Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-03-18

Is famous junction of ways.
About II o'clock on a certain Angus
morning the weary traveller was rep
resented by young lady, who wal
struggling up the stony track, carry
ing on her back solid red-haired boy
who appeared to have an excellent pail
of legs of his own, with which from
time to time he kicked her vigorously
"Oh, Tommy, dear" she demonstrated
''your poor horse is doing her best
Please don't beat her"
Perhaps you will allow me to re,
1ieve you?" said q pleasant voice be,
side her, and, turning her head, she
found that she had been overtaken BY
bronzed, bIack-bearded man riding
a stout Bhootia pony.
Nay, nay!" objected the boy, in a
shri9, peevish voice. Nay, nay, nay
mungta" don't want).
THANK you very much,'' gasped the
lady, suddenly sitting down on the
bank and dePositing Tommy cooIie
fashion, Il shall get on all right
but, Tommy, you really must let me
rest for few minutes"
She was slight and fair and young
though her face had lost the look OF
youth. 1t was a face from which all
light and mirth and hope and color had
been erased by care and climate.
\ lady unquestionably, and too young
to be the mother of that great, selfish
sack, who, with his arms clasped about
her throat, was glaring truculently over
her shoulder.
- i ~,
as he followed, leading his steed.
He had been on n shooting trip into
Thibet, had parted that morning with
his two soldier companions, who were
fastening to rejoin their regiment.
This girl staggering up the hill before
him was the first European woman he
had seen for three months.
Just before sunset there was a great
hustle at the bungalow, a commotion
among the servants, betokening an inn
portant arrival. Two ladies had APP
peared-followed by a whole cloud of
coolies. One rode n pony, the other
occupied dandy, piled with red silk
cushions, borne by four gay jampan
ueis. and carried in her lap black dog.
The veranda was soon stacked with
chairs, tiffin baskets, boxes and an air
of vitality and luxury seemed suddenly
to overwhelm the entire premises The
lady who stepped out of her dandy,
giving rapid orders in vile Hindoostani,
was a tall, fair. good-looking woman,
with long, horse-like face, and quick,
imperious manners.
The stranger promptly recognized
her as Mrs Eliot Passingham- Ten
wears ago, when an impecunious sub
aItern, he had been Tilted by her cousin!
Her present companion was a dark girl
of about five and twenty, with pair OF
restless black eyes and a bright color,
who would have been handsome but for
her thin lips and expression of rooted
discomfort. She began patroling the
Seranda.
And how is my own darling cherub,
Gny angel, my goldy lOcks?" cried his
mother, as Tommy precipitated him.
self into her open arms.
u want my things unpacked, COM
piained Lila. II want to get into tea
gown. Where Is that creature. Jones?
Why is she not here?'
Jones! Jones!" called Mrs. Passing
ham, imperatively. and the girl in
stantly appeared. carrying tea tray
I've been getting you some tea" she
explained
We'll, we'll, put that down, and do,
for goodness sake, hurry up those
coolies and get my box open. And
here-come and pull my Snats OIL" Sc
saying, sac staiked into her own par
ticuIar mole % den.
So that pale, Iadylike girl was Flor
.nce Passingham' maid.
The sisters dined on the veranda,
as did also the traveller. They drank
champagne and made merry and the
girl with the boots" as he mentally
termed her, lad every reason 70 be