Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-10-31

| he looked at her with amused interest.
'.Not unless must" she answered. "If
| you wish me to, will try to please you, but
have had little opportunity for reading,
| and was hoping that you would help me in
selecting and digesting some of these books
which look so tempting to me" and her eyes
| rested lovingly on a magnificent bookcase
| filled with valuable books.
81 shall be only too happy to-" he replied
in tone of relief; "to tell the truth, society
| is a consummate bore to me, unless taken IN
homeopathic doses, but did not wish to pin
| you down to my quiet life; now for your
| idea of room.'
II think had better not tell you,'' she
said, playfully; "Gracie and will surprise
you some evening""
He stood biting his lip in grave indecision.
81 think, Mrs. Falconer,' he said at last,
''that there is such a room III the house, but
it is never opened except when Mrs. Mont
ford dusts and cleans it; would you like to
see it?''
She looked in his face, and read the truth.
''It is your first wife's room," she said. gent
ly; 'forgive me for touching on subject
which I fear has gwen you pain.''
mo, no, not that" he said; ''the room is
very dear to me, and when you have seen
it, you will read her character in it, think"
They turned and went silently up the
stars to door which he reverently I'M
locked, and they entered.
1t was revelation of pure, sweet mind,
as everywhere the eye met light and deli
cate things; pink and white were the main
colors used in it's adornment; the walls were
tinted pink, with a cornice of ivory white;
the windows were curtained in delicate
| filmy lace, looped back with pink satin rib
bons; a small bookcase filled with her favor
lite books; a cabinet organ stood in a corner,
with an open book on the rack; dainty, rest
full chairs, ornamented with laces and pink
ribbons, stood about in unstudied positions,
as if the owner had but just placed them
there.
A little round table stood by Windows a
wicker sewing-chair, with its lace draper
les, stood close beside it, and on the table
was fragile work basket, lace-trimmed
'kerchief lay beside it, just as the owner
had laid it down, and in the basket little
chemse-for the infant visitor expected
by the young wife, the lace half sewn on,
the needle still where she set it last, and
tiny gold thimble close by the basket.
From the wall above looked down the pict-
ured face of the young wife in it's gilded
frame; fair, sweet face, the index of a
loving and pure spirit. 1t was pathetic
scene, and Isabel's eyes filled with tears
she looked upon it; she held out her hands
to him in earnest sympathy, saying in low,
tremulous tones: 81 can never, never fill
her place in your heart, l am sure"
CHAPTER ".
"No," he answered, gravely taking her
hand in his, ''no one could do that; she, my
first love, holds sacred shrine in my heart
that none else can occupy; but, my wife, you
can fill your own place, and that is fast be-
coming dear one" He drew her to him,
and, placing his arm about her waist,
pressed his first kiss upon her lips in the
presence of the smiling face looking down
benignly upon them.
Love; it was the first time the subject
had been approached since their first meet
ing, and Isabel wondered what love would
be like when it came. She had dreamed of
love. What girl has not, and thought of it
as turbulent, overmasterlng passion, I'M
bounded by reason or common sense. At
least that was the version of it given by the
story-writers, and she was positive there
was no such emotion in her heart for Mr..
Falconer.
He was simply friend-a kind, true gen.
tleman-who had rescued her from her try
ing life of poverty, and brought her to all
these delightful things, and she respected
him above all men whom she had ever seen.
Friends may exchange a kiss, and she
raised her lips to his without tremor, and
hoped for the day when kisses might be
symbol of a sweeter, deeper feeling than
friendship.
"Mrs Montford'' Isabel was seated in
an easy rocker in the housekeeper's room
''Air. Falconer has given me permission to
fit up one of the rooms to suit my own taste,
and have come to you for assistance, as of
course wish to consult his tastes also, and
you have lived with him so many years
that you must know him well. 1t is to be
an evening room, where we can meet for
quiet rest after the day is over, and I wish
it to be thoroughly restful and cozy.'
Eyes, ma'am, l think l see what you
WISH" said Mrs. Montford, with her little
courtesy. She liked this new Mrs. Fall
coner, with her quiet ways, so far removed
from haughtiness or patronage, though
with the rest of the family below stairs,
she had a little natural curiosity in regard to
the sudden marriage; she checked 1t per-
emptorily in the servants under her, and
she was by far too well bred to express it,
by word or look, in herself, yet she could
not help seeing that their relations were
quite different from those of tho first Mrs.
Falconer, whom she had tenderly loved,
with her husband.
In a certain sense this pleased her, for it
would have hurt her to see another taken
at once into the tender ccmpaniouship en-
joyed by the first wife.
"Mr. Falconer likes bright, rich colors,
a'am," she said, thoughtfully, 'but he
despises fashionable fancy work." and she
smiled at the popularity. THE first Mrs.
Falconer never did any of it. Have you
seen-l' and she stopped, fearing that she
had touched on forbidden ground.
Eyes," replied Isabel, gently, reading
her thought; 81 have seen it, and it is very
lovely and touching"
"Then, ma'am, you have some guide as to
Mr.. Falconer's tastes" replied Mrs. Mont
ford; ''only, of course, you would not follow
that as a model too closely. Mrs. Falconer
always had blooming plants in her room,
but they would not bloom for me after she
was gone, and gave up trying to care for
them there" Tears came in her honest
blue eyes as she spoke and she wiped them
away with the corner of her ample white
apron.
Mrs. Falconer must have been rarely
sweet and loveable lady," said Isabel, sim
cerely and feelingly. 81 do not wonder that
she was so well beloved"
"Thank you for saying it." The words
formed a new link in the chain of Mrs.
Montford's kindly feelings toward the new.
wife. ut does you honor, ma'am, to be
willing to give the first wife her place in
our hearts. So many ladies that have
known that seemed to think the first wife
should be forgotten out of respect to the
second"
"Oh! no, no, Mrs. Montford," cried Isa- |
bel, with earnestness. 81 should desplse
myself could cherish such q feeling, and l
honor Mr.. Falconer and yourself far more
than could had you suffered your love for |
so sweet a lady to give way to the claims OF |
a stranger True I hope to be loved and |