Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-04-18
CHAPTER VIII.
A LETTER

A few days later.
Grace Penroy and Lura Joyce stood to-
gether IN the room of the former. Grace
had just loosened her waving masses of yell
low hair, and stood by the glass combing
the golden strands, while her cousin leaned
against a richly-carved mantel over the mar
row CRATE and regarded the pretty girl be-
fore her with no attempt to conceal her ad-
miration.
81 do not wonder that SO many men are in
love with you, Grace said Lura at length,
after full a minute given to silent admira-
ton. eff I was half as beautiful should
feel proud as Lucifer, and"
"Lura, please don't"
"Its not bit of flattery that am giving
YOU, young lady. You are the most beauti-
full human creature / ever beheld, and
say again it's no wonder the men love you
so, and are ready to cut one another's
threats through their infatuation. There's
the gallant Captain, and handsome Austin
Wentword, and"
"Lura, will you cease.'
Grace turned now and faced her cousin, a
panied expression on her white face and
lurking in her honest gray eyes.
"Don't you like to hear the truth! Are
facts so repugnant to you that you feel
hurt at their utterance, pretty cousin!"
"You do not understand, Lura,'' said
Grace, in low tone, slightly tremulous with
feeling. .'None OF the gentlemen named
are aught to me.''
sNot one!'
Lura Joyce seemed surprised.
s'That is the truth, Lura. beg you TO
saw nothing about any of these fortune
hunters"
"Ah. there's the rubi' exclaimed Miss
Joyce, with a merry laugh. " understand
the situation exactly. You don't encour-
age one of these fellows for fear he IS look
ing only after your fortune. I've no doubt
vour fears are rot ill-founded. have been
at Lone Hollow but c fortnight, yet in that
comDaratively short space of time have
made q discovery"
Iura joyce threw herself in-o rocker
and clasped her hands over one OF the
arms, peerlng up from under sandy brows
at her cousin.
AS trace made no remark Lura went on:
81 have spotted one forture-hunter at
least. cousin mine, the handsome, heartless
Captain Starbright Have you ever thought
of his attentions seriously, oFace'
"Never."
s.That is gocd,' calculated Lura, with
evident satisfaction. Captain Staroright
Is a fortune hunter in every sense OF the
term. and as heartless as n demon. have
I met him befores thought you knew that
he once pleaded with me on bended knees
to marry him. It's fact all the same, ana
Won know it now. He was after my fortune,
winch proved a myth, and so the gallant
Captain ran away from that part OF the
country to seek out the granddaughter OF
old Morgan Vandible, and if possible win
fort,,ne and wife at one and the same time
He has not yet succeeded and never will, II
YOU are wise, Grace"
shall be wise enough not TO Weu one
4, ,ot love y answered the heire5s, simply
Wen said, cousin. hope you will stick
to that text"
You may be sure that WIZ. =.
Snow tell me, is there one that you GO
The girl at the glass busted herself with .,';n
her toilet without seeming TO nou. In s
question. 1t was repeated, with sun no
Then Lura Joyce came to her feet, ana:
crossing the carpet peered into the race OF
her consin. She was not wholly surprised
to t;nd the honest gray eyes brimming with
tears. ..,,,,o ~