Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-02-27
CHAPTER xuL-Coxrrxuxo

Weeks passed. Elsie was still with
Mrs. W1ders. The pleasant harmony
OF the pretty home had brought the
colcr back to her cheeks and elasticity
to her steps, but Mile was in trouble
about her young friend for all that.
The fact was she was mystified, and as
she could not read the puzzle jumped
like woman to wrong conclusion.
Elsie Whitford was receiving letters
letters from distance, which she read
In her chamber and never discussed
even with her bosom friend; ergo, this
young woman argued, she is correspond
ing surreptitiously with some man,
and who could that man be but Frank
Grey? And the good little creature was
considerably harassed by the dis
covery.
Yet that very night Elsie spoke.
''Millie," she said, 81 want to tell You
a secret"
Mrs. Wilders' eyes flashed suspicion
at once.
"a secret, Elsie?" she asked, coldly.
eyes, dear; and want you to prom
ise that you'll never breathe it to iv-
ing SOUL
"Well-er-that sounds very mystic
rious."
''Wisl you pronise?"
''No!"
'What! cannot understand you
rightly" Elsie's big eyes looked won
deringly as though she could not have
caught the meaning of the emphatic
monosyllable.
snow, Elsie, may ask You a ques-
tion?" Mrs. Wilders gravely asked.
''Why certainly-of course"
"You were great friends with Mr..
Gregg"
''Ah, yes, indeed. but those happy
days are passed"
''You thought great deal of him?"
''How could help it? So good, so
generous, SO self-denying. Mile, 1
owe him more than words can tell. He
no appreciation of the good and eauti-
full, no taste for books, no care for self
improvement, no ambition. He left
me"
"Head over heels in love with him."
laughed Mile. ''That's the worst of
handsome young men with taste for
literature"
Elsie's head dropped and crimson
blush SufuSed her cheeks.
81 think did love him." she sighed.
ssDid!"
'Well, then, do love him-to me he
is king, prince, a demigod."
my gracious goodness! What piece
of intiamma BILE tow the child isl
''And what is your question, Millie?"
''Is a very simple one. Have You
heard from Mr.. Grey since he left Ore
town?"
Il heard from him! No, indeed, he
has long ago forgotten me. What
could such a man as he see in a girl
like me to keep me in his memory,
much less to trouble himself to write"
''If he Were not as stupid as an owl
he would have seen one of the sweet
est girls that mans eyes ever rested on.
So you have never heard from hirn?"
''Not q word"
Then, dearest Elsie, the clouds are
cleared away. and can keep your Sc
ccct, that is, if may share it with
Jack"
THAT is Of course. Do you think,
you stupid, that ever fancied you could
keep 4 secret from Jack?''
"Wcn, now for the mystery-I do
like mysteries"
do you remember, Mile. the two
ladies who stayed week at our house
Z year ago-the strangers from New
York, who owned so many shares in the
Buffalo rlinc?"
''Oh, yes; they captivated Jack. and
he gave them a lot of mineral speci-
mczs."
well, they took quite a fancy to
l. 10
strong an objection, would have taken
nc back 20 New York with them then"
''Ah. and you have been correspond
ing with theU-I see it all"
L have. have asked them to OFFER
ne n temporary home"
''Elsie Whitford!''
what else could 1 do? Misunder-
stood by father and mother, prosecuted
by Il scoundrel with whom they are in
fatuated, what resource have left?"
This is very serious, Elsie. Have
you the means to go-but that is a sec
ondary consideration, for, of course,
Jack"
Thanks, dear friend. but have no
6esig1son Jacks generosity. To-day
received from Mrs. Baxter draft for
the expense of the journey and e loving
renewal of her Offers"
Surely. Elsie, this great New York
lady cannot be conniving at your leav-
ing your home surreptitiously?"
There's the trouble. You see said
in ny letter that I was suddenly de-
prived of the care of my natural pro-
tectors, and 1 sadly fear she labors I'M
der the delusion that they are dead"
Naturally"
''What must do? will not remain
at home"
There was stern resolution in the
young voice.
why, stay with US, of course"
NO, Mile, it cannot be. A yearn-
ing for change of life and scene
burns in ne like a fever. have long
ings, aspirations-ah, you cannot un-
derstand."
''Wen, you'll at least consult Jack"
81 will"
And Jack promptly decided that
whatever Elsie said or did was right,
and that the Whitfords, who had made
her miserable for that lop-eared seal
awag, Dodd," deserved no considera-
ton from sensible people; however,