Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-11-16

Uu1SIStduO-
Once more Miss Clay broke roughly
from the circling arms Once more sha
stood erect with raised head and blazing
eyes; no weakness on her face now
only resolve so fixed as to make its lines
seem hard and cruel
''Bessie Westchester," she said, il
cold. metallic tone, You do not under
stand me, but-you shall! Not fo1
base. selfish reason, not to protect my.
self from silly suspicion, but to protect
you and yours, SO good to me, I soiz
speak! That man, whose name I have
sworn shall never pass my lips-that
man, who has my just contempt and
scorn, is"
The door opened quickly and Mrs.
Gray stood in it, painting from hasty as
cent and with troubled face.
''Caro, Willie is here"
''Thank God! I am readyw The light
of battle on her face melted into tender
longing; hope to be realized swept
away thought of right and justice as
the words brought plainly before her
the wide, dark river, the yearning loved
ones far beyond.
''Stop, DEAR" the matron said, stop
ping with gesture the quick grasp fol-
hat and gloves, the careful, instructive
touch for precious packages sewed into
the skirt. ''Willie must see you first.
Some difficulty has"
Difficulty? Oh, do not say he comes
to disappoint me-" The color hope had
driven to the girls face dropped out,
leaving it ashen, her lips quivering
soundlessly.
''Not so bad as that, hope" Mrs.
Gray answered, gently; and, stepping
to the door, she called softly, and Will
lie Mckee tiptoed into the room.
His face was grave and troubled, his
manner wholly changed from the boy
ish exquisite who had lounged from
that house two hours before. Those
were days that made many men play
strange parts; and Willie Mckee was a
natural actor.
sit disappoints me, Miss Clay, almost
as much as yourself he said, quietly.
81 had set my heart on getting you
across tonight; and believe you know
that to do SO 1 would risk anything,
save one-your capture"
81 must always risk that" the girl
CIIcti, lLlp-tiChtiy. LAW III ACeA
Come, let us start!''
Not until you know ALL the man
answered, firmly. Ordinary danger
would not deter me, of course. Every
thing is ready-medicine5 packed,
passes secured. But, remember, this
time your capture would be more seri-
GUS than ever before. You are under
grayest suspicion"
Eyes, know. But, oh, have been
so careful!-seen no one. None could
dream 1 was here
Your presence in Baltimore is
known Mckee answered, gently.
"How, or by whom, God only knows"
KNOWN" Only the one word from
her white lips.
Eyes; and more than that" he went
on, calmly. ''Some one knows that you
leave tonight, by what route, and that
go with YOU
The girls. face grew whittier still; her
lips moved without sound, but her eyes
flashed into Bessie's with blaze of ac-
cusing query in them. Then, still
staring at her, the firm will mastered
emotion so far that she whispered,
hoarsely:
care You sures You saw-him?"
''Saw whom? Bessie, what do you
know?" Mrs. Gray cried.
But Carolyn Clay stopped her with a
gesture imperious beyond question, and,
turning to Mckee, said, hoarsely:
$50 on. Tell me all"
81 know no more, he answered. ''On-
~ this note was left for me by unknown
hand ten minutes since.'
The woman seized the crumpled note
eagerly, bending over the freight and
reading rapidly. Then, pressing her
hand hard over her eyes, she stood an
instant still and cold, only heaving
bosom and deep breath telling of sore
struggle to be calm. Again she bent
down, scanning the paper closely, her
eyes burning each word into her brain.
Then, leaning her head upon the low
covered by one hand, she held
the note to Bessie with the other; and
she, understanding the command, read
in tremulous voice the fateful mes
sage:
''Do not start tonight. South bank
swarns with stragglers. Rosser struck.
Show her this and wait advice. She
should obey warning from one who
prayed her to pray for his soul"
Dead silence was on the little group.
No one spoke, nor moved, and the still