Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-03-09


Genevra." cried sne. You can't
mean that"
Poor little Genevieve.'' consoled
Genevra- But You will not lose your
home. You must come and live with
me and Charley"
II could not do that" said Gcnevieve,
giddy and confused with the unex-
pected succession of startling news
II must look out for a situation in
some school or as companion or nur-
sery governess! But oh, Genevra,
are You quite sure about Fred?"
II heard the old housekeeper talking
to the coachman, when I was waiting,
down behind the shrubbery, for Capt.
Allaire to come" said Geneva. with a
nod of her pretty hesd ''She said that
he had told her himself and had in
structed her what rooE,s to prepare
and what alterations to make in the
household arrangements for his COM
ing marriage"
Il wonder who it can be?" said
Genevieve. sadly.
''Miss Hilyard. of course" said
Genevra, ''or else that beautiful Mrs
St. Dean. But the least thing he could
l think, and that's one reason decided
to elope. And Charley is coming up
this evening. and we are to take the
train to St. Vincent. and, oh! dear
Jenny" with a burst of sparkling
tears. 1.-The world is SO full of happiness
to me-
And Genevieve could but caress the
beautiful, willful young creature who
had taken life's helm so reclSlessly
into her own hands, and hope, in a
choking voice, that she might be very,
very happy.
Cousin Fred listened very philosophic-
ally 10 Genevra's confession, half an
hour later.
Married, are you?' said he. ''Well.
if You had asked my advice, l should
have given a contrary verdict. But,
as you didn't consult me. 1 shall have
to be like the heavy fathers on the
stage and give you my blessing. AL
laire is a clever fellow enough, al.
though he has been very gay, and l
hope you will steady him down, at
last"
So, the wly-married pair went
away, as thoughtlessly happy as two
Genevieve was left alone with Fred,
to wonder how she could best break to
him the resolution at which she had
arrived. For she knew that she could
never remain at the Hill when beauti-
full Mrs. st. Dean or Abba Hilyard
should either of them be the mistress
there.
1T would kill me-" she thought,
clasping her hands. Yes, it would kill
me-"
Mr.. Barnet had turned kindly to her,
| and led her to seat beside the win
dow.
"You are pale, Genevieve." he said.
''Your hands are as cold as ice. Surely,
Won do not take this mad freak of little
| Gypsy's so bitterly to heart? Never
fear for her: she's butterfly who will
sip honey from all life's garden gror nd.
Her nature is light and frothy; far diff
| ferent, Genevieve, from yours. Sit
down, little cousin; have much to say
to you"
Now" thought poor Genevieve, with
her color changing from scarlet tc
white-"now it is coming! l shall be
politely dismissed from the only home
have.'
And sensation of indescribable
loneliness passed through her heart as
she pictured Genevra radiantly happy
with her captain of artillery, Cousin
Fred secure IN the love of some stately
| and beautiful woman. herself only Lett
| out in the cold of life's dreariest vale,
an unloved and solitary old maid. But
she spoke nothing of all these sici1eI.-
ing fears; only looked at him, wit
wistful dark eyes, in silence.
"Genevieve," said he, do you thin :
it would be a wild and foolish dream
| for me to think of marriage?'
"You? Oh, no." she answered, try.
ing to smile.
''But l am three and thirty
"You are only in the prime and full
ness of life," she responded, ''for a
man. With women signing softly.
} "everything is so different But,
Cousin Fred, if you really intend mar
rying-''
81 really do he said, smiling grave.
ly.