Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-10-20

OF tourists darkened the yestibule.
"We want to climb the tower" ex-
claimed a voice. Antonio bowed.
''If MILFORD would follow-this way"
But the party hesitated. Miss Had
don, who looked quite ill. begged to
be allowed to rest in the church,
whereupon Lord Templeton decided to
remain with her. But Miss Haddon
persuaded them to leave her, and sent
him "a most unwilling deserter) with
them. As they disappeared around an
angle of the building, Laura Haddon
was startled to observe Antonio gestic-
ulating to her behind the backs of her
friends. Helplessly she stared at him.
not comprehending his strange be-
havior. He darted back and hurriedly
whispered: The father is there, mi
ladi!' indicating the confessional box,
and then rejoined his charges.
When quiet was restored. Laura
arose and knelt at the place indicated
to her.
Hesitatingly she began: Good
father-I am not of your faith-but /
need your counsel-help me if you
can!" And in a low voice she laid her
burden before the patient, unseen
counselor.
A white, CHASTITY face-full of evil
dences of suppressed pain, rested
against the inner side of the veiled
aperture. The voice of the cure was
cold, hard and tremulous, given under
effort.
She thought: ssHe is an old man
he will therefore understand me bet
ter
And, you say my child, this man
loved you aud ye plighted your troth ?"
"Yes, father"
''And you sent him away, my child?"
Yes" with sob.
'Why-what had he done?"
II tn ought had been told, that
he-he was untrue to me-and sent
him away in anger"
Miss Haddon heard sigh behind
the veil. He is weary" she thought,
''poor old priest" Then the hard,
quavering voice resumed.
Yet you tell me. he was true man
worthy of your love. How know you
this?"
Laura clasped her hands over her
agitated bosom.
80 believe me, father! He acaS
true-he was most honorablei That is
the pity of it! And l loved him so!
l loved him so! And it was l who did
the wrong in doubling him.
Surely the old priest must be tired
of it all-how wearily he sighed.
ssAnd now-my child?"
'.They ask me-to wed another-a
man whom most women would gladly
honor. And they are all so kind to me
friends, all-yet how can l
how dare I marry-while l still love
the one have so cruelty wronged P"
Stay, my child! where is this 9TH
er? Has he returned? If he were
true and loyal would not he have come
and set himself right before you? Why
did he fail to come? Where his loyal
ty-his manliness?n But a sob is his
only reply.
More gently he asks:
Tell me, dear child, why?"
'.Because-I have thought-and do
think he may be dead"
Good old father-how wisely he
leaves her to mourn in silence. Then, |
after while, his voice, unsteady but
sweet and gentle, comes from that cur
tanned recess:
"Then-go thy way in peace, my
dear child-with my blessing. Yes
he is dead! No other cause could seal
his lips-you are free-he is dead
dead"
There is clatter of footsteps and |
Laura Haddon has barely time to glide !
into a pew when the tourists descend |
into the aisles. Sir Charles leads her |
away with many solicitations, and soon
the little church is wrapt in silence,
after the footsteps of the retreating |
visitors have receded. Long banners |
Of crimson, green and purple stream
across the chancel floor and tremble |
n prismatic splendor in the tawdry |
crown of the Virgin in the Eastern |
aisle An instant the colors flash upon
he cassock of the pale young priest
who glides toward the chancel. He
stoops aud inds-a glove, where the |
woman has been kneeling.
..Laura!" A life time of agony
'reighted the low cry.
One moment more and his lips would |
have touched it.
But it drops to the floor with little
sound. The cures white
brow is turned heavenward, and st.
Elizabeth and the blessed ones alone
zee how he doth bury the dead.
L