Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-11-04

sick and sorrowful child.
MY darling! my darIingi II could
only take it away from youI"
You see it never could be as-as you
wish it" she says, dropping her face
II never could give another nan what
gave him And he never viii know It
now, or know I'm sorry-but that is my
punishment. Jack. don't talk about I
to me-" she breaks of, drawing her
hands from his with a sudden SILVER of
pain. Its all hopeless and over and
done with, and / shall never care for
myself again, whether I live or die; but
do care for you, dear, and want to
help you, if you'll let me; if you show
me the way to make some one living
creature little happier or better be-
cause of me-"
Her voice and her eyes are full of
tears, but he does not seem to see or
hear them.
Help me! It's no use, little cousin -
he says, bitterly. No use fighting the
devil, for he was born in me-it's in my
blood. Ethel grasping her hand back
again in his, ''if ever said prayer. it
wouldn't be for my own worthless soul,
but for you-for your God to bless you,
my darling, and bring you back your"
Then Jack Dangerfield's voice gets
stihed in his throat. and thewords halt.
He cannot bring his lips to say your
lover
There is a soft roll of carriage wheels
outside in the night; Mrs. Dangerfeld
is coming from her ball.
AS Ethel hears it, she springs up; and,
so doing. gives little cry as something
falls flashing from her dress and rolls
on the carpet.
MY Iocket!-oh, take care!" for Jack
steps aside quickly-too quickly.
The little blue-and-gold toy that he
has seen every day round her neck lay
just at his feet, and his boot-heel has
crushed it as Ethel cries out to him.
He drops on one knee to pick it up.
by Jove! I'm sorry-I didn't see it.
It's too bad. I'm awfuIly sorry, Ethel" "
What had Mr.. Dangerfeld discovered
= name inside the golden circlet, and
the small colored likeness of a mans
face-a comely face enc ugh, blue-eyed
and fair, and full of right royal pride.
His eyes rest greedily on it for a sec
ond, and then flush up into hers. They
ask a single question, and they have
their answer.
"Give it to mel" cries Ethel, hurriedly,
the blood rushing hotly to her face.
''Oh, let me go! Don't let them find me
here"
He let her go. There is no more now
to ask or hear. And when the night KEY
rattles in the lock, and Mrs. Danger
field and her daughters troop rustling
into the hall, they see Jack standing
alone in the parlor, lighting a cigar as
he leans against the mantelpiece, star
ing at the mirrors faithful reflection
of his nonchaIant, handsome face.
Jack, have you any engagement for
Tuesday neXt?"
a positive one, my dear sister," Jack
answers, decidedly.
Il should like to know"
''Where it is? On the Union Pacific
railroad. By Tuesday next 1 devoutly
hope to be steaming across the CONT
nent"
Jack Dangerfeld, what do you
mean?" cry three voices in chorus.
THAT I'm tired of the customs of the
east, and intend to shake the dust of
this section, in particular, off my feet,
please God, the day after Tomorrow"
Going back? Why. you haven't been
home three months from San-Fran-
cisco!"
Judge of the Juggling at my heart
strings that draws me that way after so
brief an absence"
Mr.. DangerfeId rises deliberately,
then straightens up his six feet of come
ly proportion, and then looks down in
his listless, half scornful fashion at the
wondering faces of his family.
As he looks, his eye catches Ethel's.
shade paler. and he gnaws his mus
tache savagely.
Its very extraordinary" begins the
elder Miss Dangerfield.
Il leave you to con it at your leisure, -
her brother interrupts, coolly. Il have
the proud satisfaction of knowing that,
for once in my life, my movements meet
your full and exact appreciation"
With which last speech he turns and
walks out of the room; and he has not
heard one word from Ethel, either of
wonder or remcnstrance or simply curl
osity.
So Jack Dangerfield, according to his
suddenly matured plan, goes steaming
across the continent. Nobody is very
sorry that he is gone-eXcept his
Cousin Ethel. perhaps-who misses the
kindly, gentle courtesies of this good
for-nothing. and finds a blank where
she had seen his dark. comely face,
with its bitter, unmistakable stamp of
safety.
Now that he is fairly ont of New Ynrl,