Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-11-21

tion?' he demanded, his face flushing
wrathfully.
"Well, IL believe Ed Purcell spoke
of it in the first place."
ed PurcelI!" Tom rose to his feet
as though he would annihiliate the alb
sent object of his wrath. Then he sat
down with a smothered laugh. 1.-THE
mean liar! He don't know the first
thing of what have been doing. You
didn't believe him, Cordelia?'
She looked distressed.
"How could 1 help it, Tom?" she fall
tered. ed said he had letters from
you off and on, and didn't suppose he
would tell story" Then, with an eff
fort to change the subject: ibid YOU
bring your family along?"
"Family?"
Eyes; your wife and children?"
He gazed sharply at her for moment
to see if she was in earnest, then he
threw himself back in his chair with a
sudden burst of laughter.
did Ed tell you that?" he asked, rs
soon as he could get his breath. ''Well,
he's a dandy, he is. And did you believe
it 80
She did not answer. but he could see
from her changing countenance and
averted eyes that she had believed it.
Look here, Cordelia." he said, alb
ruptIy, what do you suppose l came
back for?"
ITO look around-to see your rela-
lions, perhaps" she answered, hesitat-
ingly.
MY relations are all out west.
Father and brother Jake went there
soon after l did. No, it was on account
of this" taking a small slip of paper
from his pocket and handing it to her.
Jake takes the home paper, and some
times / look it over. Last week hap
pened to see this item. Read it,
She did SO, mechanically.
I'VE understand that our esteemed fell
low-townsman, Paul Hackett, has OBJ
tanned a lucrative position in the city. and
that he will soon depart for the scene of his
future labors. This will leave his sister.
Miss Cordelia. to keep house alone"
81 don't see much in that" she said,
as she handed back the paper.
well, do. Anyhow. it brought me
here" His voice had grown low and in
tense, and his gaze was so eager that
her own fell beneath it. Listen, Cor
della. When l was returning that
night, after 1 had gone home with SUI
Gle Adams, met Ed Purcell. l felt
more like pitching him into the bushes
than talking, but the fellow was SC
friendly and soft-spoken that l was
obliged to stop through mere civility
He spoke about the weather and the
party, and then told me that you and
he were engaged. l never liked the
scamp, but 1 didn't suppose he would
tell a lie. The next day started west
Cordelia was standing now, her face
flushed and her eyes blazing.
'Engaged-to Ed Purcell!" she
gasped. "Oh, Tom! you didn't believe
that?"
How could 1 help to" he answered,
grimly. repeating her words of few
minutes before. II didn't suppose ne
would tell story" Then all the anger
and grimness left his face, and as he
held out his arms the tenderness of
IL years repression came TREMENDOUSLY
into his voice: '.Cordelia, darling, will
you go back with me?"
She made a shy step forward, then
hesitated.
There's John and the children" she
said.
s.Bother John and the children! Hes
well-to-do and can find somebody else
to look after them. Will you Gomez"
The flush grew deeper on her face,
but her voice was clear and firm as she
answered:
Eyes, Tom!"-N. 7. Ledger.