Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-08-10

OF Tile 1acC. ct she ulSregdTuS my Slet
vice and goes directly counter to my exc
press wishes, simply because, forsooth,
you counsel such a course. Your con-
duct is reprehensible, North, reprehen-
sible to the last degree, and I have
right to complain of it. l tell you.
North, you and Mrs. Maynard are bent
upon robberr-downright deliberate
| robbery, strand it's time there was
check put upon your proceedings"
Robbery" North repeated the word
with calm surprise. while he stood with
folded arms, looking steadily, and
haughtily at the major. ''Of whom,
may ask, sir?'
''Of whom?" retortcd the major, an
grily. ''Of that orphan whose fortune
you are trying to steal. Annie Du-
pont, sir-that's whom
Il am happy to assure you, Maj.
Maynard, that nothing could be further
from our intentions than what you sug-
gest. If it should ever be my good for
tune to discover that young lady l
should do everything in my power to
place her in possession OF her legal
rights
''Oh, you would, eh? Place her in
possession of her legal rights, would
ycu?" snecred the major. That's i
likely story! Why are you trying so
hard to find her, then. and keeping so
very quiet about it, if you intend any
good to her? Fair words don't cheat
me, North. l know very well that
you've Il scheme in your heads to steal
every dollar of that fortune from her.
But I'll thwart you yet, North-Heav-
ems and earth, I'll thwart you, if have
to bring disgrace upon the family name
to do it,"
care you insane, Maj. Maynard?"
cried North, white with the indigna-
ton that he could no longer control.
''Your malice explains your bringing
this preposterous accusation against
me; but one would think that tho very
commonest instinct of chivalry would
forbid you speaking thus of your wife!"
For one moment the major was 81
fenced; catching his breath quickly he
looked up at North, with q dazed Won
der that presently gave place to bolster
Gus and contemptuous merriment.
''My wife?" he repeated, almost chok-
ing over the words. Heavens and
earth, sir, do you intend this for a
CHASTITY attempt at a joke? My wife?
Hang me if don't believe that you are
drunk, after all! How dare you refer
in this way to my brothers widow?"
If a man who has been pushing for
ward into an unknown country, believ-
ing himself to be on firm ground,
should suddenly find that he was
sinking in quicksand. we might
perhaps imagine his sensations
it difficult to describe them. To those
whose imaginations are equal to pictur-
ing the details of such an experience
we leave the task of divining Allan
North's state of mind when he found
the solid ground of his own conjectures
thus suddenly giving way beneath his
feet. Amid all the chaos of his thoughts
these three words: My brothers
widow" stood out distinctly, pointing
the events of the past few days with
4 significance that he had never before
suspected:
Before he could collect himself suf-
ficiently to realize either the startling
fact that he had jus. learned or the
magnitude of his own blunder, the ma
jor returned to the attack.
Now l want to know, North, if you
intend to keep on with your search for
that girl, or if you'll agree to give it up
-eh?"
The tone and words acted upon North
as sudden restorative. He spoke de-
cisively and sharply in reply:
81 must refer you once more to Mrs.
Maynard. AS her lawyer can have no
discussion whatever with you on these
Srfc sS IiC1,nr,oy.o fc 70
question me with a view to eliciting in
formation which she sees fit to with
hold from you"
''Oh, dishonorable, eh? Heavens and
earth, do you tell me that 1 am dishon-
orable?" roared the major, while his
eyes sparlSled with delight at having at
last SO tangible a grievance to seize
upon. Did you come up here to insult
me, sir?"
Neither to Insult you nor to be in
suited by you," returned North, coolly.
''If your language has been courteous
to me mine has certainly been respect
fnl to you
you may leave the room, North
exclaimed the major, ringing furiously
for his valet; and North waited for no
further dismissal. Bowling with iron
ical Difference he withdrew from the
room, fastened downstairs and left the
house.
AS he closed the gate behind him he
cast a glance of mingled relief and
yearning at the stately brown-stonc
mansion. In flash the recollection of
his first speculative survey of the place,
scaacely one short week ago, returned
to him.
''How little 1 dreamed then of what
would result from this visit to X--y''
he exclaimed, mentally, as he turned
and walked rapidly down the street.
"Bcfore cross that threshold again I
shall have all the proofs of Annie Du-
points identity in my possession; and
thcn-then, Myra darling, you shall
listen while 1 plead my own cause be-
fore your
CHAPTER XVII
Player King" IT'S not strange that cen
our love should
With our fortune change,
For It's question left US yet 20 |
prove,
Whether love lead fortune, or |
else fortune love. |
Hamlet.
In Mrs. Maynard's drawing-room a |
soft glow from the sea-coal fire in the |
crate was filing the early twilight with
sparkling ruddy tints. Seated in a |
low easy chair just within the glow,
during the leisure hour before dinner,
Mrs. Maynard was musing bitterly, |
with no interruption save the tinkling