Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-08-05

IT was a drowsy midsummer aft
ernoon, and even in Newport,
where Il strong breeze from the ocean
tempered the suns heat. it was a DAY
for laziness, iced drinks and airy cos
tunes. In the library Of Mr.. MarshalI's
.arge house two young men were spend
ing an hour in letter-writing. or. more
strictly speaking, George Marshall was
lictating letter which his friend,
Harry Spencer, was rapidly transfer
ring to paper. Just two weeks before
hat particular July day George Mar
shall had been thrown from his horse
and had broken his arm. and for that
ength of time his friend, who was Wis
iting him, had undertaken his CORE
spondence.
1t was a very ardent love letter he was
so rapidly writing, full of expressions
Of deep. undying affection, of Iover-likc
devotion, commencing: My own dar-
ling Marguerite" and assuring that
iamsel of never-to-be-ended adora-
tion.
II wouldn't dare dictate that letter
to you," George said.afte one especially
ardent passage, 'if you were not spoony
Yourself"
That's all right" was the reply
well, I am living only on the hope
Of meeting you in few weeks what
next?"
Il guess that's all. Four pages of de-
Sotion is enough for anybody in this
weather"
las usual Yours devotedly.'" said
Harry. and presently tossed the letter
TO his friend to read while he direct
ed the envelope to Miss Marguerite
Harris"
But a few moments later a roar OF
laughter from his friend made him look
up in great amazement.
''It is too good" George gasped; ''Tvc
half mind to send it. Rita will think
she has new admirer. Lookl"
And Harry looked to see that in mo-
ment of abstraction he had signed the
flaming epistle with his own name, and
where he had intended to put George
Marshall" his own bold signature.
Henry c. Spencer" was at the foot of
the last page.
With an exclamation of wrath at his
own stupidity he crushed the letter in
his strong hand and tossed it into the
waste paper basket.
"Oh!" George cried, ''you might have
copied it"
signature and all? Come, begin
Sgain. The envelope is all ready"
Let it wait. I'm used up-exhaust-
ed. You can write your own love letter
while take a nap. BY the way, where's
Miss Campbell?"
''I don't know; travelling"
Don't know? 1 thought you had a
letter to-day"
$50 l did. That was from Conway,
and she expected to leave the day it was
written, and did not know where her
aunt would go next. 1t is the one aim
of her aunt's life to prevent our mar
riage, and she is trotting Emmeline all
over creation this summer, and trying
to prevent my writing to her by not al
lowing her to stay in one place long
enough to write and receive reply So
[ hear from her, but can but seldom
write, and never with any certainty
that my letter will reach Emmeline.:'
"But, Harry, for goodness sake, what
does her aunt want? You are as rich
us she is, in a good practice in law, mod
crately good-looking, as men go, and
without vice. as they say about
horses"
"Thanks!" said Harry, bending in a
low bow a face and figure so preemi-
nently handsome that his friends mod
erately good looking" was an evident
sarcasm. You are too goodl What
Miss Campbell wants, since you inquire
is to keep her niece single as long as
possible. because while she is with her
az chaperon. protector, guardian
whatever you call her position, she en-
lows all the advantages of Emmeline's
wealth, and has handsome salary al
lowed by her guardian. When Emme-
line marries she will no longer need her
aunt's services. and that lady will retire
to her native country village and small
income"
But why does not Miss Emmeline as
sert herself"
''My dear fellow, you do not remem-
Der her-that is very evident. She is
the most gentle, timid little woman
who was ever under the thumb of
stronger one. She has been brought up
so strictly, has had the habit of I'M
questioning obedience SO drilled into
her, that she will never rebel against
authority. Whel | am near her, my
will is the one to which she submits.
When I am away she is her aunt's
slave. But she will be of age in Oc-
kober, and then she has promised TO
mary me-"