Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-04-28


ton. Now he wishes to know whether
he should make a clean breast of the
situation and leave her, or just keep
on as he has been doing. What would
you suggest, Miss Magruder? Your
ideas are SO clear and your judgment
so good"
1.-THE situation is so very compli-
Gated, it seems difficult to say what
would be the wiser course"
my sympathies," continued Eliza
beth. naturally go ont toward the
poor, misunderstood wife, for size may
be heart-broken over the lost love Of
her husband, while pride eompels her
to wear a mask of Indifference"
"Of course, there is unquestionably
right and wrong on each side, Miss
MagrHder; that is indisputable; but
that is not the point in question. He
wants to know whether to apprise the
object of his love of his affection for
her or drift On in the old, delightful
way?"
"Well, if he tells her of his love, he
should not exact of her to betray the
state of her feelings, do you think?
For what good could possibly come
of it,"
Exactly so,' leaning forward in his
chair more eagerly. 81 agree with you.
Suppose l should tell you the case is
not that of a friend, but-but-that it
concerns myself, and that you are the
heroine of this tragic little story? Yes
-Elizabeth-it is yourself. . I am most
miserable. You may reproach me with
scornful glances, for l should have
concealed my love for you-buried it
under an Indifferent exterior-but, oh,
Elizabeth! I could not. l love you
with a pure love, and I ask nothing of
you in return except your good opin-
ion. You shall see me no more. Your
bright sky shall not be darkened by
the cloud Of my unhappiness, and the
love | bear you shall never burden
you"
During Horace's passionate outburst
Elizabeth sat m%otionless, but an OBJ
server could not have failed to detect
a culver of the .nostrils, the clenched
hands and the pallor of her face and
brow, all revealing intensity of feeling
and suppressed emotion.
"Have you nothing to say, Eliza
beth? Do you mean to condemn me in
~silence?"
Horace had risen. zone word, Eliza
beth, is all ask. Say you forgive me,
and my sufferings will be lessened."
Still she sat immovable with a cold,
fixed expression.
Horace moved to the door, when with
a cry Elizabeth sprang toward him,
faltering, 81 forgive! But you, and I,
must forget"
No land was discernible as far as the
eye could reach; naught interrupted
that great expanse of sky and sea as
Laughing Water" sped over the
mighty waves, to the tropics bent,
bearing a number of passengers on
missions of pleasure, in interests of
business, in quest of health, or prompt
ed by the curiosity of the tourist.
Elizabeth Magruder, seated in a
steamer chair, lazily watched the
~gorgeousness of the tropical sunset,
and unconsciously turned the leaves Of
her diary, when a sudden gust of wind
caused several pages to become de-
tached and to fiutter out, scattering
themselves to the far end of the deck.
With an exclamation of regret, she i'm
mediately hurried to collect the miss.
ing sheets, and was assisted in her eff
forts by a gentleman. His back being
turned during the process, she was
prevented from obtaining a glimpse of
his ~countenance, though there was a
certain familiarity about his pose and
general bearing.
ALLOW me-to-why! Miss Ma
gruder! Who would have thought Of
meeting you? Fate is determined to
throw us together"
Elizabeth replied with a few coldly
formal words of thanks, showing Capt.
Trentshaw the attitude she intended to
maintain toward him.
Elizabeth's feelings were painful in
deed, upon discovering the presence
of Horace Trentshaw on board the
steamer. What right had he to force
himself upon her, after these three
years, and after all her struggles to
blot him from her mind? Cruel! Yes,
it was nothing else-and she made up
her mind to remain in her stataroom
and to avoid encountering him.
This determination was carried out,
and nothing more had she seen or
heard Of Capt. Trentshaw. The boat
was making for Porto Cortez, S. H.,
after having left Belize, B. H., and
from information gathered from the
maid, Elizabeth was unGer the in
preston that Capt. Trentshaw had left
the steamer. With a sigh of relief
she mounted the deck. The young
moon was shedding its silvery refec-
ton upon the beautiful Bay of Hon.
duras, and all was bathed in it's mel
low light.
Leaning w the rail of the deck,
enjoying the in%vigorating splash Of
spray, stood Elizabeth. Standing a few
feet to her right and a trifie to the
rear, so as not to be observed by her,
Horace Trentshaw stood watching her
with an intensity of longing and an
expression of unutterable pain. Softly
approaching, he placed his hand upon
that of Elizabeth and held her thus
a trembling prisoner.
Elizabeth, the time has come when
you need avoid me no longer-and you
must listen to what I have to say. We
parted thee years ago. | was q brute
then, Elizabeth, and confessed a love
which could not honorably offer you.
You, with your gentle, noble soul, I'M
derstood and sympathized with the
temptations to which poor, frail hu-