Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-07-08

BY CLARENCE ROCK.

CYLVIA rose from her seat by the fire
as entered, and gave me her hand;
and from a certain look of conscious
ness in her eyes 1 saw that she knew
that knew
$50 you're back in town at last?" said
Sylvia. ''Have you had tea?"
No. I said, land will, thank you"
Sylvia poured me out cup. ''1To
sugar-and very little milk, isn't itP''
she said.
YES" said. "I've had an excellsnt
time-paddling up and down the I'll
yIera in the sunshine. Glad to get back,
though"
slipped my tea in silence. Sylvia lay
back in her chair, her face half-hidden
by the fan with which she shielded her
complexion from the fire.
"Well2" said Sylvia.
'WeIl?" 1 said.
Don't you think" said Sylvia, that
the occasion requires you to say some
thing ice-and-cousinly. 1 am sure
you've heard"
Eyes" I said, "Tve heard. Aunt
Emma wrote and told me about it as
soon as-well, at least, 1 suppose it was
as soon as BY the way, when was
it?''
when was what?" said Sylvia.
"When did it happen?-when did
you-?"
20, don't be silly, Jim," said Sylvia.
And her foot waggled in the old way.
/ have always noticed that Sylvia's ex-
preston lies in her foot.
az suppose" / said, rehectively, stir
ring my tea Unto which Sylvia had put
sugar., that it did happen. He did
propose. Or did your"
Jim, you're horrid," said Sylvia.
please may have some bread and
. butter?'' said. "You can't get bread
and butter on the Riviera-at least, you
don't"
Sylvia handed it to me. Her eyes
flashed pathetic entreaty.
al ought to have said was pleased.
oughtn't 1? And that / am sure you
will be very happy, as you deserve to
be-"
well, aren't you pleased?" asked
Sylvia, looking at me curiously with
arched eyebrows. II thought Edgar
was such friend of yours, and well,
we have always been"
''You call him Edgar-how curious"
I murmured. "Now have known
him for years and never called him
anything but Jones; while you have
only known him-how long? A year ?
Less, l should think. And yet you"
Its not a question of time, at all, /"
said Sylvia, turning her face away from
me again. Edgar and know one an
Other-thoroughly.W We have no secrets
from each other. You may get to know
q person quite as we'll in two months as
in two years if only"
Quite so. Very proper" 1 replied,
wondering vaguely what was Jones'
notion of a secret.
We'll, but why aren't you pleased -
said Sylvia. I'm sure you're not-and
think it's little-a little unkind of
more comfortably in her chair, "of
course il doesn't matter-much."
Not much 1 replied, putting down
my teacup; nevertheless, you can
scarcely expect a man to be overioyed
when he loses his best friend-and-his
best cousin. Can your"
Loses them!" said Sylvia "what do
you mean?"
81 have always noticed said. that
I lose more friends by marriage than by
death"
"But you don't suppose" began
Sylvia.
IF my friend is man." continued,
This wife dislikes me because know
more of her husband than she does"
How absurd" said Sylvia.
"And If my friend is a woman 1
continued, "her husband is just a shade
Jealous because he suspects that have
been making love to her."
How silly!" said Sylvia, shifting inn
patiently I'm her chair.
The worst of it is" proceeded,
that they are both right-as rule.
In this particular case"
Jim" exclaimed Sylvia, bringing an
expressive foot down upon the hearth
rug, ''if you've only come back 70 be
horrid-'