Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-04-18

- 49, al AC1A ASA$
A bitter laugh fell from Alyne's lips.
Has he gone TO shoot big game?"
she cried, harshly. i hope he will
have good sport and then she nodded
her head by way of adieu and hurried
away home
But, alas. her hear was breaking
breaking. Why had she not run after
him that day in the drive? A little
word. a whisper, would have made il
all right. But now il was too late,
and he had broken with her irrevoca-
bly,.
It was two years later. Lady Mai
shall was sitting in her drawing-room
in Mayfair, talking seriously TO her
niece.
"Sir Neil Chester would be an ex-
cellent match. Maud. / am delighted
he is coming TO stay for a few days"
sEe said L do hope you viii make
the best of your opportunities"
Maud smiled rather too confidently.
From my previous experiences /
don't think my task Will be very diff
fcult." she answered. taking a fur
tive look at her fair face in the glass.
Perhaps not. if prettiness were the
only matter in question. But your
admirers have been only boys so far.
Sir Neil is quite 30 years, and has trav-
eled a great deal; indeed, il is only a
few months since he came home from
Africa. And a nan does not only re-
quire his wife to be pretfy-it is much
more important 10 him if she is
smart and charming: and you know"
looking ~an1iously at her neice, you
do require a good deal of dressing.
You look twice as well when your
hair is properly done, and Elsie does
not understand the shape of your
head. You never look so nice as when
that girl from Lasce1le's in Bond
street has dressed your hair. I really
think that / shall have her round here
every morning during Sir Neils visit"
And as Maud was delighted with
this idea she wrote of at once.
Sir Neil arrived about tea time, and
Maud carried out her purpose and
made the most of her opportunities.
Chester had altered a great deal dur
ing these two years. for he was very
bronzed and his hair was growing
ray There was also a stern express
sion on his face when in repose, and
his features rarely relapsed into a
smile. He wondered vaguely what had
become of Alyne. OF course, she was
married-had probably married that
brute. Osbert Bowden. And his face
would darken at the thought.
For he had never forgotten her.
Often he would recall her face under
the African skies. and sometimes he
would think that she never loved him.
while at others a regret would steal
into his heart and he would wonder
if he had been TO precipitate-
And nov he was back in England
again, hat regret rev and grew.
Everything reminded him of her, and
he would have gone down TO her part
of the country long ago to get news
of her, had not his coward heart
dreaded to find his fears confirmed
that she was married
He mounted the stairs in Lady Mar
sha1I's house a little YEARLY on his
way up to dress for dinner-he was
not looking forward to his few days
visit
His thoughts were so far away that
he did not notice a girlish figure COM
ing down until she was quite close
to him.
He stood aside at once to let her
pass, and a cursory glance assuring
him that she was pretty, he looked
again, and his breath came quickly.
"A1yne!" he cried in a hoarse voice.
"Alynei"
The girl shivered a little, and for a
moment her large violet eyes met his
full.
ST did not think you would recog-
nize me-" she said. half nervously.
Not recognize your he repeated,
while his eyes devoured her face-that
same face that had haunted him SC
long-paler. indeed, and thinner, but
still, thank God, the same
Are you staying here?" he cried,
eagerly.
A faint smile curved her lips.
NO! Oh, mol" she answered. II
have only come TO dress Miss Mar
shalT's hair. I am a hairdresser now,
you know, with Lascelle's in Bond
street."
"Youi" he cried. You a hairdress-
er. You-the daughter of the squire
of Bandford? You T joking"
Her face was grave enough now.
at is no joking matter to me-" she
said sadly. MY father has been dead
more than a year." and she turned
away to hide the tears hat would
come to her eyes
"But-but-" he cried-"he was
rich"
Alyne interrupted him by putting
up a warning hand, for the sound of
an opening door upstairs fell on her
ears.
aI must GO" she said, ~hurriedly;
"and please-please do rot say that
you have-have met me before They
know nothing about me, and perhaps
it would prevent my coming here
again. and without a word of fare
well, she hurried down the stairs