Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-06-16

thick mat of short curling hair, were
not only wonderfully intelligent, but
we're loyal and kindly.
why don't you wiring its neck off
out OF benevolence and compassion?"
asked the stranger, composedly, lean
ing on the railing and looking calmly
at Bette sitting in her doorway.
Because it isn't mine to begin with"
answered Bette shortly.
mo? l suppose you think the mis-
cradle little creature is happy; that
1t sings from joy, most ladies do. If
you ever roamed the woods and heard
the free birds at dawn, when slender
shafts Of rosy light drift through the
leaves and sparkle the dew on the moss
and blades of grass under foot, when
the wild flowers open and fling out
their sweet scents, and all nature
awakens as the grey dawn steals away,
you would know differently. You
would know that that bird in the cage
sings because its heart is broken, and
its days are dull and that the garish
sunlight, the bricks and the smoke
from the chinneys around and the evil
words of the boisterous street rabble
desolate its tender feelings, and that
its song is a plant and an anguished
cry for freedom"
Bette let her work drop on her
moisture obscured her bright open
grey eyes as she listened to the poetic
words of the stranger spoken in deep
melodious voice and cultivated English.
THE canary is not the only one that
sings to c~onjure up fields and pastures
and other scenes in a useless effort to
shut out sordid realities Of CRIME and
dirt, and the memories of happier
days"
Bette answered, smiling brayely.
AHA! so you live in a cage also;
that is a sad pity for one so young,
particularly if you have those remem-
brances which, by contrast, make the
captivity Of toll calling and wearisome.
"Do not mind?" he asked suddenly,
holding up a handsome meershaum
pipe.
mot at all. Besides you are on your
own side of the balcony and car do
as you please"
Bette resumed her work, but not
so quickly that she failed to note the
shade which came over the frank,
honest face Of her queer neighbor who.
takiuo hor ot bar uord beCan 10 cpol-e
without removing his arms from the
railing or retiring to his side of the
building as Bette thought her silence
and absorption in what she was doing
would show him she expected him
to do.
But you are young and youth holds
SO many possibilities. Both of good
and evil. In your case mademoiselle,
only of good" the stranger said simply
and composedly.
Bette laughed a little drearily.
Your prediction is hardly carried,
but actualities," she remarked, drawn
in spite of herself into conversation
with her neighbor, whose gray hairs,
strong, fine face and evident culture
made their unconventional converse
ton seem simple and natural.
Bette looked up in surprise, her
handsome face flushing slightly.
How do you know?' she asked.
Her neighbor moved his pipe in a
gesture of dismissal of a question so
simple, and smiling back said:
81 have eyes, mademoiselle, and |
have not lived so years in the world
and among men and women without
acquiring some knowledge of life and
its strange conditions, its justices and
perils. You are fair like a peach
blossom and untarnished and unused
to toll. | have observed your care of
you his only GUARDIAN
A warm ~pulsation thrilled through
Bettie's heart at the simple direct
words so entirely aloof from idle Curl
osity, so sincere and friendly, and again
dropping her work she looked up at
the strong, kindly face.
Eyes, we are entirely alone, Carl and
|, and once we owned a beautiful home
on the Teche, but to-day-you see 1
must not let Carl stop his studies, he's
so wonderfully intelligent, and he is
such a fine lad. l don't mind the work
a bit. Later on Carl is going to be a
successful man and will buy back the
dear old place, so it's all right. Then
we will be free and happy.
only, like you, l wish that poor
little bird would stop trying to be
cheerful. 1t hurts my feelings. Don't
you want your book?"
Bette stopped and picked up the
little volume and handed it back to it's
owner across the railing, noticing that
the hand which took it was finely
shaped, and that he were a handsome
seal ring.
II believe you have silenced poor
little Serino for the entire evening""
she said, smiling brightly.
81 was just imploring him to shut
up when you so energetically inter-
fered yourself"
Bettie's neighbor smiled back and
kept on smoking retlectiyoly, apparent
ly determined to remain where he was,
and as the light was fading rapidly,
cut off by the high houses across the
way, and Bette had made a rule not
to light her lamps until it vas quite
dark, she bent over her work to get
through before Mrs. Lascarre's servant
would come for it.
She was not aware that sitting there,
her shapely head slightly bent, the
light falling full upon her, showed the
beauty Of her coloring and the grace Of
her poise with a distinctness not lost
on the stranger watching her from
oorocc +ba railing with infant oom-