Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-04-14

! THE OLD MAN DREW A LONG wHIFF AT
HIS PIPE AND PAUSED.
ton of Il good woman's love? If you
| really have the interests of your young
| master at heart. man, you will second
/ me in my efforts to establish his happi-
ness"
| Il second thee. Thee talkest as
though thee did ma know thee vert play
ing with fire, Mr.. Hardcastle. Does
thee know what a young woman's ways
are, sir? Signs. an smiles, an smoker
ing, an before a young fellow knows
where he be, there's a plain gold ring
on her finger, an he's caught for life
And the best thing that could hap
| pen to him." Mr.. Hardcastle said
| heartily.
! All" Bladon sighed, Il see how the
land lies. Blame me if they hasn't be-
witched thee too. I'd take my Bible
oath that pretty widow has got thee
under the harrows. Take my advice.
sir-run for it, while thou'st got the
chance: for there's no hope for thee
while thou stayest i Glastonbury"
Mr.. Hardcastles' face flushed purple.
Apoplexy at least seemed imminent.
''Bladon,'' he cried, his eyes flashing
| fire, you are grabbed, cross-grained,
scandalous old sinner"
And having delivered himself of this
! righteous explosion of wrath, he turned
| on his heel and went hurriedly towards
the Evcsham's cottage.
poor old chap Bladon gr.1ned.
Hes in the meshes, same as the rest
| of 'em-an' when a man o his years
gets took, he always has it as bad as
| can be. Poor old buffer, he amt bad
! sort after all. Oh, them women, them
women. what sight O. misery they
work j. the world
And it CHANGED that as Mr.. Hardcastle
strobe wrathfully down the street, who
should come tripping along but Miss
| Wanda Arlington.
''Ah, here you are" she said, merrily.
| Il was hunting for you high and low. L
want you to come long walk with me
| by the river"
With all my heart, nv child,' he re-
piled, the smile involuntarily lighting
| his face.
But you seem annoyed about some
thing, Mr.. Hardcastle," she ventured,
when they had gone few PAGES.
YES, my dear" he said. Il am"
IstH IL iIdoilCu siCioos IiihS
after all she would be the best person
in whom to confde his project.
Il have been upset." he continued.
Il have been building castles in the air.
| and some of them are tumbling down."
Il am so sorry
And you can help me repair the ruins
if you wish. Wanda.
Il am so glad, was the bright re-
| Spouse. Now what can do?"
He replied by asking her a question.
Have YOU noticed lately the pleasure
that George Arundel takes in Hates So
ciety?"
why. yes. 1 have" Wanda flashed
with quick delight. do you really
think he is learning to love hero
Il do. Would it not be a fine thing
for both of them? So now. little woman,
1 want you to put your wits to work
and further the good cause"
Indeed / will. How strange that I
never thought OF this before. But.
wherein have you failed? For 1 pre-
sumo your fallen castles were built on
this base
You are right. You see I wanted
some one to help me, and l went to
Bladon.'
wanda laugneu merT1lV-
ITO Bladon, Why it does seem funny
to ask that woman-hating old man to
interest himself in such project. He
looks on love as little less calamitous
than smallpox"
$50 found out. my dear. Why, will
you believe it, the ignorant old idiot
actually charged me with matrimonial
intentions on Mrs. Evesham.'
How shocking There was merry
CLEAN in the girls eye, which caught
Mr.. Hardcastle's glance
What are you laughing at?'' he
asked snappishly. Il am not quite
so old that a romance at my time of life
should seem absurd"
The mischief faded out of the girls
face on the instant
NO. dear Mr.. Hardcastle," she said
with quite earnestness. You are one
of those men who will never grow old"
THAT is ridiculous, of course, but
Nor must you Think she added,
laying her hand upon his arm, that |
was smiling at the probability of your
asking Mrs. Evesham to be your wife.
Smiling, Why, if / thought such a
thing was possible / should laugh aloud
for very joy"
''Eh, what, Wanda, you must be
crazy. Do you mean to ssy that you be-
lieve for one moment that such noble
woman as Mrs. Evesham would con-
sent to bless the flag end of life of bat
y IL n