Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-03-11
SONG WITHOUT WORDS.
By JOSEPH S. ROGERS.

There is disconsolate air about her
as she sits near the window, looking out
upon the broad expanse of prairie COW
cred with deep snow.
She is dressed in a tightly-fitting trav-
cling suit of gray broadcloth, with a
high collar of dark, rough cloth Her
hat is a dainty little makeup of black
velvet and graceful feathers. A small
clutter of white lace, peeping out from
beneath the crown, lends soft light to
her calm countenance and deepens the
shade of her dark auburn hair. Her
wistful eyes are OF such deep, intense
blue that in certain lights they seem al
most black.
She has thrown her sealskin cloak on
che seat in front of her. where also rests
her satchel. By her side lies a novel
opea-wise; and on the window sill
bunch of tioIets.
She is Thoughtful, and the dismal land
scape she gazes upon serves neither to
dampen nor reanimate her spirits, for
-Ahe sees it not; and it is all one to her
whether the train be snowbound or
speeding swiftly on toward it's destina-
tiOn. Her mind is filed with other
images and impressions. The gay sea-
son which Lent had just ended so cruel
lE-its balls and its theaters, its teas
and receptions-these hold her
thoughts. Her conquests, her social
-triumphs-the homage she has won
from men and the envy she has evoked
from the women-are the subject of the
many pictures that fit before her mind.
And the deepest and kcenest of all is the
thought that now she is leaving all
these, homeward bound, where there
awaits her-sackcloth and ashes, and
fasting and prayer. What a change!
She languidly signs and turns from the
window. She picks up the novel, me-
chemically reads a page, and then be-
gins staring blankly at the last line, for
the sound of the 'twostep" rings in her
ears and the whirl of the dance is before
her again.
He boards the train at Helena. As he
passes up the aisle he casts careless
glance at the form of the young lady,
who, with dainty handkerchief across
her face, had long since fallen asleep.
He shrugs his shoulders and passes on
to the seat directly in front of his fair
slumberer. Here, after the porter has
deposited his luggage, he begins to
his great coat, hangs his hat on the rack,
draws a paper from his pocket, sits
down, and begins thinking.
''Well, here 1 am at last. 1t will be
deuced long time before I'll see any
of the girls of Helena again. 1 wonder
what this one behind me looks like?
Not much for beauty, I'll wager; other
wise she wouldn't have covered up her
face. Girls are queer creatures any
way. Now. we'll see what the news is"
He stretches himself out in the seat,
"opens his paper, and begins reading
just as the young lady awakes with a
start. She snatches the handkerchief
from her eyes and looks about her in a
half dazed fashion. Seeing the top of
the newcomers head, she wonders
where he came from. Then, consulting
her watch:
Half past two! All, understand;
we must have passed through Helena
while I was asleep. How stupid of me!
He boarded the train there, suppose.
1 wonder what he looks like. Horrid
of him to show nothing but the top of
his head above the top of that seat.
do know something about palmistry,
but phrenology, pshawi He's keeping
mighty still; l wonder if he's gone to
sleep. No; there's the corner of paper.
He's reading reading all about the
brutal prize tight, I'm sure; men are
ouch horrid creatures"
She picks up the novel and turns the
leaves languidly.
He rests the paper on his knee and
assumes listening attitude.
s'Humph! awake at last, and reading
that yeIlow-covered literature 1 saw on
the seat by her side. The Duchess, or
Sarah Grand! Sweet stories, so full OF
feeling and pathos,' they say"
He clasps his hands behind his head.
She lowers the novel and
well, there's an addition. They are
right large-nails well kept-gentle-
manly instinct. Finger-ends square
determination. Large knuckles-man-
nal labor Pshaw! how in the world
am 1 to tell anything about him from
his nails and his knuckles? How stupid
of me to sleep so long!"
She removes her hat and smoothes
back her hair.
II look a fright, I'm sure. There,
he's stirring!"
She seizes the novel and Immediately
becomes absorbed.
He sits up. "Tantalizingl I've just
got to see what she looks like, that's
all there is about it. I'll rise up and
toke that newspaper from my overcoat
pocket"
He rises and, as he reaches for the
paper, carelessly looks down the aisle.
She lowers the book and quite I'M
cOncernedly looks up.
Their eyes meet for second; then he
sits down.
'Gadl she's as fine as sikh"
"My. isn't he lovely!"
'What a formi"
"How tall, and dark. and manly!"
Slime color. Wonder if it's natuRal?"
ct would love to know what he is.
Those checkered trousers are a little
loud."
"she's as cold as an iceberg. though,
TIL bet.''
Hell be speaking to me next III
have obe verv circumspect"