Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-05-05

Him.
1t is bitter cold on the outskirts OF
Boston and the cruel, icy gale whistles
with freezing savagery as 1t stlngS the
shivering form of BCrtram BiddlewaX
to his heart core and stiffens the icicles
that glitter in his tawuy beard
lie draws his great coat more closely
about him and hurrics on along the bar
rem country read and in the teeth of the
chill blast. while the great drifts OF
fcathcry snow swirl a bout MS head and
en-: into his face as if the spirit of the
cold were hurting crystal needles
through the air.
How numb | am getting" he NUT
ters. working his fingers convulsivelv
lest they freeze, even IN the depths OF
his vvool-Iined pockets. 1t bclIoovcs
II. to make haste or 7 will never reach
the spot by the break 0: day, and II She
sun be born but half an hour ere the
deed Is done then will have stalzed nv
al in vain. Bus that must not he. No,
HertraIn 8iddlewaz. thy word has been
passed. and Thy VOW must be kept even
if the richest, warEnest blood that
Courses through thy veins CONCEAL and
pause, trapped and paraiyzed."
Saying these brave words the young
man struggled on against the whirlina,
whiplasL Of the suow-stnrIn pausing
only To- stamp with might and main to
restore the circulation in his feet anC!
legs. and then hurryin- forward again
with al the speed the gale would admit
Of II was a lonely battle, and ne
fought i ont alOne-aIone save once
when he met = figure coming through.
the binding smother Of maddene,i
snow. and stopped TO answer to the
strangers gruff Good morning"
Good morning" he said in reply, and
then. noting something in the others
blue face that betoilcncd suffering. he
added. with Il sheer: Gould you lend
me a FAM
The other staggered in the spasrns of
astoniah.nent that this request brought
on and sunk moaning to the ground.
Coward lie tccbly cried, looking up.
Coward. to strike 50 unexpected q
blow. Dark as it IS there IS yet light
enough for YOU to see that have LETT
my hot temper at home les it be spoiled
on such a morning, and therefore yoa
felt safe in saying what you did"
There was Il convuisiye shivcr, and
he said no more. Bcrtram looked at
the rigid figure, cold in death, and his
stiffcned upper lip cracked in an attempt
TO curl Poor fool, he said, Il did
not think he would have taken my merry
little jest 50 coOIly." And ne passed
on, leaving his victim prone on the
frozen earth.
And now he came to the brow Of 4
long hill, and CHANGING across wide
stretch of spotless white To where Il
eIump OF trees stood at the foot of Il
rocky knoll, he saw a group OF four
men. Il carriage and a brougham. Five
minutes brought him to the spot.
''Gentlcmen, | am here" he said,
land your sister. sir?" addressing
young man heavily mu flied up ''She
is there" replied the other, pointing to
the brougham. Come, time presses,
and the air nips at our very yitals. Here
is your suit, there the never-freezing
cold spring. Our carriage is at your
disposal, and beg you, for my sisters
sake. if not for ours. to make good your
boast or fail in the attempt, that we
may hurry back"
Bertram merely smiled and taking
the package the young man held out to
utes later he emerged arrayed in n
sIeeveless-knitted swimming suit and
bowed to the four men. u am ready
now" he said, let The lady judge if /
am what claimed to be-"
The door of the carriage was opened
and a tall. classic beauty. with clear,
gray eyes and face as beautifully
pink and white as if chiseled from the
roseleaf marble of southern Greece
stepped forth. She acknowledged Ber-
trans presence by a slight nod. Make
haste" she said, for the atmosphere i
SO entangled with the extremely low
temperature that my predominating
sensation IS one of marked discomfort"
You shall be spared every unneces
sary moments exposure" replied Ber-
tram, with smile, and he walked into
the spring until the icy water covered
his shoulders. Two of the four men
turned away, shaking as if stricken
with an ague, and the others of the
group felt their very hearts CONCEAL
Bertram smiled. And now, Miss
Beaconstrcct." he said with a laugh,
nov the ice-cream. please"
Il can not, l really can not go that
far. she answered, her eyes filling
with tears of pride, as she watched him
standing in the freezing spring.
Hut it must be 50 or else my oath is
unfuifilled." he pleaded.
So they brought her from the
brOugham a little silver bowl and a
spoon.
Here" she said shaving a little of
the frozen deiicacy from the pink lump.
that will do, and'I now bid you' come
forth" He did so, and almost as he
stood clear Of the pool he was clothed
from his throat to his feet in suit of
icy armor that flashed back the rays OF
the newly-risen sun.
And do you believe me now, Miner
va?" he asked, presuming on his vic
tory to thus address her. And do you
believe me now when / say that / am
worthy of thy love-"
Il do, Bertram," she said giving him
a hand, and feel safe in trusting my
future and my cool million to your care
for life. And now | will drive home
and will look for you at breakfast"
Till then good by" ne replied, and
turning to the admiring group he added:
''Ynu see, gentlemen. have kept my
VOW that Bertram Biddlcwax won't be
left, not even on a cold day. y.
Sun.