Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-08-21
A .NOMANS GLORY.
Observation-Disclosures
BY GERTRUDE DONALDSON.

A unimportant function at the
"A country house was just con-
cluded; a dinner party had been given
by its cwner, Gen. Calnard, to in
troduce his future bride to some of
the country families and a few more
OF his intimate friends who were
staying at the house. His engage
ment had unexpectedly been an
nounced; but Gen. Calnard had no hes
ltation in presenting Debonnaire San
ley as his choice, for she was tall.
slender and beautiful, graceful and
fascinating, a fiancee of whom he
might well be proud.
A married sister had undertaken
to act as hostess and chaperon on the
occasion, and some of the guests
were driving away from under the
portico, whilst others were making
their way over the ve%lvet-piled stair
case, having murmured the usual
pleasant words of cong~ratulation on
the success of the evening to their
host before they left.
Gen. Calnard turned toward his
lady love, whom he addressed in low
tones.
Il want to speak to you in the Ii
brary before we say goodnight. I
have something to show you. If you
go on, | will join you there in a min
ute"
Debonnaire turned toward the
door and moved along the passage,
glancing over her shoulder to see if
her lover were following her as she
entered the library.
The French windows were wide
open, and the sweet scents of a sum-
mer's night filed the air with de-
licious odor.
Debonnaire crossed the room and
stood looking out into the semi-dark-
ness to where mysterious shadows
stirred beneath a fine old cedar tree.
Suddenly an arm passed round her
waist, and with a little sigh of re-
lief she exclaimed:
sob, Bertram, how glad l am that's
over. 1t IS really a dreadful ordeal
for such an inexperienced, quiet in
dividual as l am to have to run the
gauntlet of criticism at the hands of
all these grand and pompous peo-
pie whom | met tonight"
81 fear no criticism of you, dar-
ling" he said, drawing her close to
him and kissing her lightly on the
lips. 'This has been a proud mo-
ment in my life; the proudest will
be when / can call you wife. And
now let me show you what l have
brought you here to see."
He went to a small cabinet and
from an inner drawer took out some
morocco cases which evidently con
tanned jewelry. These he placed up
on a table neal her, and opening them
one by one, displayed the contents.
A blaze of diamonds flashed into
her eyes from three splendid sets of
tiaras and necklets, which lay up
on their satin lining, sparkling and
glistening as the light fell upon the
stones.
Choose which of these you would
like best to wear upon our wedding
day. / brought them down from
town with me this morning, and the
rejected mes must be returned to-
morrow. That's why | bothered you
tonight, and I'm sure you must be
tired"
"How lovely! How good you are
to me-" she cried.
Nothing is too good to crown
your loneliness, my queen" he IN
swered, taking up one of the coronets
and placing it upon her hair.
She had ruddy locks coiled in wavy
masses behind her head, and the
precious stones flashed their bril-
lance above her white, smooth fore
head and her dark, blue eyes.
II can't imagine what you see to
admire in this red wig of mine," she
said smiling, while he gazed loving
ly at her. "As a child it was always
a source Of grief to me, for it gave
me so many nicknames."
"Glorious hair!" he answered, 81
love III. 10 you know DoHnle, L
think you are the most beautiful
woman | have ever SEEN"
A vivid flush rose to the girls
cheeks, and she courtesied low to
him.
Il thank you sir. I don't pretend
I am not pleased to hear a compli-
ment like that from you"
At last the selection of an orna-
ment was made, and he was about
to slip the cases back into the
drawer from which he had taken
them, when she ventured to suggest
that it was hardly safe to leave them
there.
Don't you think they are too val
liable to risk in this placer"
swell, its for only n night. But
perhaps it would be wiser to keep
them in my own custody, so ! will
take them with me upstairs. And