Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-04-16

Guilty.
She found Helen and her father on
the piazza, Mr.. Holiwell watching
through a telescope the drawing of
the seine in the channel by Seal is
land. He was very glad to see Mrs.
Dean and at once, entered for her
benefit, into an elaborate explanation
of seining in general and this sein-
ing in particular, while Mrs. Dean
fdgeted politely, until Helen could
break through the peacefully over
whelming torrent of her fathers con-
versation and carry her off to her
own room.
"What do you think Mr.. Dean has
done now?" exclaimed Mrs. Dean as
soon as they were alone. HE writes
that he has invited Mademoiselle Co
lette Platon, a professional pianist,
to spend a month here!"
"What!" cried Helen.
"She has been i'll and is very poor
oh, my dear! this is what IN
Of a father-in-law given to having
proteges-the last II was an Italian
peanut vender, and he stole the
spoons! Of course I know it is his
house, and he has a right to ask
whom he chooses, and if he were on
ly to be here by himself-but he and
Charles don't come for two weeks or
more, and this creature arrives on
the noon boat tomorrow. What
shall l do with her? She is sure to
be impossible. Of Polish extraction,
he says, whatever that means-but
her mother was French"
"Rerhaps it won't be so bad, Eu-
nice, DEAR" said Helen sympathet-
ically; you will enjoy her playing"
II don't believe she can really play"
said Mrs. Dean viciously, and then
laughed at herself. eff only Harry
doesn't fall in love with her!" she
sighed.
Helen thought to herself that it
was highly probable Harry would, he
being a susceptible sophomore, and
quite within possibilities that Ma
demoiselle Colette might fall in love
with him, as he was very good-looking
and an extremely nice boy.
The next afternoon brought Eu-
nice again, this time almost in tears.
"Oh, Helen, it is worst even than I
expected! 1 was prepared for a good
deal, but such clothes and such hair!
She kissed me, when she first saw me,
right on the dock. and Rugged the
children. And she hadn't been in the
house two minutes before she made
a dead set at Harry; they're off ca
noeing now up the river; she
wouldn't even rest after the jour-
ney," and Eunice looked as if her
guests failure in this last particular
was her gravest delinquency.
Helen could not help laughing.
"Mademoiselle Colette certainly
does not mean to lose any of the
good time" she said But if she
feels so well, at least you won't have
to worry over her ill health"
81 don't see a sign of it," returned
Eunice, Except that she fourishes an
enormous bottle of sour black tonic,
You will come over tonight, won't
you? I must have you see her."
That evening, as Helen and her
father crossed what was by courtesy
called the lawn, a field of rough grass
with sveet-fern and golden-rod and
the low cranberry bushes growing in
Discriminatory among rocks and
stunted frs, they heard the "Moon'
light Sonata" played with so brilliant
although somewhat metallic, a touch
as to leave no doubt of Mademoiselle
Colette's talent.
They found most of their neighbors
on the Deans piazza, and stood look
ing through the open windows into
the large hall, it's dark paneline
reaching up to the low ceiling OF
wooden rafters. Tall, green jars
standing on the floor, held clusters
of bayberry; one polished table was
covered with dishes of pale yellow
and deep orange nasturtiums, while
on another were crowded peoples
ranging in almost inperceptible grad
uations from faintest pink to vivit
rose. 1t was an effective setting fol
Mademoiselle Colette. She was
dressed in shining, clinging black
with innumerable turquoise orna
ments, her gorgeous, Titian-coloret
hair fuffed high on her head, ant
was undeniably handsome, with large
hazel eyes.
She lose at the end of her playing
as they went in to be introduced
Having talked to them for a moment
singing out Mr.. Holiwell, with hel
graceful, little foreign gestures, in {
way that made him open his mild ole
eyes, she took a decided step to ONT
side, which brought her next to Har
ry Dean, with the tall lamp between
them and the others. 1t was neces
sary that she put some sweet peas
in her hair, and it was done will
much soft laughter and struggling he
shoulders out of her low dress, al
directed at Harry, and the boy wa
young enough to grow red with pleas
ure.
1t was so apparent that Helen sud
denly caught herself feeling in tina
way, and then laughed privately a
seeing the same sensation plainl,
written in the awkwardness of thu
rest. 1t was a relief when Eunice ner
vously suggested that they shoult
go out onto the piazza again, Will
Mademoiselle Colette played. Blu
this did not better things, for Harr.
was now left alone with Mademoi
selle Colette, a devoted slave, turning
her leaves, while his sister-in-lav
fused back and forth helplessly.
That was the beginning. Mademoi
selle Colette caused Cranberry Gov
to look on in stupor.
Her invalidism vanished, n q
least conveniently adjusted itself s.
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