Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-10-29

HhihO ID iHCAuduoiiDlS, L OuS6Iftu,
coldly, though you are giving it a
greater strain than it is used to-"
II don't care. Punch my head ii
you can't bear to hear the truth. l
must speak,"
THEM began to change the topic
and carry the war into his own coun-
try, most valuable strategy in such
controversy as this-"if you want to
talk, let us discuss your own matri-
monial intentions. Have you proposed
to Miss Vandever YETI"
"Yes."
"Ah! l can see she has accepted
you"
Faith, she's the sweetest girl in the
world-so simple and a~rtless, and-O,
go on!"
l went on imperturbably.
"And you-the man who wants to
marry an heiress, to further his par
%liamentary ambitions-have succumbed
to the pretty face and demure facina-
tons of a poor gentlewoman who is
the companion, friend if you like, of a
millionaire's daughter"
81 have" he cried, defiantly. after
all, it's love and love only that spurs a
mar on. Besides, Margaret, who was
a schoolfellow of Peggy and has lived
with her, being an orphan, aver since,
has considerable influence with Bur-
ford. She thinks he might make me
his private secretary, as a start, so the
dream of my life seems in a fair way
to come true. But you, Sgd"
81 absolutely decline to ask Peggy
Burford to make the tremendous sacri-
flee that marriage with me-"
"A successful novelist"
Yet none the less hopelessly out of
her proper groove-would entail. More
over, | will give no one-not even my
dearest rivals-a chance to point the
finger of. scorn at me as a fortune
hunter"
Then, in heavens name, why all
these walks and talks, these picnics
and boating trips of the last week,
unless you were as serious in the game
as II"
1t was NO easy question to answer.
l shrugged my shoulders, a careless
gesture c%oncealing my inner self-re-
proach. Indeed, l felt much like a con-
victed felon before his judge.
You'll break the girls heart, Sgd
ney."
God Forbid" I cried, fervently. But,
for my own part, | had no prayer to
breathe.
An hour later l was sitting with
Peggy, looking down at a busy scene
below; a beach crowded with laughing
children, the yachts and sailing boats
scudding about like larger sea birds,
the excursion steamers lying at the
pier.
"Mr. Burford is coming down to-
morrow" said Peggy, apropos, appar-
emily, of nothing. Neither of us had
spoken for several minutes, SO she was
perhaps justified in thus introducing a
new topic Of conversation.
I was in a captious mood, the result
of much self-restraint, which, like ex-
cess of learning, can drive men mad.
81 don't profess to be familiar with
the-er-manners and customs of the
highest aristocracy-"
"No?" she queried, innocently, dig
ging up the soft turf with her sun
shale. "Then who got up the local
color in MY Aunt the Duchess for
you?"
But I should have thought" I went
on, ignoring her question, that you
might say my father You see," 1
added, by way of explanation, 1--WE have
not been on such terms of strict for
mality up to now"
But Mr.. Burford isn't my father"
she cried, and a sudden flush GRIM
soned her cheeks.
"What?" | shouted, springing up
from the seat in amazement. mot
your father! But l understood--that
is, Mike-I mean Mathematician me
you were Miss Peggy Burford. And I
took his word for it," I finished lamely.
"Mr. McDermott didn't know any
'betther' them" she said, with a mis-
chievous echo of his occasional brogue.
"He does now"
"But who-what-are you, them"
81? o, plain Margaret Vandever.
There is the only real and genuine Miss
Burford."
She pointed along the walk. A couple
were coming slowly, towards us, the
man, Mike, appearing to be protesting
earnestly.
"But why did you practice this-er-
wicked deception upon us two unsus-
pecting males?" l asked.
at was her idea, Peggy's. That ter
rible night when I fell into the water
she found your friend, Mr.. MacDer-
mott, was a little"
Mad? It's only his way. He's alb
solutely harmless, l ssh you. It's
the national characteristics"
"No, not mad, of course. l was go.
ing to say impressed, and he grew con
fidential, telling her all about himself,
and his prospects and his ambition,
and she was afraid if he found out
who she really was he'd get fright
ened-for he's not a fortune hunter
we arranged to change places for
a few days until Mr.. Burford came
down. The hotel people didn't know
which of us was which. Peggy al
ways makes me take the lead-not
from shyness, but ~laziness, l think
the thing was easy enough"
l looked around. Miss Peggy and
Mike were drawing near now. I won
dered if my face wore such a look as
shone on his.
l turned to my companion abruptly.
Miss ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS have
read my secret. Will you be my wife?"
She pazad at me inuuiringIv. and