Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-12-26
CHAPTER XII.


'Home again, sweet, sweet homer said
Isabel, as she stood before her mirror,
dressing for dinner; twas ever place SO
dear as home!''
'sThen the sunny South has not quite
taken your heart captive" said Mr.. Fal-
coner, looking up from his paper. He was
ruddy and strong again, better even than
before his sickness.
No. she replied, thoughtfully; SIDE
lightful as our visit there was, and much as
l loved grandmamma and the rest of the
friends, there is no place like home, after
all"
Where is father? Have you seen him
of. late:" There was an undercurrent of
anxiety in his voice.
'.Pompey and he, with Grace, went to
drive" she replied ''Isn't it wonderful
how he clings to her? All! if L could only
win his loving recognition how perfectly
happy should be,' and she sighed heavily.
1T is indeed singular affection, and
Grace seems to return his love sincerely
and fully" said Mr.. Falconer. 81 doubt If
you could have persuaded him to return
with us had it not been for her influence.
Do you know, dear, feel vague anxiety
about him whenever he is out"
''But Pompey is so strong and SO devoted
to him. returned Isabel, quickly, Il had
never thought of danger. Perhaps I did
wrong to bring him away from his homo
haunts, but l did so long to win his affection,
if not his recognition and she looked at
her husband with a newly-awakened sense
of alarm.
'Do not let my fancy distress you," he
said; she is probably safe with Pompey
here as at home; by the way, have a let
ter for you from Lottie." and he handed her
q white envelope. 81 was careless to have
forgotten it so long,
''One whole hour since the postman came,
you naughty man. she said, playfully shak-
ing her finger at him. Dear girl, her room
seems so vacant and lonely and she broke
the seal eagerly. "Shc will be here in a
week." common ting as she read, land her
parents month later. Dear, happy little
girl; l little thought that in bringing her
here / was bringing her to home, love and
happiness"
II little thought when l consented,
strongly against my will, l assure you, to
accompany Lillian on bonnet excursion,
that was to meet my fate, the other half
of myself, so to speak," he rejolned.
There is divinity that shapes our ends,
rough hew them as we will,'' quoted Isabel,
looking at HIM thoughtfully. at is a beauti-
full thought, too, my dear, that there is a
great over-rulinS Providence which, how
ever weakly and Dlindly we may be strug-
SHuS W lHu lilc pdUik III me- Eau Iudhc
even our slightest acts the leading strings
by which we are drawn toward the browning
events of our lives. Had you come in five
minutes later l should have been in the
work room, and Jennie Dewey would have
fitted Lillian with bonnet"
sin which case there would probably have
been no Mrs. Falconer to this day." he re-
piled, with smile.
They went down to the dining room arm
in-arm, and found, to Isabers relief, that
Mr.. Darlington and Grace We're there be-
fore them. 1--WE had such lovely drive"
said Grace, eagerly. 'Pompey is such a
grand driver, the horses seem to know every
word he says to them, don't they, Papa Car
ringtonl"
He nodded with a smile; he was never
talkative, and his eyes had the dreamy ex
preston of one Just reused from sleep. His
attitude toward Isabel had not changed, and
she seemed an object Of mild wonder to him
as she called him father, and lavishe6
the affection which she could not repress
uron him.
He would often look in her eyes with the
same puzzled look which he first wore, and
say, mournfully: at is strange, very
strange, how you remind me of some one
have known but can not recall"
The child, however, seemed a thing of the
present; a reality which he could grasp,
suggesting no torturing thoughts which re-
fused to take definite form, and on her he
lavished the love which Isabel so craved,
keeping her beside him hour after hour. =
He said little about his Southern home;
that seemed to have faded from his mind but
occasionally he would look ABOUT him as il
he missed some familiar presence, and ask
Pompey if Major Darlington had come in
yet, and receive with ever-recurring sur
prise the intelligence that he had not.
Pompey had taken care of him so long that
he knew just how to humor every within
and make him comfortable. He was a
splendid fellow, a perfect specimen Of his
race; tall, stalwart, and with keen intelIi-
gence which would have done credit to
many in a higher station. His devotion to
his unfortunate charge was untiring, and
no inconvenience was too great to suffer in
his interest Oracle shared in his pro-
tective love, and he was never weary Of
contributing to her pleasure with songs or