Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-09-11
A MODERN HIGAWAYMAN
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BY CLAUDE ASkEW.

CLARA Stanhope looked hard at her
u partner; he interested her and it
was seldom a man did that. She had
actually danced four times with Rog-
er Meredith; it was quite against her
strict code that now she was sitting
out with him in a dark corner. 1t
was the evening of the Medford ball;
all the country was there-the big
fish and the small fry; it was a gay
and animated scene; curious chances
were cast at Clara and her partner,
for she was the big catch of the coun-
try. Little was known of Roger Mer-
edith beyond the fact that he was
a handsome scapegrace, and the
bishop of Radford's nephew.
HE is almost a man | could care
for" laughed Clara Starhope to her.
self; land what is there to prevent
him liking me? I have youth, good
looks and money, and I am tired of
a lonely life; he may be a scamp
very likely he is, but / can afford to
marry whom / would, and l like this
man-hugely."
81 am leaving this section to-mor-
row morning." Roger Meredith's
voice broke in suddenly on the girls
meditation; 80 tonight will mean
good-by for many years, | am afraid.
I am off to the far west"
"You + going abroad?"
SVac-for coma tir,a Ho,1yt 4ho1,
are striking up a waltz. Shall we
dance it together?"
Impossible. Lady Halcross, who is
chaperoning mel am staying with
her, you know-ordered the carriage
at $3.50 sharp. 1t is nearly that now,
and she hates to keep the horses
waiting. am afraid l must go and
get my cloak. You will not be stop
ping with your uncle again before
you go abroad?"
"No; so this is good-by. I have
barely known you for three weeks,
Miss Stanhope, yet l can assure you
that you are the only woman l have
ever regretted saying good-by to-"
His speech and manner were uncon-
ventional, but there was a ring of
truth in his voice.
Clara Stanhope caught her breath;
she realized that for the first time
i'll her life a mar had touched her
heart. She found no pleasure in her
maiden freedom and almost mascu-
line independence; she became frank
ly primitive and wholly natural.
Crimsoning even to her brow, she
asked slowly:
"Why should we say goodbye"
"My friends call me a bad card;
besides, I've fallen on evil ways. If
I had met you earlier in my life-well,
well, we are all pawns on Fate's
c~hessboard; so goodnight, Miss Stan
hope-and good-by."
GAS you like, but remember if you
ever care to see me again, | am %,
and my own mistress"
She gathered up the folds of her
tulle ball gown and stood up, a tall
and splendid specimen of young wo-
manhood. She was brown-haired,
with deep coloring; she carried her.
self superbly, and wore, as few wo-
men could, a magnificent tiara of
emeralds-a famous Stanhope heir
loom.
Roger Meredith caught her hands
impulsively.
"If you were only a beggar girl,
I'd-take you abroad with me; out
to a new life in the west"
IL might not go"
"Ah! but you would CO." He
dropped her hands, saying, as he
turned away, "To each one his own
destiny. I have met you a year too
late"
"Have you?" She spoke in a clear,
low voice, then moved forward, and
in a few seconds was lost to sight.
Roger Meredith followed her with
his eyes till the crowd hid her from
view, then he sighed shortly, and
turned irritably on a nervous-looking,
fair-haired man who was advancing
to meet him and said:
II thought you were never coming,
Harry. Is my horse ready?"
Eyes; Jim is waiting with it in
the shrubbery; it's almost time to
start. Have you found out from the
girl what time the Halcross carriage
was ordered?"
Eyes, for 2:3O; and it wants four
minutes now"
"We are in luck tonight, Roger.
Lady Halcross is wearing most Of
her diamonds. You will scoop an
immense sum with the old lady's Jew