Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-04-07

|
| great porch in front of it, reaching al
most to it's roof. What was so odd
| about it, was that there was flight of
steps, which led to the porch, whose
floor was on 4 level with that of the
second story of the house,
Strange, indeed; but they built
many such houses in England in Queen
Elizabeth's days"
In England? All, Harry, then you
do attach importance to my vision?"
| .'Of course / do. Now try if you
cannot think of something more to tell
me-"
NO, / have told you all. Harry"
| Wanda said, with dreamy won der in
her eyes.
| How swiftly the hours passed. 1t
| seemed impossible to her, as she stool
that night in the moonlight with both
her hands in Harry's wishing him good
by. She had him for just that minute
all to herself, for Mrs. Evesham had
bade her boy adieu in her own chamber
and had retired to her place beside
George Arundcls couch and of course
the Dolmans were all in bed. True,
old Bladon might be pr0wling about,
but there were no signs of his immedi-
ate presence.
Good-by, Words at all times 50 bad
and bitter: but tonight how much they
| mean 10 hcr-thc dcath-kncu of her
days happiness.
He stoops and looks down on the face
so beautiful with the moonlight playing
on it.
Sorcly he is tempted to speak but
| stern duty intcrposeS What right has
he to ask so radiant a being to bind her
life to his? But who could resist the
tender pleading Of the blue eyes which
look into his one moment and then are
Gowncast.
"Wanda.'
How strange his voice sounds to her;
yet in his passion-laden tone there is
still the sweet cuphony he always gives
her name.
.'Good-by. Harry With quivering
lips she speaks and can scarce rcqress
the sobs which almost choke her.
With Il low cry he draws her to him
and holds her in his embrace.
wanda, love YOU
All trembling she hears the word and
burics her face on his shoulder.
Speak. Wanda. Only oncc-say you
love me"
Slowly, reluctantly. she raises her
face: it is pale no longer but crimson
with maiden basbfulncss.
Yes. love you, Harry" she muir
rnurs almost inaudibly, with faint
long-drawn sigh.
Il never believed such happiness
could be mine" he vows with ccstacy.
Then, do 50 now, dear she whis-
.;@l, a.. .I,n Ii hi
face.
An hour. is it an hour, or minute,
or year?-this dream too sweet for
words to picture.
Then the mother must be told. The
gentle, loving mother, who has borne
so much for them both. Pshaw, Wanda,
you need not tremble SO, you need not
shrink with a great fear OF the supposed
wrong you have done. That generous
heart has long been beating with the
hope that the day might come when
she could truly call you daughter.
so Harry Evesham starts on his way
, cxultant, while poor blind George Arun-
del lies on his bed of pain with no
bright hopes before him; verify. ste
him that hath shall be given, and from
him that hath not shall be taken away
even that he hath"
Then Wanda shyly and with great eff
fort tells the glorious news to William
Bladon, who oddly enough is now in.
clined to be cross with her because she
has not preferred his boy as the idol OF
her affections. SO it happened that one
day, when George Arundel had gained
so much strength that he was permitted
to sit up awhile, the old scrvitor re.
solved to tell the story of Wanda's love
| to him. it cut him to the heart tc
wound the young mans feelings, but he
knew the task must not be shirlled.
Now, Master George" he began, in
all agony Of apprehension, ''you mustn't
take on, but I've a bit o news for thee,
lad. as wunnOt perchance be welcome"
"You mean Miss Arlington's engage.
mcnt to young Evesham?" came the
question, so calmly and deliberately ut
| tered that Bladon gazed in stupcfed
wonder.
Why, yes" he said, CHATS what !
meant; but how came thee to hear Of
! it?"
Her mother told me yesterday. Oh,
| dear old friend, don't look so woebe.
| gone. One would think that you were
/ the deserted lover To see your long face.
! 1t Is thing for us all to rejoice at, that
| the sweet girl has won the love Of such
d sterling fellow as Harry Evcsham."
But I thought you loved the lass
thyscn?"
Loved her; of course did, and shall
{ love her as long as ! have sense to APP
/ prcciate the sweetness of her character
| An yet you give her up so quietly.
| Why, when was lad"
''Iou were "a terrible fellow among
| the lasseS, / don't doubt, Bladon; but
an afraid you cannot quite understand
| nay feelings for Miss Arlington hard
| ~ can myself. You sec was not so
far wrong when / told you she was to
| be nothing more than sister to me-
AN you're not fretting over the loss
of the lass?''
NO" said Arundel calmly, '.for I
have not lost her yet. / do not think
Harry Evesham will refuse to let her
still be my loving friend and sister,
Like as not" Bladon confessed, but,
the reflection did not give him unal-
Logged pleasure. 1t was bad enough for
the young master to be smitten with the
charms of pretty girl, but to carry his
devotion to her freside, when she was
married woman. was 4 proposal be-
yond the old mans philosophy.