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

years vi Neuutu DlisS Idu Hot bSdtCn
Clara 50 well as her husband. Her
face had lost much of its girlish
roundness, and the deep blue eyes
that were her chief beauty burned
feverishly, rather than brightly.
within the dark rings that encircled
them. Her. chest had become deli
cate ever since the day Jack had
kept her waiting in the cold outside
his office for half an hour Che did not
like receiving ladies within the sa-
cred ~precincts) on the occasion of
her keeping an appointment to meet
him there at a fixed time, in order
that they might proceed to some
social function together.
The result was a chronic cough that
irritated Jack a good deal at night,
and a heavy doctors bill, at which he
swore so tremendously that she
screwed the money out of her house
keeping allowance, and began to pay
off the debt by installments. Later
nearly frightened the poor little wo-
man out of her wits by the wrathfM
manner in which he scrubbed the
check for the balance. and threw it
at her with some ungracious remarks
about her intelligence.
One evening the Alstons went to
an "at home" Social obligations
soon parted husband and wife in the
crowded drawing-room, but the lat
ter's affectionate eyes caught many
glimpses of Jack as he passed to and
fro, greeting new friends and max
ing new acquaintance.
"Who was that woman, Jack?" she
asked later on, when they got a
chance to exchange a few words,
with whom you seemed to be hav-
ing such an animated Conversations
(Which woman?" was his rejoinder.
81 talked to several"
81 didn't see her face" replied
Clara, las she had her back to me
the whole time, but she was dressed
in NAIVE, with pink bows and had
light, fluffy hair"
Eyes, I know whom you mean," said
Jack, slowly, as if with an effort of
memory. Her name is Miss Oxford
| think. Our hostess introduced me-
"Was she nice"
Every, on first acquaintance" he
answered. "And, by the way" he
went on, "she bears a very remark.
able resemblance to you"
Does she?" exclaimed Clara, with
animation. "Oh, do take me and in
troduce me to her, Jack! 1t will be
so interesting to meet my double"
To this request Jack acceded will
ingly, and the two ONE became
acquainted. Clara acknowledged tc
: herself that there was a striking like
ness, but she could not help seeing
that Miss Oxford had the advantage
of being younger and fresher. Sh'
{ was a very lively girl, and Clare
) thought that she fiirted decidedly too
much, but the objection was not Sc
. much on her husbands account a
< on general principles of feminine
propriety.
On the way home Jack spoke yer,
l enthusiastically about Miss Oxford
i. and, of course, Clara, to please him
e cbimed in. He remarked casual,
that he had promised to drop in t.
] tea one afternoon at the house o
r that lady's parents.
isn't it rather odd not to invit
me, too?" suggested his wife, timidly
e "Oh, no. You see she couldn't yer,
; well do that under the circumstan
= ces," returned Jack in an airy tone
a But I dare say Miss Oxford will cal
upon you when l have been there"
: And the matter was dropped.
: A few days later Jack did not arriv
home until dinner time, and durini
the operation of having his boot
S unlaced he talked enthusiastically
about Miss Oxford, on whom he ha
t just been calling.
"She is a lovely girl" he said i
: tones of warmest admiration. "Jus
d what you were like five years ago.
1t was a tactless speech and Clara
f fingers trembled as she struggled t
e unravel a tight knot.
y Really now, taking her feature b
e feature" he went on, oblivious q
y the pain he was inficting, and too ak
It sorbed in his own interests to motto
his wife's agitation, there is a
II astounding resemblance between yo
both. But the expression is differ
ent. She seems much brighter an
l. more girl"
e He stopped short, suddenly avail
y that his tongue was running to
fast, and glanced at the kneeling fs
t. ure in front of him.
Clara's head was bent low over he
L task and she did not speak.
G He stopped forward g%ood-naturet
IS ly and lifted her face up by the chi
She was flushed, and tears glistene
in her eyes.
s "Why, you foolish little womal
S, what are you crying about?" /
20 asked.
le Clara burst into tears-partly b,
# cause of her wi over-wrought fee
ings, and partly on account of the III
Ut usual kindness of her husbands il
r terrogation. Tears generally had til
G. effect of making him angry and in
ID patient.
T. ST am losing my good looks, an
is you don't care about me any longer
ic she sobbed.
le "N%onsense!" exclaimed Jack, VIII
G began to see the clumsiness of h
ye remarks.
L. "You think Miss Oxford much pre-
lie tier than l am, and I dare say yc
Id find her far more lively and ente
a tanning. Clara went on in a broke
)r voice.
n "Uer sole attraction for me is h,