Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-12-18

was in college and she was 4 dainty
maiden, not quite sixteen.
lie could trace the girlish looks in the
self-possessed society woman, as he
stood before her, and, offering his arm,
smilingly led her to the table.
They found a good deal to talk about
Lucia asked many questions about
Dicks travels. and laughed softly at
Mr.. Lawrence's sleepy way of saying
witty things.
Lucia was enjoying her partner i'm
mensely, when. Suddenly forgetting
herself, she inadvertently arched her
instep so that the heel was raised, and
in an instant her foot had slipped out of
its narrow prison.
With a quick movement her foot
sought the slipper and found it, only to
push it further away.
''Oh, DEAR she thought what shall
/ do? But of course it is just here, and
if slide a little in my chair can reach
it,
Mr.. Lawrence had asked her aues-
ton, but in her perplexity she had not
noticed it.
She could just touch the heel of her
slipper with her toe, and, wriggle as
best she could, it was utterly impos-
sible after 4 moment to even find the
lirtle shoe.
She tried to talk, she tried not to
| seem distract. But how vexing this
| was, and how was she going to bring
| back her refractory slipper?
] Her conversation was rather spas
modic, and Mr.. Lawrence began to
| think she was like so many other girls
pretty and attractive for few min
utes. and fiat and insipid over after.
| Before the courses were half served
he felt decided disa prominent in the
| cousin Dick had told him so much
| about and was so anxious for him to
meet. He did not understand it, and
he wondered what there was about
Lucia Caldwe that should have made
| her a belle.
She was pretty enough; he could not
help acknowledging that, but as soon as
| she had exhausted stock OF questions
about Dick she seemed utterly unable
to follow when he led the conversation.
She was not self-possessed-a society
woman should always be that-and she
! blushed and fdgeted il he looked at
| her. Was she enamored of him. or did
she fancy him her victim? Bah!
Certainly it was long dinner, and
| Mr.. Lawrence tried to interest Lucia in
the various subjects girls usually find
entertaining-but with what success?
After she had gone to the drawing
room he fingered TO smoke with the
others and drew a breath of relief.
After Lucia had slowly and care fully
and naturally as posi- ble-walked
| from the dining-room, it was an easy
matter to escape to the dressing-room
and send her maid to one of the servants
for her wretched slipper.
But alas! she had to wait there until
the men had finished their cigars and
wine before it was found, then with
! flushed cheeks and almost fearful eyes
she descended to the drawing room, but
no opportunity was given in which she
could recover lost ground and make a
better impression upon Mr.. Lawrence.
! He was talking with some one who
presumably bored him less. and came to
| Lucia only at the last to escort her and
| her mother to the carriage.
Lucia leaned back among the cush-
ions angry and chagrined, and that
night wept in very shame of her gauch-
erie.
What will he think of me?" she
sobbed. Nothing very flattering, she
was forced to acknowledge, for he left
| New York in a few days without even
calling upon her.
Il will punish him for that" she ex-
claimed. The months went by, and
there was still a sore place in her heart
at the memory of that night, and when
Dick came home she would not let him
| sneak of Mr. Lawrence
II detest him." she said, in fine scorn.
They met-by chance-at Newport
the following season. But Lucia only
smiled over Mr.. Lawrence's head at a
bevy of young admirers, who, to his
surprise. constantly surrounded her.
Why she was belle was as much a
mystery as ever. To be sure, she was
pretty, but so stupid.
At the end of the season he began to
find that she was occupying his
thoughts in way that quite astonished
him, though of course he was wonder
ing all the time what there was about
her that so attracted men.
Then he grew perplexed that he
should waste time in thinking of her at
all; then the season was over, and he
heard of Miss Caldwell at Lenox, and,
as usual, the reigning belle.
1t may be imagined to what surprise
of both they found themselves face to
face on Mr.. Jackson's yacht, bound for
a voyage 10 the BERN udas in February.
Mr.. Lawrence had accepted the invi-
tation without noticing what other
names Mr.. jackson repeated, and Lu-
cia's maid had carelessly lost the list;
but she thought that only the Hunters,
Miss James, Mr.. Stephenson and Mr..
and Mrs. Andrews, besides the Jack
sons, herself and her cousin Dick, were
to be the yachting party
Try as best she could, Lucia could
not meet Mr.. Lawrence without feel
ing of consciouSness-and he-well he
was always self-possessed.
Mr.. Stephenson's place seemed al
ways by Lucas side, but this did not
especially trouble Mr.. Lawrence until
the voyage was nearly over, and, in
deed, the visit at Bermuda ended, and
the yacht was on its way home-then
he began to question Arthur Stephen
sons right to be forever near Lucia,
and to cherish a secret determination to
place his own steamer chair there occa-
sionally. But he did not succeed very
we'll.
| At last Mr.. Lawrence knew very we'll
why Lucia was admired. He could not
be on board many days without seeing
that she was not only beautiful. but
very charming and interesting as we'll
Id l..