Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-03-04
THE Wears DAUGHTER.

Cyril Hardinge entered his West End
chambers about one a. IN. ina very self
satisfied frame of mind. Previous to
that evening fortune had treated him
in none too generous fashion, but now
the tickle goddess, seemingly repentant,
had made amends by placing fame and
fortune well within his grasp. His
three-act up-to-date society play had
been received by London audience
in style never anticipated by the au-
thor, and when, in response to the re-
peated calls of the, enthusiastic theater-
goers, ne stepped before the curtain and
bowed mis- Acknowledgements, he felt
that the hour of triumph had arrived.
Al! recollections of his previous fail
ures faded from his memory, and his
life seemed to date only from that mo-
ment. Being possessed of moderate
income, he had never fel1 the, pinch of
being hard up, and had met his numer-
Gus reverses with commendable forti-
tude. But now, all the, world was at
his feet; his name was made, his fu-
ture productions would be eager
ly sought after, and, consequently, the
glow of pride which suffused his whole
frame was pardonable. After the play,
he had received the congratulations of
a number of men whose names were
foremost in the literary world; men
not actuated by any feelings of petty
jealousy, but men who resolutely en-
cOuraged any promising aspirant to i'm
mortal fame.
On entering his room he turned up
the lights, and not feeling any inclina-
ton to retire, he casually took down
a large tobacco jar from the mantel-
piece and proceeded to load an old
brier. Throwing himself into an easy
chair, he lit his pipe, and, with extend
ed limbs, pulled clouds of pale blue
smoke toward the ceiling. He. was a
young fellow of about 80, and not af-
fecting the mannerism of others of
his cult, wore dark beard trimmed in
the style immortalized by the genius
of Van Dyke, a fact which made him
look considerably older than he really
was.
A mass of thick black hair accentu-
ated the pallor of his clearly-cut face
face cold, reserved and dignifed, and
one which revealed to the close OBJ
server much OF it's possessor's life story.
1t showed that it's owner had seen times
of trouble, times when the very heart
seemed to be knocked out of the man
times when his only companion was
gloomy despair; but the shape of the
mouth revealed the man who. by sheer
force of character had risen superior
to the trials, which fate had. imposed
upon him.
As he sat there, consoled by the
soothing charms of the goddess Nico-
tina, his thoughts were of a decidedly
pleasant nature. He had achieved sue
cess-achieved it when young.
And yet, look of intense and pas
sionate longing occasionally crept
across his face. Did past memories
trouble him, or did he vainly endeavor
to look into the dim future? He sat
and smoked for some time, and then his
eya rested ON the. table by his side,
on which lay an envelope addressed to |
him. He took it up in a listless fashion |
and lazily scrutinized it. He saw that |
it had been written by a female hand. |
and had not been through the post, and |
he therefore concluded that it had been |
left by a caller. He broke it open, and |
read the following epistle:
Dear Sir:-Please pardon the liberty /
take in writing to you. 1 have just wit |
messed the great success of your play. You |
have now made your name and will be |
much sought after. WIN you grant me the /
privilege OF interviewing you? / am en- |
deayoring to set my foot upon the first |
rung of the literary ladder, but so far have /
not met with success. am not connected
with any paper, but feel conhdent that the |
report of an interview with you would
he accepted. I shall call tomorrow in or
der 10 learn your decision. Yours very
truly, -
ANNIE RALEIGH"
Hardinge read the communication
with much interest, but never looked
Mt the signature. He put the letter on
one side, pressed down the tobacco in
his pipe and between whiffs mutt
tered:
Poor girl, no success-well, surely
An the hour OF my triumph can do
some one a good turn-call tomorrow
.umph, reserving, too-well, well-I
hate to be bored-and by n woman,
too-however, 1 think I'll see her-I
wonder who she is p and he took up the
letter again
Annie RaIeigh!" he cried. Good
surely tbs not-no, it can
not be-she is married long ago, and
somewhere in the country
long ere this; but what q curious CO.
incidence"
The name seemed TO have wrought a
flood of "reminiscences, and with dreamy
eyes he coniured up scene of many
wears back when he was the happy
lover of a young girl of Is. His mind
rambled for some time among those
DAVIS of long ago. and at length he rose
aud opened cabinet standing on his
dressing table. He rooted out bundle
of old letters. and from among them
took out -slightly-faded photograph.
n was a phgto of young lady, attired !