Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-09-24
what I've done-what I've said to

lCi
why, you seemed to be chatting
most amicably when | looked around"
Jimmie sat motionless for a few min
utes while he went over in his mind
the story he had told the dark lady.
His cheeks burned as he remembered
it. How dense he had been. Mrs.
Vanderveer had, of course, returned
to her original idea regarding whom
he was to take out, and he had never
considered even the possibility of his
companion being Mrs. lie Clair.
He sprang up and fed to the draw
ing room. He looked in vain among
the ladies for Mrs. Vanderveer. She
was not there, but near the piano, at
which the second Miss Nesbitt was
playing softly, stood the dark lady
with the diamond in her hair. She
smiled brightly at Jimmie.
The young man walked straight up
to her. Before he could speak she
said: "The ending is at hand-aren't
you wild TO know what it is?"
81 know my own ending" he re-
piled; that is, my finish is apparent.
| am overwhelmed with shame at hav-
ing spoken as | did. My only excuse
is l did not know"
make no apologies" she said, still
smiling, ''for did l not listen all
through"
"You did, indeed-you might have
stopped ME at once" said Jimmie,
feeling real resentment.
Therefore l am as bad as your"
she asked, gaily. well, l admit it,
for I profess openly to hate gossip.
while you, perhaps, do not. In that
case | am worse. My excuse is that
the story was interesting"
Jimmie could not make her out. 81
cannot believe you found'it other than
revolving. 1t is most delicate of you
to spare me-"
"But the ending-you do not know it
YETI"
mo; may it be for the best happi-
ness of SO noble and beautiful a wom-
an-an ending only of the chapter of
her sorrows, the beginning Of the
book of joys"
'"That was very well said. You are
quite forgiven for being a colporteur
de medisapces. You will think me
horribly straight-laced. All, here is
Mrs. Vanderveer."
The hostess drew Jimmie aside. 81
shall want your help" she said; "a
strange thing has happened. Mrs. Le
Clair's husband is here; he arrived
from San Francisco tonight. He had
read the story in the Day He went
to the Nesbitts, found where she was,
and came straight to my house. He
is in the little red room now, and so is
she-in his arms. 1t is all very beau
tiful, of course, but somewhat upset
ting, and l find it in my heart to wish
that it had occurred somewhere else
Good heavens, Mrs. Vanderveer,
what are you saying! Mrs. LIE Clair
in the red room in one of her hus-
bands arms-I mean in the arms Of
one of her husbands-why, look over
there!"
"Where?"
"There by the piano, there is Mrs
LIE Clair"
"That? Why that is Mrs. Trench,
my cousin, the widow from Bermuda;
you took her in, surely you know"
"But which was Mrs. LIE Clair?"
"She sat on your left; the little
blonde woman. Jimmie, please pay
attention; | want you to" There
was something about Mrs. LIE Clair's
carriage, and wouldn't he meet Mr.. LIE
Clair and see them safely out of the
house; but Jimmie excused himself
abruptly and dashed across the room
to Mrs. Trench. A great load was lift
ed from his heart. She seemed to him
then the most beautiful women he had
ever beheld.
"You know the end?" he cried; "the
lovers are united. | am going down
to give them my blessing; then L am
coming back to talk to you-talk to
you nothing but scandal; do you hear!
and you may scold me roundly after
ward. And tomorrow l am coming
to take you out in the automobile and
the next day"
Jimmie, will you please go al
once?" said Mrs. Vanderveer, over his
shoulder. 81 want this thing well
ended"
what have you been doing to him
Elise?" she asked when Jimmie had
gone; che acts so strangely, l believe
you have bewitched him."
"An interesting young man, and tells
a story WELL" replied Mrs. Trench
"but he seems terribly sensitive to the
slightest criticism."-N. o. Times.
Democrat,