Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-04-20

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you-or rather, shall detain you only
for that time. You understand, Of
course, why sent for your with a
swift, questioning glance at him, a
slight trace of anxiety in her manner.
North gravely assented and endeav-
ored to look wise.
81 mean" added Mrs. Maynard, with
| curious effect of measuring her words
with difficulty because of her usual
habit of speaking impulsively and I'M
guardedly, you understand my-anx-
iety?"
| She hesitated again and seemed to be
waiting for him to speak. AS he could
| do nothing, however, but assent to her
remarks with wise, non-committal air,
she resumed with sudden vivacity:
"Were you very much disappointed
last evening, Mr.. North? 1 was SO pro-
voked when Williams told me that you
had called. What is that very impor.
tant communication that you wished to
make? I assure you I have been in a
perfect futter Of curiosity ever since
Williams gave me your message"
Here was swift retribution, truly!
North frantically regretted that mo-
ment of indecision that had been his IN:
doing. Everything danced before his
eyes for an instant as he dizzily sought
in the recesses of his mind for soma
plausible meaps of extricating himself
from this embarrassing dilemma. He
of retreating precipitately and acknowl-
edging the daring presentation that he
had attempted; there was positive
ly no alternative but to face the situa-
ton coolly and make the best of it.
sob, really, Mrs. Maynard" he said,
affecting great negligence, civilians
must have drawn upon his imagination
little, think. To be sure, he may
have fancied that my errand was very
pressing, but, in fact don't you know,
IL is nothing of Importance, after all.
am sorry to disappoint you, Mrs. May
nard, but really, I gave Williams no
special message at all"
ooh! Indeed. Then he probably
misunderstood" the lady rejoined, with
thoughtful air; but North nervously
fancied that she was by no means sat
isfied in her own mind that he was tell
lug her the truth. the whole truth. and
nothing but the truth.
81 was so confident" she went on
presently, that you had received
some important word from New York.
Have you really heard nothing, Mr..
North?''
''Not one syllable" declared North,
solemnly, thankful for the ability to
keep at least within the letter of the
truth without compromising his safety.
THAT is very strange, indeed!'' ex-
claimed Mrs. Maynard; then, after a
thoughtful little pause, lasting perhaps
five seconds, she added, gayly:
However, shall not repine until
have greater cause than this. am GER
tainly learning all the bitterness Of
hope deferred; but what else can ex-
pect, pray? You lawyers are such a
tedious set, with your red tape and
legal process and strange and mystic
rious adjournments, and your thousand
and-one ingenious inventions to cause
delay; really, to an uninitiated person |
like myself, it is simply marvellous how
long case can be dragged out after it |
once gets into the courts! No, Mr.. |
North, don't begin an eloquent defense |
of your professional guild; they don't |
deserve it, and have no time to listen, |
If they did. had two distinct objects, |
S1S1oc 1IOul II1y IdA CuIIOSALy dDOuG l
that very important communication i
which you now evince such a perverse
determination to withhold from me, in |
asking you to call on me this afternoon.
In the first place, wish to remind you |
of the expediency Of keeping from the |
major all knowledge of these new in |
vestigations that we are about to insti- |
tute. You know the poor dear majors
This with an inquiring elevation OF
the delicate brows, deprecating curve
of the delicate lips.
North assented with two or three
grave and comprehending mods, as II tc
say: 'sThis is between ourselves and
is perfectly understood No further
words are necessary"
[To n cozxIxuEn.l