Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-03-04

pTcSSeu lips TeNedIeu Cnc dSOuS VI bhC
/ soul within.
When he arose from his chair and
went to bed it was four a. m.
"a lady wishes to see you, sir"
Hardinge was seated at his table with
a pile of ''dailies' before him, studying
with immovable face the press notices
of his play. Lifting his eyes for mo-
ment, he briefly exclaimed: "Ah! what
name!"
He took the piece of pasteboard hand
ed to him, and the color rose to his pale
face as he read the old familiar name.
every well, tell the lady I'll see her.
Show her up"
Curious" he soliloquized, none of
these criticisms can raise the slightest
emotion, but that name" and he
stopped.
A few moments later the lady en-
tered, and as he turned to greet her
caught sight of her face.
GOOD heavens!" he gasped, '' it's An
mel" and then he became cool again.
He offered her a chair, and, seeing
that she was at loss as to how she
should commence, opened the CONVEX
sation.
$50, Miss Raleigh, you wish to inter
view me-"
'"I am afraid I cannot adequately ex-
press my sense of gratitude" she re-
piled, with sweet smile, which caused
his heart to bound again; you are in
deed too kind"
well, am afraid you have chosen
rather a poor subject" said Hardinge;
you see 1 am hardly yet a celebrity,
but if I can assist you in any way 1
sLall only be too pleased. Cross-exam-
ire me as you like, for, as you know, it
will be quite novel experience, as far
as I am concerned"
THANK you. But, Mr.. Hardinge,
really don't know how to commence. 1
suppose I had better jot down a few
particulars about your surroundings,
etcetera"
She took out a notebook and a pen
ell, and, as she bent forward to write.
Hardinge carefully scrutinized her.
She was still the same sweet girl he had
loved. True, she looked older, and a
great deal more serious. giving him the
impression that her life had not alto
gether been cast in pleasant places.
81 wonder how she came TO this" he
thought. Her husband must either be
= wastrel, or he must be dead. and in
taking up literature she mas gone back
to her maiden name. All. we'll; 1 sup
pose I ought to feel highly delighted to
see one who scOrned me brought TO this
state; but upon my word l don't. Nv
heart goes out to her again. How I
should like to know what has happened
during the last eight or nine years; and,
as Providence has placed the oppor-
tCnity in my power, 1 will make a bold
effort to fathom all before she leaves"
The interviewer looked up, and in
rather beseehing tone said:
mfr. Hardinge. l have very crude ideas
as to how I should go about this inter
view. L wish you would give me few
details about yourself, your work and
methods, and then perhaps I could lot
down a few particulars. which 1 could
weave together afterward.'
He smiled sadly, and then gave her
the information required. She made
some notes, and then at the conclusion
put away her book, and after thanking
him again, made a movement as if
preparing to depart. Hardinge noted
this, and at his wits end. blurted out.
in desperate fashion:
$50 you are endeavoring TO adopt lit
erature as your profession, Miss Raj |
eigh?"
YES" she replied. ''but l find it very
difficult indeed to get foothoId'
do you write stories? Excuse the |
liberty take, but 1 feel quite an in
terest in YOU"
'oh, thank you. Yes. try my hand
at short story"
well, Miss Raleigh, what do you |
think of this for plot? Do you think |
it could be woven into story? l can |
only give you the incidents as far as l |
know them, so you would have to make |
your own conclusion. Above all, it has |
the merit of being true. Shall give you |
the ineidents?"
IF you would be so kind, 1 should be
extremely grateful"
''Then here you are. By curious CO.
incidence, your name is that of the
heroine, and it is that fact which has
recalled everything TO my mind
Hardinge proceeded with his tale. He
dared not look at his visitor as he re-
went on; perhaps it was
we'll he did not do so, as the indescriba-
Die agony which overspread her features
would have acted upon his chivalrous
Instincts and forced him to stop. But
as he did not look in her direction he
did not notice this, and cruelty COM
menced:
''Some years ago-I forget how many
"a young fellow, who was my chum at
Oxford. spent HIS vacation at Milfield,
a little village in the north. While there
Fred-Fred Cover was his name-met
md fell in love with the wears daugh-
ter, Annie Raleigh. They became en-
gagged. and shortly aiterward he went