Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-04-11

You know he has, Grace Penroy, cr1e0
| the man, in voice harsh with aroused feel
ing 81 have heard all abou: it, that it IL
settled that you and the Captain are to
marry. The story is in everybody's mouth.
demand to know what foundation there Is
in such stories.''
"None whatever"
Grace Penroy came to her feet and faced
her lover, with flushed cheeks and flashing
eyes. He saw how she was moved. and the
demon jealousy had full possession of him
at that moment, binding him to reason and
justice.
"Grace Penroy, do not believe you," he
uttered in the masterful rage and grief that
whelmed him CT that moment. Il have re-
ports that can rely on that prove AL and
more than the gossips tell. did not think
you would so abuse the trust OF an honest
heart But it is gold! goldl nothing but
gold A female heart is tuned to no other
key"
He was interrupted in his imprisoned
outbreak by a gesture from Grace, whose
cheeks had lost their color now, and were
palld with the hurt his cruel words had
given her heart.
at is wonderful, sir, how much you
know of woman's nature,'' she said, in
low voice, husky and tremulous with feel
ing. "You distrust me, Austin Went
word, and, knowing this, it would bring
only misery to link my fate with yours.
accept what you evidently wish, freedom
from our engagement"
Then she tore plaln gold circlet from
her finger and held it toward him.
"Grace, do you mean this:"
He uttered the words in a sort of astound-
ment. Evidently he had not intended that
their quarrel should lead to such length
"Distrust would kill me. mean it, sir.
After day you need not come again."
He accepted the ring and was silent. She
turned, forgetting her book that lay on the
ground, and was Fastening away when his
voice held her steps.
"Miss Penroy, you have forgotten some
thing"
When she faced him again he was holding
the book toward her. He then advanced
and placed it in her hand.
Thanks, Mr.. Wentworth
Then she continued her course toward the
house, not many rods distant, the young
mechanic watching her retreating form
with mingled feelings of anger and sorrow.
Scarcely had she disappeared when another
stepped upon the scene in the person OF
Captain Starbright
Unaware of the quarrel, although he had
been viewing the two from distance for
| some time, the Captain knew not how mop
perfume was his coming. Wentword was
not in mood for sensible, quiet converse,
and the sight of Captain Starbright, whom
he viewed as his successful rival, reused all
the evil in the young fellows nature. What
occurred would not have happened had my
hero been of that sanity pattern made to
order by some of the novel writers of the
day.
Austin Wentword was human, and per
hapS had his full share of faults; he GER
tainly was not saint, and, at the present
his naSSiOnS rOnSp0 to HIGH
pitch.
'.Ah, whom have we here?" Sneered Cap
tain Starbright, in a lofty and insolent way
that was not calculated to soothe the wound
ed feelings OF the Stonefeld mechanic.
Austin grasped the Captains collar and
said, 1iercely:
"A man who can fog score of such
pusillanimous sneaks as you are. You call
yourself Captain, Captain of what ]
should like to know. If you were ever in
the army, it must have been as private in
the rear rank of the home guard or broom
brigade.
"Unhand met" ordered the Captain, al
lowing his hand to seek his hip beneath the
skirts of his coat. Here he usually carried
weapon ready for use in case of danger.
mot until l make you confess that you
are coward and never was in the army"
81 shall hurt you, young man, unless you
Idkc your ulTbF pa" Oh my COlldIs tuICdI'
ened Captain Starbright, now white with
rage.
'Thdt is how I will unhand you," cried
the angry mechanic, at the same time deal
ing the Captain sharp blow on the cheek
with the fat of his hand. ''Go tell Miss
Penroy that send her cowardly cur for a
helpmeet. Maybe she'll salve your hurts
with her tears"
At this moment bright object CLEANED
came a flash and sharp report. A deadly
bullet grazed the cheek of the mechanic
On the instant the two men closed in
desperate struggle for the mastery. twas a
struggle that might end only in the death
of one of the twain. 1t was lucky for
troubled Grace Penroy that she did not see
the conflict.
Wentword seized the Captains wrist and
attempted to wrest the revolver from his
grasp. Feeling that to lose the weapon
meant doom to himself Captain Starbright
chung to it with the tenaclty of desperation
And thus the two men went to the
ground.
Over and over they rolled in the grass
Captain Starbright felt his grip on his revolv
er weakening 1t was torn from his grasp
and then terrible weakness swept his
being.
"Mercy!' he gasped, as he felt the knee
of his antagonist against his breast and saw
the cooked and cleaning weapon in the
hand of his maddened rival.
Mercy to such as you-neper!"
Then Austin Wentword thrus. his weap
on in the face of his enemy and was on the
point of pressing the trigger when hand
touched his shoulder.
"No, Mr.. Wentword; murder must not
stain your hands,
The words, uttered in a low tone, held the
hand of the would-be slayer. Atterward
the young mechanic could not feel too CRATE
full for the interruption that saved rim from
the brand of Cain.
The young mechanic came to his feet tc
find himself confronted by a slender youth
who held rifle across the hollow of his
arm. The reader has met this character
before-Louis Fingal
"Who are yous Why do you interfere!'
demanded Wentword, in an ang-y tone
glaring menacingly at the new corner.
''To save bloodshed and your soul from
perdtion,' answered the YOUTH Quickly.
Captain Starbright was now Of his feet
regarding the person who had saved his life
with grateful curiosity.
at strikes me we have met BEFORE" ut
tered the Captain.
"Once, believe"
81 can not, however, CAL 70 mind tbs
time
mo. A few days since; ju1t at the foot OF
Lone Hollow
The memory of the time and the note OF
warning flashed swiftly into the brain OF
Captain Starbright. He was naturally puz-
zled. Before he could question the young
hunter further Austin Wentword raised
the captured revolver, fired it in the air till
every chamber was empty, then flung the