Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-08-31

Why should not be happy7 If heart
and conscience condemn us not, then
happiness Is within the reach Of all; to
these silent mentors commend you,
now and hereafter!''
Then it was that perception of his
blunder came over North, and he started
up with an impulsive protestation on
his lips, when suddenly q voice was
heard in the hall, speaking to Williams
in sharp, imperative tone; then the
drawing-room portiere was swept aside
and hasty step crossed the threshold.
Mrs Maynard, who was directly fac
ing the door, looked up quickly to see
who had entered. North, who was
partially turned away from the door.
sank back in his chair. and looked
quickly at Mrs Maynard.
He saw her start violently, while the
frozen lifelessness of her manner gave
pla = to sudden alert amazement. An
then she stood transfxed, gazing
straight ahead as if she bcheld an ap-
partition from another world.
A cool little smile passed over North's
face as he noted her agitation; and yet,
with all his GOODNESS, faint thrill OF
excitement ran along his nerves as he
contemplated the scene now at hand.
Rising deliberately he drew himself
up to his full height; then turning
slowly around he found himself face to
face with the person who had just
entered the room.
A few PAGES distant the latter stood
a gentleman in a long ulster which was
unfastened and thrown back, revealing
al elegant toilet beneath. This gentle
man was in personal appearance the per-
feet counterpart of Allan North; there
was the same tall, slender figure, the
same proudly-poised head with cluster
ing auburn curls, the same keen, dark
gray eyes, clear-cut features, sweeping
dark mustache; only in the more delicate
variations Of expression could subtle
difference be traced. One might well
be amazed by their remarkable resem-
blance as they stood thus silently face
to face, looking at each other.
Miss Hilary, no less agitated than
Mrs. Maynard, stood with eyes fixed in
anxious suspense upon Allan's calm,
grave countenance; while Williams, for
getting himself in the excitement Of the
moment, was lowering in the doorway
with upliftcd hands, gazing at the two
gentlemen in open-mouthed astonish-
ment.
One moment went by in absolute si-
lence-a moment full of dramatic in
terest to every member of that little
group.
CHAPTER XIX
Duke-Stay. stand apart know not which
Is which. Comedy OF Errors.
Cleo Since my lord
Is Anthony again will be Cleopatra
Anthony and Cleopatra.
"Well, Ollin!'
''You, Allan?"
These two greetings, the former ut
tered in calm, deliberate tones, the lat
ter in accents of keen anazement,
broke the silence Simultaneously; then
the newcomer, with curious blending
of expressions in his countenance,
stepped forward hastily, and grasping
North's hand continued in the same, in
credulous tones:
'Allan North! Well, by all that's as
tonishing, how came you here? I
never should have dreamed of such a
thing! Here in X, and at Mrs. May
nard's! How does it come? What
does it mean? Speak, some one, and ex-
plain this MYSTERY
What does it mean?' echoed Mrs.
Maynard excitedly, as she looked from
one to the other in growing perplexity.
"You are the very same-and yet not
the same! What strange mystery,
what wonderful coincidence, what un-
fortunate complication can this be?"
sit is simply, Mrs. Maynard" inter
''the closing scene of the little comedy
of errors that we have been playing; or
perhaps my brother will be disposed to
call the piece My Double, and How He
.Undid Me- Can it be possible, Ollin,"
turning to that gentleman, ''that you
have never told Mrs. Maynard about
your twin brother, and our remarkable
resemblance to each other?"
A quick exclamation fell from Mrs.
Maynard's lips as the first inlkling of the
truth now entered her mind! Before
Ollin could reply to his brothers ques-
ton she exclaimed to Allan:
els it possible that you have been de-
ceiving me- personating your brother?
Oh, dreadful! Why did I not suspect
that there was something wrong? And
yet, you were so like him-and you
knew all about my business affairs-oh,
cannot understand it at all!' and she
stopped short, once more bafned by the
mystery confronting her.
It was now Ollin's turn. His mind
had been rapidly at work during this
little interchange of dialogue between
Allan and Mrs. Maynard, and a very
disturbing train of speculations had
been the result.
''Can it be possible, Mrs. Maynard"
he exclaimed, his counte nance perfect
kaleidoscope of expressions as he looked
anxiously ut her, "that you have mis-
taken my brother for mcs''
The question, the tone, perhaps some
thing in his eyes as they looked elo-
quently into hers, conveyed whole vol
umes of enlightenmentto Mrs. Maynard.
The misunderstanding of the past few
3 y