Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-02-05
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When the StlIIed mum or nature is soothing
| my ears,
And naught through the silence sounds,
! long for my lover Of fifty years,
With his solid two hundred pounds.
! During the reading Mr.. Blodger sat
enraptured, and as she finished he MUIR
INJURED:
"Bee-autiful" Then, continuing in
a louder key: why don't you send that
to Harpers, Miss Delaro; they would
jump at the chance to publish it. The
sentiment is admirable and magnificent
ly expressed
| ''Oh, I'm not at all anxious to rush
into print" was the reply.
''On the contrary, you ought to be de-
lighted to give such literary treasures
| to the world,' responded the old wild
over, who secretly felt that Armida had
taken a graceful way of paying him a
compliment, never dreaming that he
was the butt of joke in rhyme.
1.-THE world would be all the better
off if not oppressed with such illusions"
she quietly replied.
| During this time Mrs. Delaro had re-
manned in passive silence, but she now
spoke up quietly and asked: do you ever
have your poems published, Mr.. Blod-
ger?''
"Well. have sent many in for con-
sideration, but I fear that they do not
| get the attention which they merit and
are cast aside" he answered.
''That appears strange. Surely your
name in itself should command a fair
and impartial examination of your lit
erary work?"
| Yes, that may be; but you see, mum
| (Mr. Blodger was lapsing into the soap
| business AGAIN., I'm only known as a
soap boiler, and editors have no use FOR
such as we. We may, and do, have mat
ter to send in which possesses merit,
but no money can make those ink-sling-
ers print it with a name like Blodger at
| the foot"
THAT is a pity. l fear the reading
public in that way is the loser of some
rare gems" said Mrs. Delaro.
True enough, but there is no help
for it," sadly replied the poet. Then he
continued: Some day l will publish
my collection at my own expense, and
SO give it to the world"
| With these words he picked up his
hat and babe the ladies a courteous
adieu.
AS soon as he had departed Armida
burst into fit of immoderate laughter.
Ellis earnestness is too much for me;
can not help LAUGHING. Pardon me,
mamma she said.
Mr.. Blodger had not been gone very
long when the bell-boy again came to
the door and handed in telegram for
Mrs. Delaro. She opened it eagerly
and, as she read the contents, she sighed
almost noiselessly.
what is it, mammal" anXiously asked
Armida.
ut is from Mr.. Wilcox, my dear. He
and Percy will be here in two days, and
we go to New York.
But she made no allusion to the fact
that they had been lead off on a false
clew, and for the fiftieth time had scat
tered her gathering hopes.
CHAPTER VII.
Another fruitless search. Days of
anxiety passed ozly to prove in the end
that the new Chew was false one. The
amateur detectives had been to New
Orleans, had watched for several days a
man with an iron-gray mustache and
beard resembling Velasquez whom they
found in that city. From New Orleans
they had followed him to Cuba only to
discover that he was an innocent Cuban
who had been out on protracted spree.
1t was one more added to the many
disappointments they had already ex-
perienced; SO with sad hearts they left
the Crescent city and returned to join
Mrs. Delaro and her daughter at Long
Branch.
Their presence was never more well
come, for the widow was secretly long
ing for change of scene, while Armida
had openly expressed the same desire.
1t was about an hour after dinner of
the day on which they returned. Mr..
Wilcox was up in the parlor relating his
useless adventures and fruitless chase
after the innocent Cuban to Mrs. Delaro,
and Armida was keeping Percy Lowell
company while he smoked cigar on
the piazza. The two last named sat
near to an open window of the ball
room, and, as they talked, watched the
couples who were already assembling to
take part in the German that evening.
During the interval which had
elapsed since Percy met Mr.. Wilcox in
San Francisco the Englishman had
>
improved his appearance by cultivating
a beard.
As he sat near to the lovely girl to-
night no one would have remarked that
there was great disparity of age be-
tween them-that is to say the fact
would not have struck a casual observer
very forcibly.
Percy had grown into a handsome,
broad-chested man, and possessed a
healthy appearance which denoted that
he had forsaken most of the foolish
ways of his youth and was living as
reasonable minded man should do He
was pleasant and fluent conversation
alist, though he never unpleasantly OBJ
truded his opinions. He conducted
himself with that sang .froid for which
most Englishmen are, for some reason
Or other, said to be celebrated
If he had any sorrows he never ex-
pressed them. Armida had tried once or
twice to get the affable secretary to
give her an account of some of his early
history, but she soon discovered her
questions panied him and now forebore
to touch upon the subject
Between Armida and Percy bond of
friendship seemed to have been formed,
which, although the expression may be
considered stereotyped. is best de-
scribed as that of an older brother to a.
sister.
They had long called each other by
their first names and had both drifted
~ l., l..