Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-08-06

/
meal found her with closed eyes, and
| her and left her, following the devices
/ of his own heart over the cook stove
| She heard the mon coming at last,
| Bronson and her brother, and met them
| at the door, so white, so desperate
| looking, that both drew rein and sat
| staring at her speechlessly.
Bronson sprang to the gro,.nd at last
and took her in his arms. She put him
away with trembling hand, not look
ing at him.
Harry. Payne Morse is alive
| ''IIo7v 90 you llnow?'
I've seen him-he has been here"
''To-day?"
Only little while ago-it was no
mistake: l talked with him. What
! shall | do? What shall do?"
| Bronson was leaning back against his
! horse, Il b2wildcred look of agony on
/ his face. But as she turned toward
| him he answered her appeal. He came
forward and put his arm about her.
You see, l love your sister," he said
to Harry. ''She world have been my
wife-she shall be now if she will But
whatever she decides, l love her ard
always shall" He spoke very slowly
and distinctly. You hear me, Helen;
whatever comes | will not fail you to
the end"
For one minute she laid her head
against his shoulder, then with a sob
she turned away and entered the house.
After all, human everyday life is rot
a favorable background for tragedy.
The awful happenings drop beneath
the current and the ripples run over
them. and half the time we forget them
unless it happens to be our own hearts
that arc aching. Before forty-eight hours
| had passed the little household was go
ing on in its old way apparently.
| Il was on the evening of the second
| day that Harry came back from his
weekly visit to the post-otfice at the
station.
I've got it sure" he said to Bronson.
| THE Denver police have sent me a
! photograph of Captain Gordon. Good
! looking rascal" handing over the card.
"We can't miss with that"
! Bronson scrutinized the likeness care
| fully.
Its a marked face. That scar across
the forehead is peculiar and not easily
hidden
want to see it, Helen? If in your
walks abroad you meet Captain Gordon,
you'll know him."
She glanced at it and turned livid
| face toward him.
Harry, it's Payne-Payne Morse"
'What the dickens am l to do? Poor
| Helen, she's made trouble for some
body her whole life through. I'm head
| and front of it all, and can't go ahead
with the thing now, for her sake-and
you're no better off. I'll go down to-
night, put the thing into Mason's hands,
and clear the country till it's over with.
| Well have to start for Denver to-
morrow without an hours delay, and
Helen will have to stay here alone.
| I'll get Mason's wife to come over. if
she viii have her. It's the best way l
see out of a bad bargain
That was Harry Tryon's way settling
every thing off-hand, but the plan was
carried out, and Helen found herself
solitary. Mason's wife came over,
but was quickly recalled by the
needs of Il sick badly. Happily Helen
! had steady nerves and a comfortable
imagination. Of real danger there was
very little, and she was glad to be
/ alone.
| OF what was going on about her she
knew nothing. She had never taken
much interest in the happenings of the
country, and gave no thought to the
| subject that had been Harry's great in
terest for SO long. Sam Lees work be-
| ing done, he had sauntered off to the
! abinS down in the timber Helen was
swinging in her hammock as usual,
! dreaming dreams and seeing visions in
such dreary fashion as her past gave
| reason for. Still, with all the sadness,
there was dreamy quiet that was not
! wholly pain, and with the silence and
! the starlight, and the slow, monOtOnouS
rocking of her swinging cradle, she fell
! asleep.
"Helen!"
YES" she said drowsily, and fell
asleep again.
'Helen.''-the word was spoken n lit
tie louder; a hand touched her; she
sprung up broad awake now. Payne
Morse stood before her.
He was bareheaded, without his coat,
a blood-stained sling held his right arm,
a torn handkerchief was knotted round
his head; he was haggard and CHASTITY.
hours since she had heard shots in the
timber, and had lain idly specializing
about echoes and the distance the sound
had come.
They are after me. Can you help
me?' he said, in a hoarse gasp.
''What can do?''-but it was not
question of helplessness; she was think
ing hard.
They will come here" he said.
Eyes, l suppose so-yes, will do my
best" slowly.
I've been hung and shot" with a
most unmirthful laugh. 1.-The rope
u.s. 9 h