Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-01-15

oI the SUISSE III the sIreete u tne
drizzling rain.
Tramping moodily along, he passed
a shabby, genteel house just as a cab
stopped, a slender woman got out, a
good-natured youth jumping off the
top seat, helping her.
They exchanged a few words and
she went up the steps, paused and
turned, ami nodding brightly, went
in.
There was something strangely ia
miliar in the grace of her movement
as she half turned. The afternoon
was dark, her hat shaded her face,
and her furs we're drawn up to pro-
tect her from the cold wind and rain.
But Forrester's heart stood still.
How like Betty!
He wheeled and rang at the door.
"a young lady who writes on the
newspapers. The Evening Chronicle.
A very respectable young m
Was the gentleman related 10 herr"
Mrs. Beezley asked. Young Gordon
Forester, with disappearing suspi-
cion, and accepting his apology for
inquiring on the plea that he was
hunting for a relative who looked
like the young lady, with an incredu-
lous snort.
Upstairs in the room with the dor
mer windows Betty sat feeling
wretched and forlorn for the tall,
ine-looking, well-dressed young man
who passed just as she came in re-
called Gordon Forester so wildly
that her heart beat and her face
flushed hotly.
MAY I come in?" quiried Mary
Crawford, which she proceeded to
do, handing a bunch of violets to
Betty.
Mary Crawford's one beauty was
her melodious voice, which rang true
and sweet. She was an Unconditional,
clever young woman, and has devel-
oped a warm friendship for the
beautiful, unhappy and forlorn
young woman, the society editor of
the Evening Chronicle.
"Aren't you sick of all this stuff"
she asked Betty, pushing aside q pa
per Betty had brought with her,
while helping with the tea things.
What an outrage to publish such
stuff as the account Of that young
man and his wife. 1t may do any
amount of harm. Of course there's
not a word of truth in it. Did you
see it?"
"Why do you think it is not true?"
Betty asked family, while busy with
the spirit lamp.
Mary laughed.
when YOU are as old a newspaper
woman as / nm you won't have to ask
that. You'll know intuitively. There's
so much sensation abroad. It's like
anonymous letters. Newspaper peo-
pie have too much sense to attach
any Importance to anonymous let
tiers. 1t takes q green outsider to
take a thing of that kind seriously"
"Then you would not believe one
word of an anonymous letter."
"Not me-. | have too much respect
for my intelligence to think such a
thing possible"
"But suppose"
MY dear, a heated imagination
aud jealousy and ~overhaste are what
the snake in the grass who writes
trash OF that kind dote on. Now a
newspaper reporter knows too much
about real trouble, sorrow and dis
tress, if he has been sent, as | have,
to investigate the lives of the work.
ing people, to believe any of these
silly, sensational stories, much less
anonymous letters. Trouble"
But Mary did not conclude, because
Betty had thrown her arms around
her neck and was weeping softly.
"a very fine-looking young man
called at the office after you left"
Mary mentioned a little later. 81
saw him, as you had gone, and
answered several questions. He was
much struck with that photo you
gave me. | believe he said he was
coming to see you. He seems to
know some of your people,"
There was a rapid step on the
stair; a quick knock, and Gordon
Forester came in.
With a cry he held out his arms.
Mary Crawford turned and poked
the fire and heard nothing of the
murmured words, somewhat smoth-
cred by Betty's close proximity to
Gordon's damp o%vercoat.
The Evening Chronicle lost the best
society editor that popular sheet had
ever had.
The Sunday papers said:
"The Gordon-Forresters have re-
turned from their visit to the Pacific
coast. For a bridal tour they Sc
lected those grand regions in prefer
enc to Europe. Their handsome
residence on - street will be
thrown open, and Mrs. Gordon For
roster will entertain extensively for
the rest of the winter. OF course no
one believed the sensational story
of Mr.. Gordon Forrester's trip to
Europe. Mrs. Gordon Forester re-
turns from their western tour more
radiantly beautiful than when as
Betty Stanford she ruled the social
WORLDS. Rhett Roman, in New Or
leans Times-Democrat.
He Knew a Sure Thing.
Tn the aftorYnofb IF nopvon+;o-