Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-04-26
You know that I had no relations that I

you Know tnaI 1 udu no IeidtloHS tufag
cared for. And then one of my best
friends died. should have liked to have
seen your brother again."
eDear Matthew! He was a very good
brother to me, and | loved him dearly.
But think he was a little hard-where
girls were concerned. He did not under
stand them" She thought of the argu-
ments he had used to induce her to take
that rich, elderly merchant for her
husband and felt bitter, but then
she remembered the tender kindness
of that husband and was softened
and remorseful. But the vague unease
and restless dissatisfaction which had
stirred her through all that wealthy, COM
Portable, tenderly- cared-for married life
forced her into speech again, perhaps, be-
cause this mans presence had made her
so acutely sensitive to them. 'sHe thought
that a. woman had only to marry hus-
band who could give her food and fine
raiment to be happy!"
"But you were happy in your married
life! If had thought otherwise
''My husband was tenderness itself to
me-" she said as he stopped. Sand what
would it have mattered to you whether he
were good or not, considering that you
could not even take the trouble to say
goodbye to me that time when you went
away! And We had been, thought, such
good friendsn'
81 could not! If I had, I should have
broken my promise to your brother!'
''My brother! Your promise!" Her
breath came hard and fast, and there was
something in her eyes which made his fall
for moment before hers, so foolish, so
heartless, SO needless, did that look in
them make that promise seem to-day.
''Tell me what it was?"
81 will not say any thing about the
promise now. I will only tell you that it
nearly broke my heart in the keeping of
1t. But l had given it, and l kept it. Do
you remember that day in the drawing
room? was nearly mad with your sweet
ness and beauty. 1 began to say some
thing, and then your brother came be-
tween US. He was right; for it was dis
honorable of me to speak them. You
were only just beginning your life. 1t
would have been shame of me to try and
fetter you before you even knew what life
was; and was poor. Your brother saw
that felt for you. He was very sorry,
but he made me see that had no right to
try and win you. He said truly that 1 had
nothing but my love to offer you. You
would not be happy as poor mans wife.
He said, too, that if you had grown to care
for me a little it would only be a girlish
| fancy, which you would soon forget in the
pleasures of the life opening to you. So
l promised to leave you free, and | went
away"
She drew in long breath.
''Ah! How hard you both were to me 70
she cried.
"But loved you! Oh, how I loved you
have loved you till this day. 1 would
have come back when you were free, but
~, Al,
about me. l remember the sentence l had
begun, and felt that you would hate and
despise me for not having come back to
finish it. Milly! Milly! Let me finish it
now. I can't go away without you. Will
you promise one day to be my wife?"
The ices melted away in their glasses,
people came and went, and wondered as
they ate their own luncheon what those
two in the corner had to say to each other,
they talked so long and earnestly together.
The waiter grew tired of lowering about
to see if they meant to pay for the ices
they had SO recklessly wasted.
1t was sue who was suddenly aroused to
the lapse of time by the remembrance of
Steve.
"Where can the boy be-"
The Majors face was a picture of guilty
dismay and contrition. He remembered
hurriedly to find him, the Major confess
ing his sin in making him an accomplice
to their meeting. They found the boy
where they had LETT him. He had waited
| patiently there for nearly two hours, and
at last, in utter WEAKNESS from the heat and
| inaction, had sat down in corner and
| fallen fast asleep. The attendant, smil-
| ing, pointed him out to them.
"He wouldn't go away, sir, as he had
| promised to wait for you here"
''He Shall have that gun for his own.
am his debtor for lever!" said the Major
touching the sleeping boy on the shoulder
/ "When he is old enough" she said
hastily, as the boy sprang up into eager
wakeful life, 81 will not have him shoot
| himself before he can become v. c., tc
make another woman as proud as my.
self" His eyes answered her. And there
were no three persons SO happy that day
in the Stores as the beautiful woman, the
v. c., and the. chool-boy.-AU the Yea,
| Round.