Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-01-03

New Lamps for Old :


TIOW good of you to come" said
Mrs. Lambert, leaning over the
side of her yacht and looking down
on a man in a boat.
"How good of you to have me-" he
replied, cordially, looking up.
He ran quickly up the ladder and
caught the hand she offered him. She
could not meet his questioning eyes,
but turned away and dropped into a
basket-chair, under the shelter of the
deckhouse.
"Well?" she said, as he drew up a
chair beside her.
Well" he echoed softly, and
touched the back of her hand lightly
with the tip of his fingers. You
are wonderful, Mamie. Have you
made a bargain with Time hat he
leaves you Unframed by his blight
ing wing? You look exactly the
same as when we parted three years
ago"
"Three years?" she interrupted
quickly. Oil it can't be as long as
that"
Hasn't the time seemed long to
you?'
Moves" she answered, confused
ly. "I mean-you see, so much has
happened to me since then I've lost
count of time"
Poor little woman. 1 wish 1 had
been at home during your-trouble;
put there were prospects of fighting
on the frontier, and I couldn't get
leave, and, as a matter of fact, I
didn't hear of Georges death till
December-nearly three months
afterward. Why didn't you write to
me?" he added, rep~roachfully.
81 couldn't she said, shortly.
Her mouth was trembling and her
fingers n~ervously picking at the silk
fringe of her sash. He thought it a
trife absurd for an eleven-months'
widow to display emotion at the
mention of a husband who had treat
ed her VIGOROUSLY badly. and for
whom she had never pretended the
smallest affection.
She jumped up and stood at the
top of the ladder to welcome the re-
turn of her guests.
II think you know them ALL" h
said, looking over her shoulder at
Mai. Tempest; sit is only a family
party. with the exception of Sir
Christopher Sheridan and Miss
Baird"
"Miss Baird?" he repeated. what
Miss Baird?"
But Mrs. Lambert was watching a
tall, ~gray-haired. elderly man, who
was still in the boat, and did not an
swer.
Anthony Tempest leaned over the
side of the yacht and looked at the
ascending ~party-two men and two
girls. One of the girls turned her
face up.
You here!" she cried, smiling.
"Oh!"
Tempest felt his heart peat I'M
comfortably fast and the blood sing
in his ears, as he interrupted his
hostess introduction.
"We are old acquaintances. Miss
Baird and I met in India last winter"
"What is troubling you to-night?"
said Sir Christopher, kindly. you
look desperately sad"
He was sitting alone with Mrs.
Lambert in the bows. From the deck
saloon came the sound of music and
laughter. Joan Baird was singing
songs from a comic opera to An
thony Tempest's guitar accompani-
ment. There was a little wind, and
the lights of the yachts looked like
low and wavering stars against the
dark sky.
ST am lonely"
"Come to me-"
ST have told you before-I cannot.
Do not ask me again"
Tell me why. You have said that
you would tell me-now," he urged.
'There is some one else" she an
swered, slowly, dropping her head.
.You know what George was-and I
had a friend
HE was more than a friend. I
loved him, and now that I am free"
"He still loves you?"
Eyes"
He peered through the darkness
and tried to read her face.
"Not now"
Then come to me-"
DO you still want me-after this? ?"
Eyes, If you want 10 come.
"When will you marry me?" he
said, presently.
"I don't know-perhaps never" she
answered, despondently. I'm not
tree"
"But you will be?"
"I don't know"
The music ceased somewhat alb
ruptly; the two performers declared
the saloon too hot, and stroIted out
on to the deck, where they slowly
paced up and down. After awhile
they came to a standstill close to the
wheel.
$50 our delightful week is over"
she sighed.
81 wonder if you are half as sorry
as / am 90 he said. Miss Baird-Joan
tell me, are you really sorry? DO
you care for me a little?"
"You know I ARE very much.o re- Il