Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-12-12

| II little thought that your long-talked-0
visit was to be such a doleful affair as this,
said Isabel. ''But, indeed, Lillian, you dt
not know how much you have helped me-
81 assure you l take full credit to myself
for all 1 have DONE" she answered, willfully
81 do believe Uncle Harvey got up this lit
tie diversion just for the purpose of testing
the affection of his friends"
"Then I deserved to be disappointed
didn't II" he said, weakly. He emf ed hel
bright raiilery, as it showed him that he
| was once more among flesh and blood peo
pie instead of the dim and ghostly forms
| among which he had moved during the
weeks when his diseased fancy had distort
| ed every thing about him into unreal shapes
| Isabel was not disappointed in Lillian
| the bright, sweet girl was just the gener'
Gus, whole-souled little woman she had i'm
| agined her to be, and a warm affection had
| sprung up between them.
"You have forgiven me, then, for marry
| ing your unclea" Isabel said, mischievously.
as they were waiting in the drawing-room
| for the carriage which was to take Lillian
away.
Eyes," she replied, promptly, "and have
given you my blessing, figuratively speak
| ing" Then more thoughtfully: ''Your case
is only another demonstration of the fact
| which mamma and / have argued over ever
since went in pinafores, that a persons
position in life does not necessarily deter
mine all his qualities of head and heart.''
swell, what do you think of her!" said
Mrs. Stanford, after Lillian's return, and
when other inquiries had been answered.
81 think Uncle Harvey might have hunt
ed the city over without finding any one so
perfectly suited to him as Aunt Isabel" re-
piled Lillian, warmly.
'Even if she was plebeian shop-girl,'
said Mr. Stanford, with a smile.
"I'm afraid the blue blood of the Caring
tons would boil if they should hear you
speak of their kinswoman under that title, -
and Lillian laughed. "Aunt Isabel told me
that Major Darlington was terribly shocked
when she told him how she had been forced
to earn living"
Harvey Falconer's return to health was as
rapid as could be expected, considering his
extreme weakness, and he was as yet but
the pallid ghost of himself as he sat up in
his easy chair, or laid upon the puffy cush-
Toned lounge in the home room.
1t was now long past Christmas and they
had received an urgent invitation from
Major Darlington to spend the remainder
of the winter at Elm Park, and had decid-
ed to go as soon as the invalid was strong
enough to travel. DR.. Conroy had advised
the change of climate, and Mr.. Falconer.
with his blood debilitated and chilled by
sickness, looked forward to it gratefully.
DR.. Conroy had been like a brother in this
time of trouble, and the Falconers, who had
respected and admired him before, were
now bound to him by the ties of affection as
well.
He who comes to US in our hour OF
trouble not only makes himself our friend,
but commands affection also, and the
earnest, faithful physician not only heals
the sickness by the aid of his shillful knoWi-
edge, but brings his sympathy, his soothing
word and kindly touch, winning a place for
himself in our hearts which no other can
fill.
DR.. Conroy was one of these who brought
his heart with him to the sick chamber.
Many mother could testify that he had
ministered to her sick babe as tenderly as
if it had been his own.
It was this element of tenderness in his
nature which had endeared him to Lottie
Ford, and with him affection for
the fair, sweet girl, so gentle and IN
complaining in her suffering, had sprung
up spontaneously, and he had made her but
few visits before he became conscious that
she was the one woman of all the world
whom he wished to call his wife, and as he
was a straightforward man, he had lost no
time in showing her his heart.
She was steadily improving under his
care, and could now walk with one crutch
with but little pain, and there was every
reason to hope that her recovery was to be
complete, and she was preparing for the
visit at home with great delight.
'.Lottie, DEAR" said Isabel as they sat in
her cheerful room, ''you will spend the time
with US before your marriage, will you not!
We shall return in February, and shall
hope to see you soon after we come home"
'Yes," replied Lottie; "Malcolm wishes
me to remain under treatment for some
time yet. He is thinking he can get father
better employment here than he has in New
York. If it were not for that should feel
as if must pass my last months of maiden
life with mother"
sob, isn't that lovely!" cried Isabel, 'ff
you can have the little mother near you:
she will have to adopt me, too, for long for
q mother So" and she gave sigh for the
lost mother in her grave.
Mothers heart is large enough for US
both,' replied Lottie, smiling, land I only
fear that shall have occasion to be jealous
of you. They will come in the spring, if
all works as we expect, and as DIR. Conroy
is almost positive it will.'
s'Then l fear 1 am to be disappointed in
having the pleasure Of making a darling lit
tie wedding for you,'' said Isabel, a shade
coming over her face. 81 had anticipated
having such quite select affair"
SWELL" replied Lottie, ''you and mother
may decide that when the time comes, for
must confess that with father and mother
here, your home would seem as much like
my home as any place could"
"You darling,' said Isabel, relieved.
ssThen shall coax our mother until she is
- a.