Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-08-16
UNDER A CLOUD :
CLEARING HIMSELF.
The Thrilling and Absorbing Story
OF a Great Crime.
By JENNIE DAVIS BURTON.
AUTHOR OF HER LIES SEcIEr,n AND
OTHER STORIES.
copyrighted, 1883, 6y The L. NJ Kellooo Neacsnone,
Company. al Rights Rsserced.
CHAPTER xvIIL.-coNr1s,YEr

CHAPTER XVIIL-CoNTINUEp
"She's been doing her prettiest to make
up match between my girl and that fellow
Bergman She's not the least in love with
hfm, though Childer may think SO: he's
Deep blind as a bat not to see her drift all
along. want her to know that I won't
put up with any interference from her. She
mas always treated mo like the mud under
ner ieet, but now she has got to take me on
an equal footing with them" ran his
tnosghts, while he watched the amazed
expression which dawned in the young la
dy's face.
Lyman came to the rescue by telling his
sister to get her wraps. He had declared
once that they must break off their friend
snip Tor the Everleighs, but he could not
resist the temptation thus offered him,
though he mentally determined that it
should be for the last time, nor could he,
without absolute rudeness, refuse to let
Carol GO.
He naf'ded the two girls into the sleigh
and tuck ed the robes around them, promis-
ing gaily to be with them within half an
hour When they were fairly off, Althea
turned to look her companion severely in
the fac..
What did that man mean by his talk,
Carols Surely you have not promised him
any thing TO give him reason to speak as he
did! want you to be frank with me, for
have been giving hope to another lover of
yours, quite unwarrantably, if there is any
thing in this.''
Carol held up the hand on which flashed
Ingot's gift.
"This is ON him, Althea.'
Sand you have given up Norris for
this man-Inever would have believed it
/ can not Eelieve it now. What can you sec
ir, him x-111rr IN Hn
pared with oh, Carol! rhdt have you done?"
sMy duty, hope" n1urnured Carol, in
heart-5roken tones. Don't talk of it,
please. I--rm afraid 1 shall cry, and Ly-
man hates 20 see me with red eyes. Oh,
Althea 1 an unhappy, and it will be worse
if you are angry with me. We can be friends
just the sane, can we not?''
with tiast man between us2 / doubt it.
But at anY rate l can't afford to quarrel
with you to night. Here we are, and there
are my visitors, wondering what has be-
come of mc.n
1t s,Is a miscellaneous party Miss Ever
leigh had gathered in. whether from some
passing within, or growing thoughtfulness
and charity which believed in bringing
these starved lives within the light and
color of her own. There were about twenty
boys and girls of varying sizes and degrees
of raggedness, two or three bent and
wrinkled crones. and pale, pretty girl of
twenty. who was telling the story of the
Glass Slipper to such as chose to give their
Gttention to her.
"Cinderella had no trouble in putting 1t
on, so she married the prince, and-Tomny
Burke, if you throw another peanut shell,
will see that you get no orange to take
home tonight. Meggy, what arc those two
midgets quarrcling over2 You can't bring
that pipe out here, granny; Miss Everleigh
would not like it. Ask tho girl for another
cup of tea If yol want it to brace up your
nerves. Now, yo2ng man, 1 caught you
pulling Sissy Dar6e'5 hair. Aren't you
ashamed, when you were asked here, like .
gentleman, just to show you what Christ
mas is likes Oh, Miss Evcrleigh! I have
done my best to keep them amused"
Shut they have been almost too much for
you, have they, Julie. Come, children, did
you ever play fox-and-geesoa Carol, this is
Julie Streng. who sews for me sometimes.
See if you two can not devise something less
noisy by the time the gentlemen arrive.
want this red-headed boy for the fox, and
viii be the mother goose. Now, sir, get
any of my goslings away from me if you
CAM
The gentlemen had followed closer than
was expected of them. They came in be-
fore the noisy game was over, while Miss
Everleigh stood painting, flushed and dis
heveled in the midst of her clainorous
throng.
"You get the idea If what is expected of
you now," she sai6A laughingly. Mr..
Childer, intend to blindfold you, and let
you have turn at being pulled about No
wry faces, sir, but do your duty like man. T"
Almost before he know it, he was in the
midst of the fun and frolic. MIR. Ingot held
aloof, looking on superciliously, and express
ing his distaste for tho whole affair to Carol
when he got the chance.
81 don't like you to mix with such little
beasts, my beauty. Talk of Miss Ever
leigh's pr1del 1 don't see where it comes II
tonight To think of her gathering up such
q rabblel / thought she said Bergman
could not GOMEZ with a change of,unpleas-
ant surprise in his voice. Ibid you know
he was expected, Carol"
"No," she answered, turning hot and cold
by turns, as she lifted her eyes slowly to see
Norris entering. How could she meet him
with the promise shc had given her brother
binding hera How could she bear 1ngot' 5