see!n and a scowl gathers
darkly above the dark, flashing eyes.
Violet doesn't know whether to laugh
or to cry; so she does neither, but
comes over to him and holds out a
small white hand in token of something
he knows not what But he takes it
in the one strong right hand left to
him, and says: BE comforted; shall
intercede for you
Mrs. Torrensham walks into Silver
tops room as Violet is about to leave
it. "Lettyr' calls she; and Miss Field
stops.
Now Mrs. Torrensham, not three
seconds ago, determined to pack Lefty
off ''for good and ALL" but beyond
the new girls strange gray eyes burn
darker ones that have a meaning in
them; and reading their message at a
seconds flash, the aunt's visage is
forced to grow gentle. the hard lines to
relax, and Lefty is told to see that the
bed in the guest room is made up
freshly, as Miss Field is to arrive
that evening. Silently Violet moves
away.
And, now that evening has gloomed
down upon them, the house is softly
ablaze with the lights from many
waxen candles in consideration of Miss
Fields expected arrival. and in honor
of party of guests from neighbor-
ing town, who have come in friendly
fashion to give her greeting. There is
a continuous sound of wheels about.
Numerous school and society friends
have brought their best toilets and
sweetest expressions to honor her
coming-why, then, this delay?
Silvertop is alone in his sanctum.
There is a tap upon his door and a
voice says softly:
'.Mr. Reade?"
''Ah. Lefty! come in."
81 forgot to thank you for your in
tercession, SIR" he hears as the door
opens and Lefty enters with candles,
whose soft light CLEANS upon the long
book-shelves, the statuettes and the
snow-white head of him who, among
the leathern cushions, has been enjoy
ing dolce far 7stente state of repose
since the early setting in of dusty
twilight.
Don't remember it, then, / beg of
you; but if ever that boy molests or
troubles you in the slightest degree,
let me know of it. Has our guest ar
rived yet?n
Miss Field, or her friends from
Avondale?"
''Miss Field in particular"
Before l answer your question, SIR
says our heroine, coming up close to
where Silvertop lounges amid the |
cushions, and holding candle just |
above her expressive face. her dancing |
gray eyes looking full of an amused in
telligence into his own-''before an
swer your question. may take the lib
erty of asking whether you have ever
seen this Miss Field?"
Silvertop stares at her in some |
what astounded manner before saying |
mo-" which he does in so evidently a |
dazed state of mind that she lowers the |
candle to its place upon the study ia !
BILE and laughs little low silvery |
laugh, as melodious and sweet as the
tinkle of a mountain-born streamlet.
Then, SIR" says she. bowling her.
self hurriedly out of the door, "Miss |
T. al hac xya1 81