Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-04-27
CHAPTER m-Corr1yrrn

CHAPTER m-CoNrNUED
wonder if one Of these self-same
peeuliarities is an interesting habit of
listening at the doors?" he unused.
Zone would fancy 50 from the cautious
way she lowers her voice. By Jove! l
wish were well out Of this! What
will come next, in the way of startling
developments?"
''You KNOW" Mrs. Maynard con-
tinued, in the same sweet, guarded
tone, breaking in upon North's medi-
tations, "how persistently he has OPP
posed me all through this affair. He
has perfectly unreasonable horror of
litigation, as well as strong desire to
thwart and annoy me, and he tried in
every way to prevent me from urging
my claim in the first place. OF course,
1 am not in the habit of allowing my
self to be guided by Maj. Maynard's
advice in matters of any personal In
terest or Importance; still, harmony In
the household is something that one is
willing to purchase at almost any cost,
and in this case, really, Mr.. North, if it
had not been for your professional adj
vice, and your resolutely taking affairs
into your own hands and assuming the
whole legal responsibility for me, I
have no doubt that I should have
yielded to his prejudices and allowed
my interests to be sacrificed, just to
preserve the peace!"
She sighed family as she spoke, lean
ing back in her chair with her eyes
downcast.
North's countenance wore disturbed
expression during the interval of silence
that ensued.
This looks alarmingly like the
domestic slxeleton!" he thought, almost
Struggling his shoulders in his dismay.
with what charming naivete she al
ludes to her differences with the major!
II could have foreseen that I should
have to play the role OF sympathizing
friend in q cast in which a tyrannical
husband and beautiful injured wife
were the other leading characters, l
should scarcely have had the temerity
to come here at all. With what q mat
ter-of-course air she refers to this deli
cate subject, as if she had frequently
discussed it with me. I don't under
stand it. A lady might possibly make
her spiritual adviser the confidant of
SuCA lTOuOlcS, Out OOCS Sllc dlSO pOuT
them into the sympathetic ear Of her
lawyer? If such be the general custom,
then the fates preserve me from becom-
ing that most unhappy of all luckless
mortals, some fair lady's confidential
legal adviser!"
At this point in his reflections the
door-bell rang, and q gay murrur OF
ladies' voices was heard in the hall.
Mrs. Maynard started up with a little
gesture of annoyance, and North, per
ceiving his opportunity, rose at once to
take leave of her.
81 fear that am encroaching on your
time, Mrs. Maynard he said. 81 had
no idea that was staying so long"
Alas for North's veracity! He had never
before endured a period Of time that
seemed so interminable.
sit is really provoking, Mr.. North, 81
said Mrs. Maynard, latter ypu have
taken the trouble to call at this hour,
that we should have so little time to
talk"
''Oh, it was no trouble at all, Mrs.
Maynard" protested North with an air
of light gallantry, 81 esteem it q great
honor and privilege to see you even for
this brief time"
He imagined that this fippant speech
would be accepted with the same light
ness with which it was uttered. In