Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-02-04

| Dut suppose every CODY trusted TO
their one chance of finding fortune
ready made for them? Ninety-nine
per cent of lives would be complete
| failures
He accepted her logic as convincing.
but he replied, evasively:
''Other people are not like me. No
one depends upon me for living. and
it isn't necessary for me to settle down.
I'm as free as the wind and almost as
! careless
She bit her neither lip and looked
| painfully at him. The old desperate
look was flashing from his eyes She
never liked it, and the more she saw of
it the more it worried her.
But you owe it to yourself, Mr..
Holloway" she said, after pause, ito
| make the best of your gifts. You're
not satisfied with this life; you lead it
because there is a dim hope of some
thing lucky happening in the future.
You don't bring out the best of your
manhood. You should think of that "
He did think of it then, and he felt
that she alone could be the earthly at
traction to develop the full powers of
his manhood Miss Bland thought that
in her endeavors to change his mode
Of life she had betrayed her interest
in him too much, and she suddenly
| found an excuse to leave him. HollO-
way bit his lip, and muttered under his
| breath:
''She talks like an angel"
"Hello, jack" Tom Suffer eX.
claimed, from behind the house. How
are you? No gold to-day? Well l
have good news to tell you. You look
tired. Things didn't go well to-day
mo better than usual Holloway
replied, trying to smile. But what
newS?"
'Something you must have suspect
ed from her presence here"
Suffer jerked his hand over his shout
der toward the house where Miss
Bland had disappeared. Holloway
turned shade paler.
Going to be married at last" Tom
continued. THE day is fixed and
erything is ready. The ceremony
will take place two weeks from to-day.
You must be on hand for my best man.
I've waited for this day for years, and
worked for it
said, impulsively, as he thought of
how his friend had worked while he
had been prospecting around for gold.
Il congratulate you, old fellow. She's
| fine woman"
little tired and pale, aud Suffer looked
queerly at him.
You're down in the mouth, Jack,
and need a rest"
He took rest that night. but on the
following morning he packed up his
few things aid took an early start for
some other regions. He left a note,
explaining that news of gold twenty
miles away and fastened his de-
parture. but he would return in time
for the wedding.
81 must get away from her." he NUT.
tered aloud, as he rode along in the
clear, bracing morning air. Il shall
be more of a roamer than ever after
this. There is no abiding place now,
| not even at TOMS"
| He did not notice the road he was
taking, and he allowed Polly to follow
her own tuition. But Polly was tired
and hungry that morning and served
her master strange trick. Instead of
taking the road that led directly down
the canyon, she turned off to the right
| and followed a circular one back to
| Suffers cabin. The thought of good
| breakfast induced the horse to take
this responsibility upon herself, and
Holloway was so absorbed in his own
| thoughts that he did not notice the
change of direction. He was within a
hundred yards of Suffers cabin before
he noticed his mistake.
| Hello! Where am ~" he shouted
''Oh. you frightened me SOP
Miss Bland jumped up near his right
and stood gazing at the horseman with
eyes which seemed to show traces OF
tears. Her cheeks were red and burn.
ing, while in her hand was Holloway's
letter to Tom, explaining his sudden
departure.
II thought you had left" she ex.
claimed, trying to hide the letter.
Then her anger getting the better OF
her, she burst out, petulantly: But 1
thought you would return to apologize.
1t was real mean thing to go away
and leave all the work of preparation
for the wedding to me. You think
more of your gold than you do of your
friends You've got just as much in
terest in the wedding as l have.
Cousin Tom is all cut up about it, and
! thinks the same as l do. l came way
west to get him ready for the wedding
and act as bridesmaid, and you sneak
away early in the morning to get rid of
| work. There now, that's what l
think"
This little burst of anger pleased
rather than offended Holloway. He
| dismounted from his horse W hen he
fully comprehepded it, and stammered;
| "You the bridesmaid? 1 thought you
| were to be-"
Then he stopped, but a merry twinkle
came into her eyes, and she finished
| the sentence:
| The bride"
/ She saw that he was troubled, and
her laughter only embarrassed him.
| He apologized for his rudeness. and
then stammered out declaration that
Strengthened everything.
| He was saying lovingly when Tom
appeared around the corner of the
| house:
| Fortunes ways are strange, but af-
| ter all they are good. I've found my
fortune at last l can settle down,
dearest, now, and become a man like
your cousin Tom"
Hello, Jack, you scamp, what was
the meaning of that letter you left for
me? Explain now, or"
'Oh, it was only a joke" Holloway
| answered. Il wanted a mornings ride
and I thought I'd friphten YOU"