Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-11-21
ISABEIA:
From Shop to Mansion.
The Romantic Story OF a Dress
Makers Rise in Life
BY MRS. r. M. Howard.
tCopyrigMed, 1881

GCopyrighted, 1891
CHAPTER vL.-CoNTINuED.
s'Do you wish me to go with you, or
would you prefer going alonel" he said, as
he smoothed her hair with sympathetic
hand.
81 think had better go Alone" she said,
slowly, after moments thought; sit
might distress auntie to have a stranger
see her in her sorrowful, straitened circum-
Stances
s'True, your intuitions are finer than mine;
but dread to have you take the journey
alone''
'Do not fear for me-" she replied, quietly
am accustomed to travelling alone, and
shall do nicely"
'sYou will stop in New York and bring
Miss Ford home with your he said, inter-
negatively.
"Yes, think So" she replied, looking up
at him with pleased smile; show readily
you plan for me-"
'sIf you find her badly off, had better
meet you in New York, in order to assist
her." he suggested.
ssThank you; will telegraph to you in
time should need your assistance"
There was barely time to pack the trunk
before the carnage would be at the door
to carry her to the station, and she had lit
tie time to think Of any thing but the details
took roll of bills from his bill-book.
ssIsabel," he said, 81 wish you to go amply
provided to do whatever is needed for your
aunt, you can help her noD to advantage.
Please feel no restrictions whatever, and II
there is not enough ask for more, and leave
her comfortable
sMr. Falconerr' she said, in trembling
voice.
81 do not wish any one who has loved and
befriended you to suffer need, when we have
such abundance. I should he ashamed of
myself could allow it.' He spoke kindly
and firmly.
"Ican not tell you how gratifying 1t will
be to me to be able to relieve the distress
expect to find," she said, as she put the bills
away.
AS the train whizzed along her mind took
retrospective turn. Only three short
months ago, and she had passed oyer this
road bride, in such maze of strangeness
that she hardly realized that it was herself.
Her book of experiences had been unfold
ing ever since, and what delightful one IL
was, so widely different from any thing she
had ever dreamed of, and she thought OF
her husband with a warm thrill at her
heart 1.-THE kindest and most unselfish OF
men," she murmured, land Oracle, sweet
darlingl could a mother ask for a lovelier
chlldl"
She was thoroughly rested now. Mind
and body had been treated to such an en-
tire change that she was once more buoyant
with life and energy, and the peevishness
produced by the long routine of work and
mental aggravation, which had SO worn
upon her nervous system, had passed
away, and she was going to her aunt in her
need with every faculty on the alert, and
with her tenderness aroused toward the
friend who had been all the mother she had
ever known.
A lady sat before her, holding a little girl
in her arms; the child was peevish. ''Go
to sleep, DEAR" said the lady, kindly. clay
your head on my shoulder and take a nap"
"Oh, auntie, 1 can't" The child was al
most sobbing with excitement and weari-
ness, for they had come long journey.
"Auntier' The word, so familiar, struck
a vibrating chord in IsabePs heart, and re-
minded her of the loving care her aunt had
gwen her in the old days, before poverty
and sorrow had come to wiring her heart and
chill her affections.
One time of sickness she remembered in
particular, when Mrs. Harmon had nursed
her night and day for weary weeks, and
tears of joy rose to her eyes as she remem-
bered that she had it in her power to re
pay, in some measure, her debt of graft
tude.
Meanwhile Mrs. Harmon was sitting in
ucE pOOT uOuS III d LdZS VI SOTTUWlUl
trouble; John Harmon had been unusually
dissipated for the last six months, and her
poor heart had sank away down, out of
sight OF hope or courage, and she had
prayed wildly that sOmsthin7 might come to
change the miserable routine.
Something had come; he was a carpen-
ter, and in ascending ladder in state of
intoxlcation his foot slipped, and, falling, his
neck was broken, causing instantdeath, and
when he was carried to his miserable home,
which he had left that morning with curses
and threats, the poor wife felt as if in some
way she was responsible for the awful oc-
currence.
She longed for, yet dreaded, Isabel's ad-
vent in the shabby little cottage. She had
written so little since her marriage that her
aunt had little idea of what her manner of
life was now, but she was sure of one thing,
that it would be painful to her to come into
the home, which had so long sheltered her,
and see the ravages drink hsd made, for
she had been obliged to par with every
thing of value in the house, an old secreta-
~ and a shabby old bureau and a battered
sewing-machine the only pieces of furni-
ture left which were not actually indispen-
sable.
She remembered only too well the girls
last stay at home; how her very soul rose
up in rebellion against John Harmon's
course, anu Tie Dltt6r WOrUS ana SCOrnIul
looks which made it a relief when she went
away, for he was not man to bear inter-
ference, and lsabers fierce disapproval only
drove him into more logged persistence in
wrong doing.
She almost repented sending for her, as
she thought it all over, and then a longing
desire to see her, to lean upon her strong
young arm for support, would possess her,
and she could hardly await patiently the
hour of her arrival.
She was not prepared then for the scene
when Isabel, in blooming health aud ele-
gantly attired in a rich travelling suit, came
in at the humble door, and taking the poor,
tried and prematurely aged little woman in
her arms, petting and kissing her as she
cried, tearfully: "Dear auutie; my poor,
sad hearted auntie."
CHAPTER VII.
JohE Harmon was laid in drunkard's
grave, and the tears which were shed were
more for the "might have been " and for
the wasted life so suddenly brought to a
| close than for sorrow that he had gone
Indeed, brighter atmosphere was even
| now pervading the house, as the fact be-
came more tangible that no more blows or
| curses were to be dealt out there, and the
| children began to look brighter. and lose
their cowed, scared look, and all planned
and looked forward to the future, as if a
| great black cloud had rolled off their hori-
| zon, as iadeed there had. Alas! that al
man should so conduct himself that the