Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-01-21

Lisle is out west on that murder case,
and Todd's on the law courts. Nevei
mind your assignments, but get out
that article if you can. Wish you'd
told me you were i'll sooner, and I'd
have kept one of the boys in. Hope
you'll be all right tomorrow"
"Thanks-In do the best l can" the
voice took a weary tone. The woman
walked i've towards the man. He
still sat with his head leaning on his
arms. He might have fallen asleep
for all sign of life there was about him.
David" her voice was exquisitely
gentle, didn't you know that l would
help, David? Why, it's nothing, l al
ways expected it. I know your nature,
know how easily you tire, what vaga-
! ries your fancy takes. Poor David!
Nice old David! I'll make it as easy
for you as I can"
Her voice broke a little, and a great
faintness came upon her. She could
hardly see him when he lifted his face
and laid his head against her breast.
Then she recovered. Her heart leaped
| against his ear.
81 am a BRUTE" he muttered, "but,
Marah, how could I go on with it when
| found I was caring for her. She is
so young, SO fresh and guileless and
sweet. l hated to take her hand and
look into her clear eyes. L"
81 know" said the woman, BROOD
ing above him softly, 81 know it all,
David. ,Intuitively, maybe, but very
surely. Will you go now" she added,
YEARLY, "just go without saying any,
thing more. Come to my little house
tonight, and we will talk things over,
only go, now. I'm going to try to get
this special through. They are short
handed below and the work must be
done"
She talked SO cheerily that the man
rose and looked at her amazed. She
stood before him in her gray linen
gown, a tall and slender creature,
beautiful for the moment by reason of
the shining light that lay in her deep
| CyC0, duu IuO WIN CIllllSOu VI utI
cheeks, and the dying sunlight that
shifted through her deep brown hair,
clarifying it, All the faintness had
left her, and she was strangely strong.
The man held out his arms. She
shook her head, still smiling stif1y.
Now, David" she said, chow foolish!
Why keep this up? | know you like
me and"
Never so tenderly," his voice took
a curiously soft cadence, never so
tenderly as now in this moment OF
parting. Oh, my grill" he struck out
and tramped up and down the room,
why is it that l tire so easily? Why
is it that those love deepest and most
tenderly pail on me when I am much
with them? Will it be this way with
herr"
She looked at him. The thought
that he was a cad slid into her mind.
She beat it back stoutly, for she was
made of loyal clay. Because of your
immense vanity" she answered, look
ing steadfastly at him, because of
the unrest of your soul, the fickleness
of your fancy, the vagaries of In i'm
agination that would lead you to in
sanity were you not saved by the mag
nificent judgment and will-power in
that splendid head. Unfortunate mar
that you are! from my soul l pity you!
| pity this other woman, l pity myself
for having loved you. You are a poor
thing, after all" she cried, her nature
leaping to it's full altitude above his,
Ma poor flimsy, tawdry creature! a
half-souled man. All, go away, go
away!"
She walked to the window and set
her face against the pane. The glory
of the dying day encompassed her
slender figure, frightened her brown
hair. He stood looking at her. A red
flush had come to his sun-burnt cheeks.
His eyes g%listened.
"Say what you like to me, Marah,'
he spoke, "but say a kindly good-by.'
won't you go?" Her ~entreating
voice was fast breaking.
mot until you say good-by,
Marah," he said softly.
The woman turned and fled to him.
He opened wide his arms and caught
her. All the poor soul of her broke in
to signs and sobs and wild crying, as
she leaned against his breast for the
last time-for always.
"Good-by, Bavid, my David, nae
body's mon but mine'-that's what |
used to call you, David-my strong
sweetheart, my own big man! Good
by, David. l was very fond of you,
David"
So she whispered against his breast.
His eyes lost their brightness. "I'll
be coming back, Marah," he said,
"lIl be coming back"
But she said, "Good-by, DAVID
and Poor David" and at last, lift
ing her poor blurred face--"Kiss me,
%good-by, as if you were kissing little
old Marah in her coffin"
Then she pushed him from the room.
y
At ten minutes to six Johnny Dill
Ion, the elevator boy, knocked upon
her door-after his custom-to tell
her he was making his last trip. A
faint voice called out cheerily enough,
Don't wait for me, Johnny, I'm work
ing late tonight"
"All right The footsteps clattered
away. She heard the cage" as she
used to call it, clap doors and go rush.
ing down, the printers shouting to one
another, and whistling and laughing
as they left work. Then, as she set
tied to her writing, a pair of gray
gloves caught her eye. She took them
up and looked at them, turning them
softly in her fingers.
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