Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-03-31
The OLD SILVER Trail.
BY MARY E. sncKNEY.
lcopyright 1896. by J. B Lippincoa Col
CHAPTER vII.-CoSrNUED.

Neil passed his hand across his mus
Eache, brushing as it were the smile
which threatened to break into laugh
ter at her feminine simplicity. "And I
am sure also that it would be very much
nicer" he agreed, his tone almost
caressing in its gentleness. 81 only
wish we might settle it so easily; but
am afraid it would take more than my
eloquence to induce your father to see
the matter from my standpoint
''But can you not see how very easily
ne might be deceived?" she anxiously
urged. ''He has not had the manage
ment Of the mine himself; and if any
wrong has been done"
''You do not know how glad it makes
me that you are even willing to admit
the possibility of wrong having been
DONE" he said, as she hesitated-''to
have you of your own accord giving me
the benefit of doubt, Miss Meredith.
You cannot guess how sweet it is to me
to feel that you are a little bit my
friend in the case. Whether 1 lose or
win, 1 shall always like to remember it. y
But you will not listen to any talk
of compromise" she tentatively re-
joined, with a disappointed air.
Pardon me; shall only be too glad
to listen If your father will consent to
such a conference. You must further
pardon me, however, if 1 say that 1 am
not very sanguine as to the results;
though Heaven knows how gladly 1
would tie to any hope that-well, that
would make us friends"
She did not answer anything to this;
and after moment he went to fetch
back his horse, that had wandered too
far, feeding by the" roadside. He
changed che subject as he came back.
And how is your wrist, Miss Mere
dith?" he asked. ut has been on my
mind for several minutes that I should
like to know"
almost perfectly well, thanks. And
that reminds mel told you that L
wanted to apologize"
"And told you that I could not pos
sibly imagine why" smiling broadly at
the idea.
about your handkerchiefsyou know.
I ought to have returned it to you be-
fore this, but the fact is, I did not quite
know how to manage it," looking up at
him with a little, embarrassed laugh,
ner glance shyly falling to her flowers
as she went on. ''You see, 1 did not eS-
plain to papa about meeting you the
other day. II think it is a great
nuisance explaining things"
so it is" he cordially agreed. "And
Tn awfully glad you did not bother
But l have been so worried about
that handkerchief" she laughingly de-
clared. If [ ventured to put It in the
post office, knew that the postmaster
would be discussing with everybody
how it might happen that /, Col. Mere
Jith's daughter, should be sending a
parcel to you; while if sent the boz
who does chores at the hotel to take 1t
TO you-well, you know the landlady's
pecularities, perhaps. She would be
bound to ferret out the mystery or die
in the attempt. If only 1 could have
had premonition that l was to meet
uto-day, so that might have brought
i: with me-"
Gould you not have Premonition
that you would meet me some other
6ay-to-morrow, perhaps?" he daring
l. suggested.
II had thought that might send it
TO you by mail from Denver; but that
would involve some delay" she re-
turned, looking up at him uncertainty.
but would it not be much less trouble
simply to give it to me here?" he urged,
ENORMOUSLY.
You would have the trouble of COM
ing after it." she protested, doubtfully.
He regarded her inquiringly for an
instant, breaking into laugh as he saw
that she was quite in earnest. you are
so coHsiderate!" he exclaimed; but 1
should not mind coming in the least,
and in fact, I shall be going over to
Tomtown tomorrow anyway. If you
could be walking here at about half
past nine in the morning that
be too early for you?"
She rose with a slight accession OF
dignity, an embarrassed flush rising to
her face. Excuse me; l did not say
that I would como here to meet you at
all. I could not, don't you see? 1t
would 1ook-well, it would look odd,
to say the least"
Are you referring to the impression
it might have upon me, may l ask?'
Certainly not; you would under
stand the circumstances; but other peo-
pie"
'.And has Mrs. Grundy, Perchance, Il
country seat in this neck of woods?--I
should never have supposed it," his
glance ranging the rugged heights with
masculine contempt for such argu-
ment However, it must be just as
you say, Miss Meredith. And perhaps
I should ask if you mind my leading my
horse along beside you here?" They
had been lettering down the road with
the last words.
"Oh, no; only" her glance straying
uncertainty to the turn ahead, beyond
which the first cabins of the camp would
be in evidence.
"Only so far may go, but no farther.
All, well, am generally philosophical
enough to believe in the half-loaf
theory, even if / am sometimes auda-
cious enough to ask for more. If we
are not to meet again, I am sorry; but
at least I appreciate my good luck to-
day-you need not think me ungratefGl
for that. AS to the handkerchief
please don't give'it another thought; it
is not of the slightest consequence"
But 1 want you to have it back" she
nervously protested; land do you know,
II has occurred to me- want to ride
over to the little hut where we were III
the storm the other day; left my whip