Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-03-24


round the room at the o~ld-fashioned
furniture and decorations, while Jane
followed her every glance as If pre-
pared to defend the house from any
and all outside criticism. Finally,
Miss Bates spoke, and at her first
words Jane sat back in her chair and
pressed her two fingers on her lips a!
a measure of prudence.
81 don't think much of the way the
furniture's arranged, Miss Biddock,"
she said, with a superior curl of the
lip. 81 should ave put those two
vawses on the mantelshelf, and l won
der you don't tie a few bits of ribbon
on the chairs to make 'em look stylish.
It's quite the rage in society now. I
shouldn't ave that gran'father's clock
SO close to the window; what do you
think, 'Enry, dear?"
Henry, thus appealed to, said the
clock should be moved to whatever
part of the room Florrie might choose.
Jane remained dumb. The things she
had to say were MOI to be readily rem
dered into polite English, and she kept
her lips closed with her fingers, and
looked at each piece of furniture stead
lily as it's turn came for criticism. The
g~randfather's clock had always stood
by the window because that was the
place that James mother had decided
upon for it. Men do not think of these
things; but to women, and especially
to women who are alone, as Jane felt
herself to be then, these little spots
of mothers choosing are holy ground.
All the things that Miss Bates decided
to rearrange were standing where they
had stood for 40 years, and the bare
suggestion to change their places now
seemed like sacrilege.
Presently Miss Bates came to the
object of her call. Looking at Jane
with a %patronizing smile, she in
quired:
"Well, what shall you do when we're
married? We shan't be able to ave
you ere, you know, though, of course,
| 'Enry will make some sort of a provi-
sion for you"
"Quite so, quite So" a%cquiesced
Henry, in accordance with the prear-
ranged compact; and as he spoke he
kept his gaze on the ceiling for fear
Jane should catch his eye and address
him personally and unanimously.
81 shall wait here until my brother
turns me out" said Jane, in a tone
that was a mixture Of pathos and de-
fiance. "It ses in the scripcher-"
YES, we know all about that" in
terrupted Miss Bates. But when I'm
married I'm goin' to be missis in my
own 'ouse. And there amt room fol-
the two of u.s."
"'Ardly," acquiesced Henry, as be.
fore.
II was ere first" said Jane, dog
gedly.
"Why don't you be reasonable about
it, Jane?" began Henry. "You must ha
got sense enough to see"
"You leave 'er to me-" interrupted
Miss Bates, turning upon Henry will
a rather unexpected sharpness. 81 car
fight my own battles"
A quiet smile fiickered across Jane't
lips. 81 'ope," she said, in her bes
and most conclusive style, chat m.
brother will never ave no tt
repent of lis marriage"
what d'you mean?" inquired Mis-
Bates, starting to her feet and turn
ing crimson.
at ses in the scripcher," said Jane
speaking firmly and deliberately, "tha
it's better to live alone at the top G
the 'ouse than downstairs with
brawlin' woman"
did you ear that, 'Enry?" gaspe
, Miss Bates, controlling herself wit
difficulty. Are you goin' to stand b
and see me spoke to like this? Don
!, stay there like a stuffed pig. Wha
ave you got to say"
+ For the moment it was clear thu
Henry had nothing to say. He rubbe
l the side of his head and looked pus
q zled; and Jane, seeing a chance to tax
I up the conversation, improved upon
accordingly.
! "'Enry amt used to bein' flew a
I young woman" she said. "'E's live
l a quiet, peaceful life ere for owe
e years and 'e's new to your kind
t company. Likewise, when you're !
the presence of people as was grow
6 up before you was born, you shoul
, bear yourself accordin'. 1t says in tt
Z scripcher that the younger should sui
i nit to the elder, and 'Enry's O.
q enough to be your father, and you the
talkin' to i'm as if he was your equa
a 'Enry's my brother, an els worth so
a you, an the sooner you find 1t out Il
. better for both of you'll"
h Miss Bates, white with ange
stamped her foot. "Well?" she sal
d turning to Henry: and, as Henry ST
paused to find a suitable remark, 81
e continued: "Tm not used to bel
talked to like this, so I tell 20
Il straight. W. can't go on without son
un%derstandin'. It's either your sist
d or me. Which is it,"
y Henry heaved a deep sigh, al
looked first at his sister and then
q the fascinating Miss Bates. Then
l. walked across the room and for Il
If first time in rs years he kissed Jal
d softly on the cheek.
"I'm sorry this as 'appened, Jane
Ie he said, quietly; "but it's all over no
and I'm glad"
Miss Bates, tossing her head haugh
d ly, INDUCED in a hysterical laugh a.
,r stalked out of the house. careful