Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-01-07

ON giving me doesn't pay for her
breakfast. But I don't mind that;
s1ie hasn't bit of sense, and she
won't isten-that's what annoys me.
John endeaVored unsuccessfulIy to
stem the wrathful recital of woes. In
his desire to scothe her he said exactly
the wrong things. "AlI girls are the
same, / suppose; they like to be indie
pendent / shouldn't worry about it,
IL were you; perhaps she's right, You
see. And of course she knows all sh..
owes you
''She doesn't-that's just what she
doesn't" exclaimed Mrs. Ponder,
aDgrily. Suddenly she lowered her
voice in mysterious whisper. ''No one
knows the truth-no one would have
done what did,
John shrank vaguely from these I'M
sought condolences; there was some
thing dishonest about listening when
Elsa was not present to deny or defend
them.
well, it's no good thinking of what
is past, particularly anything disagree
able, is it, Mrs. Ponder?" he said, gently.
Il dare say Elsa will repay you some
day."
"Ah! but must speak of this, if Elsa
hasn't already" said Mrs. Ponder, shak-
ing her head and assuming her most
tragic and important air. Il think you
ought to know, ifyou're going to marry
her"
what is it?' asked John, rather anx-
iously.
'Elsa's father was thief-he died in
prison, and Mr.. Ponder let me take the
child and bring her up as my own. If
it hadn't been for me she'd have goneto
the workhouse, for she hadn't relation
in the world"
For a moment John sat silent; the
facts startled him. He thought Elsa
should have told him voluntarily when
they became engaged, and he won
dered whether his father would have
to know when he found courage to in
form him of his unsanctioned engage
ment after brief acquaintance.
But he met Mrs. Ponder's curious
glance calmly. Il expect Elsa forgot
to mention it, he said quietly, land it
does not make the slightest difference.
People can't be responsible for their
parents"
To his inexpressible relief Elsa en-
tered as Mrs. Ponder was about to pour
into his unwilling ears the story of the
great jewel robbery that had led to
her fathers arrest and imprisonment.
She had apparently walked off her i'll
humor. Her cheeks were flushed, her
81, L., l.
Johns Outstretched ones.
And what made you come to-day ?"
she asked, taking a small bunch of vio-
lets from her waist belt and fastening
them in his coat.
my dads in town. have to meet
him at six, so 1 called for the ring"
He seized Elsa's busy little hand
Why, what have you done with it?'
Elsa hesitated, glanced round, and
looked rather alarmed. IL must have
left it upstairs" she said, doubtfully.
John was growing impatient, when she
returned with the ring in her hand.
81 have found it, she said, "but you
will be very cross with me. The stone
is not quite secure. I must have loosened
it when cleaned it. Don't wear it till
the diamond is fastened in tightly; but
you needn't trouble to take it to jew
eler. You can pinch it with some of
those horrid little forceps."
why, Elsa, you look as white as a
sheet! I'm not bit vexed about it,"
said John, as he took the ring from
her shaking hand. Elsa put her arms
around his neck and laid her face on
his shoulder. He could feel the rapid
beating of her heart.
81 felt SO frightened" she murmured.
81 thought it was lost"
And even if it were," said John,
smiling, ''it is not worth the roses in
your cheeks"