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

making his explanation. She moved
forward and put her lamp down on a
table before she answered.
''He visited us some time SINCE" with
a half-smile. "You know we lost all our
horses"
81 knew you were here alone, and
thought he might take advantage of the
fact. Nobody knows how much infor-
nation he has"
She shook her head.
Captain Gordon hasn't frightened
me-" she said, calmly. Then she glanced
at the men. They were all splashed and
travel-torn.
could offer you any refreshments
said, half-timidly, ''for yourself or your
horses? 1 have heard my brother speak
of you frequently" with the smile that
years ago Payne Morse had found SO be-
witching.
She looked so frail and slight, so en-
tirely different from the Southwestern
feminine development, that Morgan, a
great, good-natured giant, found him
self abashed. AS to his companions,
they stood with their guns in the hollow
of their arms, holding their hats awk-
Wardly and uneasily. They were rough
riders and straight shots, but this slen-
der woman upset their nerves.
''We're about played out" Morgan
said, ''the horses at least. He won't be
likely to get far tonight" with sig
fcant glance at the man nearest him,
land we couldn't do much anyhow. 1t
is going to be blacker than pitch. If
you don't mind our camping on the
place-you don't look much like work,
Mrs. Morse, but I'm not bad hand at
a frying pan myself"
Certainly, gentlemen" with sweet
est courtesy. you know the way to
the corncribs, and"-putting out pair
of slender brown hands-''I'm not as
helpless as l look
So she and Captain Morgan made
coffee, fried bacon and baked biscuit,
while the men fed their horses and ar
ranged sleeping-places for themselves.
Don't that beat any thing you ever
saw in your life in the way of a wom-
an?" one of them said after long
reconnaissance through the kitchen
window. And there's Morgan" with
awe in his voice, talking away to her
as clipper as jay bird
They rode away in the gray of the
morning. All day long she ministered
to the man who had wrecked her life.
There was little talk-they could not
venture on that. He slept like a worm
out man, who makes the most of his
chances in safety. When night came
again and again Sam Lee left the house
alone, clad in Harry Tryon's garments
and riding Rebecca Payne Morse made
HIS way to signal station on the rail-
way, ten miles away.
''Good-bye," he said. you'll not be
likely to see or hear of me again. For
your sake it's almost a pity that they
didn't make an end of me-"
Don't say that, Payne. Well live
out our lives. Yours might have such
chances if you chose to use them"
Goodbye, my girl" He stopped and
kissed her cheek. ''If could go back
again-weu, we wouldn't get married"
Harry Tryon came back three or four
days later. He knew about the diapers-
ing of the gang, and the hanging Of two
or three of it's members.
"And Payne?" Helen asked.
sThey told me he escaped" not meet
ing her eyes.
Then she told him
"By Jove, Helen! They never sus-
pected, that's certain. After that l
wonder if there's any thing you can't
stand. Listen: Payne Morse is dead"
He had risen, and was holding both
her hands as she sat before him.
II know it's true he said, earnestly.
'T saw him. He was taken out of the
train at the junction where / waited.
Died of heart disease, they said, without
a struggle or a word
He spoke slowly, as if to give her
time to take in the significance of his
words. Her face whitened slowly, and
as he finished she dropped at his feet in
q f2int like death.
She was married in the dim twilight
in the old church at home, with just her
mother and sisters near her, and her
father watching her with softened eyes.
The organ murmured in full, soft
chords, but there were no strangers, no
bridal display. AS she stepped out
into the sweet spring evening the
young, faint crescent of the moon met
her eyes.
'sIt's the beginning" Frank whispered
softly, bending down that She alone
might hear.