Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-02-02

When Miss Wynne read mis- adver-
tisenent, she betook herself to her
room and INDUCED in "a good cry
Her friendship with George had been
SO intimate, so long, so much part of
her life, that she had been content to
glide peacefully along in the old pleas
ant relations without ever particularly
asking herself whether she would some
day become his wife. But now, when
she found herself face to face with the
possibilities of public lottery-with
only one chance in hundred (and she
could scorn to take even thatD she felt
almost that she had been fool for not
availing herself of the privilege of the
last leap year and asking this man to
that she loved him.
Of course, she knew it was all nom
sense to think of asking man TO marry
her, even in leap year. And still-and
still-she might have done differently!
| She might have been little more re-
served, little less matter of fact, lit
! tie more coy, little less of the good
| fellow"-and so other things, minus
and plus, in her relations with George.
| And from that moment her interest in
the church fair languished.
1t CHANGED that DIR. Montgomery met
Miss Wynne coming out of her fathers
house one morning some ten days after
the public announcement of the lottery.
He gave her his customary courteous
and stately salutation. and said:
not looking quite so we'll as usual. I
hope you are not working too hard for
the fair"
mo, DOCTOR" Miss Wynne replied,
coldly; 81 have not been doing any
thing at all for it the last few days
"Ah! that is right. 1 am sure you
have done great deal for us already.
l don't know how TO thank you and so
many other ladies for the great interest
you have taken in the dear church; and
especially you, Miss Wynne, for your
very novel proposal of the lottery. We
are getting great many applications
for tickets. / thought now-yes, l
once thought But 1 have not seen
your name among those of the fair ap-
plicants."
"Oh! Oh! Go away-go away, sir!
1 wish 1 had never seen you-you and
your nasty old owl housed"
The worthy doctor was abashed at
the vehemence of the young lady'a
manner, shocked at the irreverent cpl
tibet that she applied to the house of
prayer; but far more was he concerned
when the young lady burst into a hys-
terical fit of weeping and rushed back
into the house.
The church fair was over. During
its progress Miss Wynne was i'll. She
was not present to attend her stall
1t was ten o'clock at night, and
Edith was sitting alone in the draw
ing-room, when she heard the door bell
ring.
A minute later George Woodruff was
standing before her. She had not seen
him since the morning on which he had
proposed to rattle himself off,
Edith was pale and languid. Wood
ruff was flushed and nervous. Yet he
stroye to preserve a semblance of his
habitual nonchalance.
Calmly and with dignity Miss Wynne
rose to receive her visitor.
well, Edith" said George, with
slight tremor in his voice, you won
the prize tonight
THE prize?" echoed Edith, absently.
''Yes-the prize in the lottery that
you organized"
"I-what ?-you-it was not my lot
terry, sir; and 1 never took any ticket
in it,
No, Edith? Then there's some mis-
take. An application was received
typewriter, it is true, but still signed |
with your name in ordinary writing. |
You drew the lucky number-that is, it |
was drawn for you"
But l never signed any such letter.
1t is a forgery"
Forgery, Edith? Are you sure? For
gerry is a strong word. 1t is hard |
thing to accuse anyone of forgery. But, !
of course, if you take that stand we
must try and discover the forger, and |
the lottery must be drawn over again. !
l understand that you refuse to accept
the prize you have drawn"
Il never said so, George"
Mop
'N-n-nO Georpe''