Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-05-01

Y
to be ignorant of it How lucky we
camel"
''Yes?" she says aloud: Its very good
of you to say so, I'm sure. We should
have called before. but several things
prevented"
I'VE are so anxious to see Oakden,"
remarks Julia; Its such fine place we
he
well. yes; it isn't bad sort of place."
replies Dora; I'VE should have prefer"
She stops short at glance from her
mother. prefaced by the usual admoni-
tory and premonitory ''A-hem.'
Il beg your pardon?' demands Mr..
Van Wrinkle, bending forward in his
chair to listen, much to Dora's discom-
future, for she doesn't see her way out of
the .td4r pas she has all but made.
Il don't know what it is she says to
herself, but it must be something
wrong, from mammals face"
Her mother comes to her rescue:
DO you mean to say you have never
been there?" she asks; chow very odd"
Mrs. Van Wrinkle is vaguely conscious
that Julia's remark was an inopportune
one, and fayors her daughter with a
consequence.
Least said. soonest mendcd, Is her
mental conclusion. and DO you think
SOP is all she says.
why, certainly" begins Mrs. Bassett,
and then suddenly recollecting herself,
not without the aid OF Dora's elevated
eyebrows, turns very red and coughs.
Mr.. Van Wrinkle takes the remark as
an intentional bit OF quizzing. He Is
angry at what he IS pleased to consider
an affront, and vexed that his national
f7lr0gnit0 should have been SO unsucceSS-
fully maintained.
1T couldn't be any thing IRE said"
he says, com ortingly, to himself. I've
said nothing but How dye do?' and 4
beg your pardon, since they came in.
Any Englshman might say as much.
Perhaps" he Eliminates further, ''she's
picked it up on the continent some
where from some Americans she has
been thrown with, and feels ashamed
of herself for using the expression to
Us. | shall take that view of it, at all
events
Meanwhile. Dora endeavors to help
her mother out. A silence has ensued
which is painful to all parties, and in a
nervous anxiety to break it, she says
the first thing which comes into her
head:
Il don't believe You would think
much of OakGen. In my opinion there
arc dozens of old manor houses on the
Hudson much prettier."
There again. exclaims Mr.. Van
Wrinkle: 1T must be intentional this
-,
house except By a snub, and there is no
greater snub than ignoring remark
and changing the subject, no matter
how apropos of nothing the introduction
of the new topic may be. Bye-the-0ye,"
he says, aloud, how is Sir Rodericll?'
Sir Roderick?" asks Mrs. Bassett,
hazily; do You mean
Sir Roderick. l trust he is quite
well?"
Wees, l believe so. l don't KNOW
answers Mrs. Bassett.
Then he's away from home?" says
Mr.. Van Wrinkle, in a painfully disap-
pointed voice.
.,Oh, yes; he's away from home re-
plies Mrs. Bassett, laughing. How
fond the English are of chatting" she
says to herself; Il must enter into it."
What the dickens can there be to
laugh at?' thinks Mr.. Van Wrinkle; lit
is the one great fault-the only fault,
indeed notice in English people.
They turn every thing into subject
for their levity."
Are you going up to the drawing
ROOM" asks Mrs. Van Wrinkle, anxious
to say something and forgetful that
~ -
ter. In the correction of her mistake
by the others, the conversation assumes
a congenial tone and flows on without
check or hitch until tea is brought in.
Pray stay and have tea" says Mrs.
Van Wrinkle, as Mrs. Bassett and Dora
rise to go.
Thanks, awfully," answers mother
and da lighter in breath, and sit down
again.
Five o'clock tea is such a charming
custom" observes Dora, taking her cup
from Mr.. Van Wrinkle and helping her.
self to the cream and sugar he hands
her. 1--WE are awfully fond of it,
80 are We" Julia says: Il think it
makes such a delightful event, es.
pecially when the days are short and
there is nothing else to DO"
1T has become quite custom in
America" goes on Dora.
This IS more than accident" men
tally exclaims Mr.. Van Wrinkle: lit
is the third time. They NEST know, or
suspect at all events, and are trying tO
catch us"
Neither Mrs. Van Wrinkle nor Julia
speaks. 1t is one of those occasions
with them when silence is golden.
Yes, indeed" continues Dora, who,
conscious of an ominous ''A-hem." does
not dare to look at the frown which she
knows is puckering her mothers face:
Il can remember the time when you
never
Dora, my dear. we must be going"
and Mrs. Bassett stands up abruptly.
so sorry you have to go" smiles
Mrs. Van Wrinkle: lit is so very good OF
charming manners the English arts.
tocracy have" thinks Mrs. Bassett.) Il
hope we shall see a good deal of each
other"
Thanks awfully," thus Dora and her
mother: goodbye"
II can't say that | care very much for
Them" Mr. Van Wrinkle says after they
have gone; Il thought their constant
reference to America very rude"
80 did T. concurs Julia; they were
quizzing us the whole time and smother
ing laughs. 1 never saw any thing like
it
I'm glad you noticed it, says her
father: Il don't think we need return