Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-01-31
IOLANTHE.
BY c. LANoToN CLARKE.
= vERARD DUNBAR. alone in his

rose and stretched himself.
Il think L am getting a little sick of
1T ALL" he said, audibly. 1T is a ridic-
ulous occupation, and I ought to have
put my foot down when old Blue
nose got me into it. 1 have been a
success certainly, but then I might
have been equally successful as a
cook or a man-milliner, and that
would have been just as absurd for an
a~ble-bOdied man. l am tired of it and
Disguised with it, and for two pins
I'd chuck it up tomorrow"
He Knocked the ashes out of his
pipe against his heel, and laughed
rather grimly, as he did so.
IF they could only see me-" he
said, how some of them would open
their eyes; how they will open them
some day; and now for dinner and to
dress for the smalland-early at the
Walcotts'."
Everard Dunbar was a young man
who, some years previously, had drift
ed into journalism after undergoing
n initial stages of preparation for
several professions, and had done
fairly well. Asa reporter he had
lAOF@A AAAAASCA OSblCL dI SCINlLS up
his news in attractive form than in
hunting for it. He had a good style,
and on more than one occasion had
written a fiippant editorial on local
politics, which the chief editorial
writer, jealous Of any e~ncroachment
on his special department, had never
theless liked well enough to use. He
had bee finally assigned to special
work, and had proved a success.
The Colchester Courier was a paper
which had a large circulation, par
ticularly its Sunday edition. It's de-
partments were generally conceded
to be almost equal to those of any
metropolitan journal. and of all its
special features the brightest, in the
estimation of the reading public, was
its "Woman's Empire" conducted by
"Iolanthe," Iolanthe's "Hints on
Fashions Medical Suggestions"
ANSWERS to Correspondents" and
aside Talks with Girls" were univer-
sally read, not only by the women
folk of Colchester and the surround
ing district, but often by the sterner
Sex also.
1t was rather late when Dunbar, in
company with his particular chum,
Cassels, also of the editorial staff of
the Courier, presented himself at the
Walcotts' dance and was effusively
greeted by the hostess.
Naughty man." she said, shaking
her finger at him. TO come so late,
when 1 have been dying to introduce
you to quite the incest and prettiest
girl I know. Come along now" and
Dunbar was led across the room to
where sat a tall, decidedly cookbook
ing girl. with a rather naughty ex-
preston.
Nina" said Mrs. Walcott, "let me
introduce Mr.. Dunbar, a great friend
of mine; Everard. this is Miss Tres
silis."
The young lady bowed formally,
and an air of indifference, which
suddenly changed to one of anima-
ton when Mrs. Walcott continued
Mr.. Dunbar, dear, is one of our
rising journalists. He is on the
Courier"
Il am very glad to meet you" said
Miss Tressilis, smiling pleasantly. "a
dance? Oh, certainly" and she held
out her programme, on which Dunbar,
unrebuked. proceeded to inscribe his
initials several times.
The two hours that followed were
very pleasant for the young man, and
after he had danced three times with
Miss Tressilis he was inclined to agree
with Mrs. Walcott in the opinion
which she had expressed about her.
It was while they were seated in a
remote and comfortably cushioned
nook after the fourth dance together,
that Miss Tressilis broke a rather
long silence by saying:-
"You are on the Courier, are you
not, Mr.. Dunbar? Mrs. Walcott men
toned it, I think, when she intro
duced you. Are you an editorial
writer?"
al have not yet climbed So high" re-
piled Dunbar. AT present 1 do special
work"
"But I suppose you know every
body on the paper, don't you?"
"Well, not every one, Miss Tressilis.
You see there are a good many in the
business department and the press
men and st~ereotypers and mailers
with whom I am brought very little
into contact. My acquaintance is
pretty much limited to the editorial
floor and the composing room"
Miss Tressilis did o seem to be
paying much attention.
ST wonder whether you would do
me a great favor?" she said.
eff it is in my power you may rely
on me-" replied Dunbar, gallantly.
"TeIl me-" said the girl, fixing her
large and luminous eyes full on Dun
bar's-"teT me Iolanthe's real name"
Dunbar felt himself growing red.
cit is an Office secret" he replied.
aWhy are you so anxious to know?"
because / love her." replied Miss
Tressilis, in a voice that quivered with
emotion. "She is so true, so noble
hearted, so feminine; don't you think
so?"
"Feminine? ' replied Dunbar; then,
recovering himself, "oh, well-yes, If
YOU say so, no doubt she is"
do you know" continued the girl,
ssfor weeks it has been my dream to
meet her, to put my arms about her
and kiss her and tell her how I love
her. Is there any possibility of my
dream coming true, Mr.. Dunbar?"
"Er, well, really, you know. hardly,
/ am afraid" replied Dunbar. SHE
she is very anxious that her identity
should be kept secret. She breads