Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-08-28

Her victoria drew up close to the
curb and she moved toward it.
Il have to go on to those tiresome
B~rabazons now" she said with a
sigh. She got in, and l lifted the
French poodle up ON the seat beside
her.
l continued my stroll, and had not
gone very far when l caught sight of
a tall, handsome, bronzed young man
hurrying toward me.
"Ah, here you are Skeff, old mani"
he cried, shaking me warmly by the
hand. 81 heard you were back, got
round to your rooms, and your man
told me | might find you in the park,
so came along at once"
Lord Dennis Gorison was a nice
young 1rishman, lieutenant in a regi-
ment lately returned from South
Africa. He was another of my old
est friends.
80, I'm in such a mess, Shetland
| want your help!" he exclaimed
despondently.
go ahead-let's hear the latest!"
| said, with a sigh.
well, before l went to the 'front.'
two years ago, | was a younger man."
he began, hesitatingly.
"The argument seems sound,' l
said, thoughtfully.
80, you know what l mean, Skeff!
was much younger-a silly young
fool" He paused. well, to cut the
story short, l fell in love with an
actress-O, not the popular idea,
Sketf! She was pretty and refined,
and taking a small part in comedy.
vas very much in love, and if l
hadn't been sent out at the time l
should have married her"
Il have always held hat even the
war Office occasionally betrays in
t~elligence," l murmured.
1T saved me just in time. A mar
riage of that type is altogether i'm
possible for me. You know the state
of our family finances"
But if the war office saved you,
where's the trouble" | asked.
son my return the mater picked
out a wealthy American girl for me
was on the point of proposing, when
suddenly l am threatened with the
consequences of my early indis.
cretion."
''The little ~actress?"
'She wrote to me when / returned
but / could not see my way to an,
swer, so didn't. This seems to have
made her very angry, and she says
she is going to bring a breach-of.
promise action. And she'll wiz
hands down." he added with a groan
"She has simply packets of my let
ters, and all as loving as you cal
make 'em!
you're a man of the world. Skeff
and-pardon my way of putting it
you've got the gift of CAB. 1 wan
you to go to her and talk her out OF
it. Draw a picture of my being
forced against my will into a hateful
marriage, tell her that | only con
scented so that the honor of the
Southbrook name may be saved. Yor
can do it, Sketf-you will do it?" ht
finished. imploringly.
The Southbrook carriage hat
drawn up near us, and her ladyshil
was leaning forward.
"How do you do, Mr.. Skef4ington?'
she said, distantly. A proper recog
~,;t;op nf ~, c+arlinn utor+b b,1 para-
been a feature of her ladyship's att
tude toward me.
Dennis, L want you particularly
l will drive you back" she added il
a zone that admitted of no denial.
The young scamp turned to me TO:
a second and slipped a hand into thu
inner pocket of his frock coat. TIL
next moment he had struggled me
crumpled envelope.
Her address, rely on you'll" h
whispered. And, with a final, appeal
ing glance, he sprang in beside hi
mother, and the carriage drove away
l smoothed out the envelope an,
glanced at the address. 1 read
Miss Fife Brennan, 5 Westbury Man
sions, Hyde Park, W."
Another quarter of an hour, and
was standing before the door of Nc
5 Westbury Mansions. A trim ser
want appeared on the threshold.
rs Miss Brennan disengaged?"
asked, handing her my card. "I'v
called on a matter of business, an6
if she could spare me a few minutes
conversation, L should feel grateful.
The door opened and a young lad
entered.
l rose to my feet, and, as my eye
fell on her face, I dropped back
pace, in amazement. She was tn
lady of La Turbie-my lost divinity!
$50 you have actually found u
out at last?" she exclaimed. "Yo
can't think how sorry mother wa
that she forgot to give you u &C
dress. 1t was objectionable"
pulled myself together with a
effort.
ITO be perfectly honest, it is
sheer accident. | had not tn
slightest idea that Miss Effie Brena:
was you'll"
I saw a slightly puzzled look cree
over her face. 1 hesitated for q me
ment, then plunged into the objec
of my visit.
cts a rather delicate matter, bu
, perhaps, l had better begin by e>
planning that | am the Oldest frien
of Lord Dennis Gorison." l paused
, "And l came at his request as-wel
+ shall we say, a mediator"
, "a mediator-is n necessary?
: she said.
' "We are hoping so. You see, Der
i mis- has told me everything, poor boy
How he fell very much in love wit
! YOU before he went ont to the war.