Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-07-10

SpOlleu meal at lone. |
But if these absences were never
objected to, and if Clara suffered on
account of them, she never reproach-
ed her husband. On the contrary she
encouraged his friendship with Miss
Oxford, and r~esolutely struggled
against any feelings of jealousy,
trusting implicitly in his honor.
Jack was careful not to repeat the
blunder that had once led to an I'M
pleasant scene, but he often talked
Oxford and Clara.
SIT is delightful" he would say to
the latter, after n of the expedi-
tions that took him home long af-
ter business hours were over, lit is
delightful to hear different thoughts
and different expressions coming out
of pretty lips just like yours"
Then, perhaps he kissed his wife
in a gallant fashion that was quite
new to him, and innocent Clara
blushed with pleasure, and never
wondered whether the other lips
were sometimes requisitioned to re-
mind him of her kisses also.
Meanwhile Clara's health was
rapidly giving way. Her cough grew
more troublesome than ever, and ex-
asperated Jack, who was a light
sleeper, so much that he had his bed
made in the spare room on the floor
above. Clara said nothing to this ar
rangement as she always studied her
husbands comfort, but she often
wept silently to herself during the
lonely, wakeful nights.
She now saw very little of Jack,
as he was not only away during bust
ness hours, but spent most of his
spare time at OXfords'. 1t interested
him he said, to watch the develop
ment of a nature that should by all
physiological appearances be akin to
her own, and he persuaded her that
the growing intimacy between Mabel
Che now called Miss Oxford by her
Christian name) and himself was a
ly platonic lines--of their own love.
And the poor little woman swallow
ed it all, and even felt a sense OF
gratitude for this double manifesto.
ton of her husbands devotion.
One day the doctor broke the news
to Mrs. Aston that the condition OF
her health gave cause for great anX-
iety, and he advised her to consult a
specialist on diseases of the lungs
without delay. Jack, on talking it
over afterward, said that all physi-
clans were fools, and the biggest
fool charged the biggest price to
make up for other deficiencies. How.
, ever, although he was inclined tc
pooh-pooh the whole affair, he con
, scented to his wife seeing a special
, ingly arranged.
Clara, who was nervous and terri
, bly, afraid of stethoscopes and tap
, ping, would have liked Jack to &C
company her to the eminent physi
, clans house. But on the morning OF
the appointment he came downstairs
. with q re~ady-packed travelling bag
and announced that if a certain letter
were waiting for him at the office hi
would be obliged to undertake {
journey on business and would no
return before the following day.
If it had not been on account O.
urgent business, Clara would hav,
thought her husbands absence a
this critical juncture very unlind
= For the specialist would pronounce
on her, that afternoon, sentence O.
Il life or death. But the journey, i
undertaken, was clearly unavoidable
and she could only reproach fate TO
O having chosen that day Of all other
to separate them.
Still, it would have been kinder
Clara thought, if Jack had asked he
to telegraph the result of her in
terview to him, but he went off in
hurry after the briefest of farewells
and she was obliged to console her
;, self with the reflection that pressur
of time had furried him into forget
= fulness.
"He will think of it as soon as h
:, has a moments leisure" she repeat
. ed to herself over and over AGAR
. land then he will feel miserabl
- about it, poor fellow, and send me
- telegram asking to have the verde
:, wired to his Office"
- The physician shook his head as h
examined her chest, tapped each ril
- o-1 s@,a1l 10 @Io 1.L1,.n1 I,anfI
- ing. 1t was not his custom to cor
~ ceal the truth from his patients, bu
he regarded Clara's pale, anxious fac
; and frail form with intense pit
when it was all over.
The poor creature read her fate i
J. the glance of sympathy.
!, "My case is hopeless, is it not?
n she asked, in a low tremulous voice.
81 fear So" replied the docto
n gently.
"Shall I live long?"
She awaited his answer in paint
suspense.
i zone lung is gone" said the grea
man laying a kindly hand on he
arm, and the other is-going. Tn
end of the disease will depend muc
upon climatic conditions. | fea.
unless you can manage to go sout
at once"
. "That I may not last through thi
cold weather." put in Clara, to hel
~ him out.
;s He nodded with a serious air, an
a few minutes later the unhappy p'
T. tient, her doom ringing in her ear
~ was speeding home.
- A letter in Jacks handwriting la
upon the hall table. 1t had been d
livered by special messenger, the Sc
wants said, shortly after her d