Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-05-16

debts, plenty or emil! mat ooyH n
it's the rainy season."
And with a quick tug at the big
pipe, she turned its stream full on the
advancing figure.
Wont hurt anything; that plug
hats an old attic thing, and the coats
-oh! oh, what shall I do? oh! oh!
I'm going to rum"
For it wasn't Lorain.
Its the g~ovvynor! You've watered
the govvynor!" shrieked Midget, in
wild excitement. sob, he's all drip
drenchin'! He's all un-ironedi He's
drowndin'i"
The hose fell heavily and lay tun-
neiing a long sinuous trench in the
path unhindered. Jess fed in frantic
terror. She did not once look back.
Manners, dignity, responsibility, san
ity itself, deserted her for the mo-
ment. The horror of what she had
done appalled, her. She saw prison
bars and stripes looming before her.
Behind the hawthorn hedge the
laugh froze on Lorain Cox's lips. His
fiery head rose out of eclipse slowly,
and he saw the worst. The spirit of
knighthood burst from bud into bios
som in his soul at that moment.
How long Jess lay on her bed with
her fingers IN her ears she never
knew: a minute? an hour? a week?
her feet weakly. 1t was borne in
upon her that she must GO down if
she died in the attempt. Somewhere,
out there on the lawn the governor
was slowly ''drip-drenching." What
was he thinking about? Was he-did
governors swear? Did they rave and
call down vengeance? Did they, oh,
did they carry dry clothes in their
grips?
She was made of hero flesh and
blood, but her feet almost refused to
move. She went t o the head of the
stairs three times and back. Then
with a gasp she plunged out and down
the stairs, like a little hunted white
animal.
Suddenly. on the landing, she heard
q laugh, then another. That one was
Rains. The first one doomed out
again, deep and hearty. She peeped
between the palms in the landing win
dow. They were tut there together,
the governor and Rain. And Midget
Midget was perched on the gov
ernor's knee. He did not look terri
BILE with wrath. and he looked, he
certainly did, dry.
NO, you couldn't call it a cut and
dried reception drifted up to her
in LoIain's voice with Lorain's big
laugh at the md.
Nudge and the governor joined in
enioyingly.
Rather a cool one, though" added
Rain, trying to be dignified, with
bizarre effect. You see. she thought
she was dousing me-Jess is near
on her dignity when you came, been
practicing all day"
He had made the explanation once
before, and added another about Mr..
and Mrs. Golfers absence. Rain
vas really doing finely. Knighthood
sat upon his big. lank figure and
freckled face with becoming grace.
"Good boy," murmured Jess. And,
taking heart, she went on downstairs
hravely. 1t was a Hurried, meek lit
tie maiden who crossed the wet grass
to the lawn chairs and held out a lit
tie shaking brown hand. Lorain
gasped and sought for landmarks, to
himself that it was Jess.
"He's all ironed again. volunteered
Nudge, cheerfully. "'Rain ironed him.
didn't you Rain? He wasn't so very
awful wet"
The governors eyes danced wicked
ly, but his heartstrings tugged with
pity for the sorry little maid and he
forbore.
"Miss JESSE he said. grasping the
limp little hand warmly. "Well, Miss
jess, I am delighted to see you. I've
put you into my speech already-your
temperance principles, I
meant"
And of course Jess laughed. And
of course the worst was over. It was
a very gay little party, out on the
lawn, until Jessica, by and by, stole
away to make up for her terrible re-
ception as much as possible by get
ting the ill-used governor the very
daintiest of teas.
LIZ liz ISSb VI Lie dIllI CdIIlc
home at eight. things bore a peaceful,
successful aspect that assuaged Mrs.
Golfers dim forebodings at once.
Mr.. Collier had been undisturbed.
When they were alone a moment, he
made jovial inquiries. well, Puss in
was he struck the minute he
eyes on you, eh?"
"Y-yes, daddy, the minute" faltered
jess, demurely.
"Ah, told you so, little Mis- Collier,
And you stayed on your dignity,
"No. Oh no, daddy; I'm sorry, but
ii away"
~"Jessica!" The little mothers voice
was stern with reproach.
HE was so wet and drippy, num-
sic, you'd nave run away yourself
murmured. And then in real hu-
she told the whole awful story.
Nobody laughed but Janet.
That evening late, Jess stole out to
hawthorn hedge and waited. Lo-
rain was sitting ON his doorsteps in
moonlight, laughing softly to him
self. His eyes caught the CLINT of
light on Jessica's glasses-so Jess lad
gone into" her specs,-and he spTang
to his feet.
"Faire ladye," he began, with his
hand on his heart.
"No, don't, Rain: I'm in earnest"
Interrupted Jess. soherlv. s.EneeI