Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-04-21

HlenI the Wnlte-roDeu, luSnlnS ElVlrd
f1uttered into the room he forgot New
York, journalism and fame, lost his
ready wit, and realized that he who
knew so much was quite ~unlearned.
He walked UP and down the warm
sunlit garden with Elvira, bending his
dark head caressingly over her, won
dering dimly how so fair and sweet a
creature CHANGED to live. Elvira lost
her first awe of him, and laughed and
talked slowly, pointing out the Gala
lilies, picking a great nosegay of pink
and white sweet peas.
Time passed quickly in the garden.
1t was dusk before Gilman left.
Elvira smiled in her sleep that night,
flushing rosily; but old Clarissa's pill
low was wet with salt tears, for she
saw what was coming-and it was
what she had desired, so it was really
foolish of her to weep.
Elvira and Gilman got engaged. 1t
was a brief, pretty courtship.
Clarissa and the neighbors looked
on, watching the delicate drama that
was icing played, marveling a little
how smooth was loves course.
Elvira neither wondered nor unused.
To her it IA only natural and right
that Gilman Holmes should have come
into her life; she knew now that she
had all along been waiting for him,
and keeping her pure heart like a
fragrant shrine. AS for Gilman, the
mystery of it all was upon him still,
the great marvel how his delicate,
dreamy Elvira, this flowerlike maiden,
could care for a sharp, harsh-voiced
young man from New York. This
journalist, once overconident, and full
of fierce assurance, was now afraid
OF himself and ashamed to look into
the dusty orne of his soul. He
longed for spotlessly clean h~ands-be-
cause of Elvira's whiteness.
A day in early autumn was fixed for
the wedding, but first Gilman must re-
turn to New York and gain a further
leave of absence.
The lovers parted, and it was a bad
hour for both.
Elvira lost all her timid maidenly
diffidence. She chung to Gilman with
tender self-surrender, putting up her
face for his kisses, praying him pa
thetically to return soon. AS if Gil
man needed such prayers! He who
was longing-and half beside himself
with the longing-to marry this pretty
Puritan and take her to make home
brighter in New York.
Clarissa came to the gate finally
and unlatched it for the lover. She
looked gaunt and gray; her hair was
all blown out by the wind, her thin
cotton dress showed the meager lines
of her old body. She was not prepos-
sessing.
Gilman looked at her a little resent
fully. He hated to surrender his Weep
ing Elvira to this harsh-looking old
woman.
Take "a of her-be good to her."
he said, breaking from the girls soft
clutches, and pressing her gently back
against Clarissa. "Oh, Miss Lane, be
careful of Elvira for me-"
Clarissa laughed low and grinly to
herself. BE careful of Elvira.' To
the woman to whom the girl was all
in all the words were almost cruel and
certainly a mockery.
That night Elvira had red eyes and
ate no more at supper than would have
tempted a little bird. She sat on the
step at the back of the house when
the moon came out, and Clarissa
watched, saw her shoulders shaking
she was crying; she had been crying
all the afternoon-but very softly and
quietly.
The old woman sat down in the
rocking chair and hung her head.
She longed-God knows how bitterly!
to strain the delicate form to her
and rest the fair head on her breast
and kiss away the tears. Some sensi-
tive, Unborn delicacy constrained he1
not to approach Elvira. This was the
girls own trouble, and not to be shared
with or understood By another
Clarissa realized that she knew moth
ing of love and it's joys and sorrows;
the faint %prudery of the unmarried
woman made her fearful of approach
ing too closely into what Fate had
yelled from her.
Next morning she took Elvira to
Anne Hardy to buy the wedding silk
AS they walked down the village street
the girl prattled gayly. Now that the
first bitterness Of the parting was over
she could await with serenity her
lovers return, and be happy in these
preparations for her marriage, but the
whole mornings work was a SHARP
yet exquisite pain to Clarissa. She
was going to lose her child, and yet
she was decking her against the day.
She shopped lavishly, and with a
certain fierce vehemence. Elvira
should come out bride in the richest
Of pearl gray silks, and her bonnet
with it's costly white feather, should
long be remembered. What did the
price matter? When the child had
gone to New York she could pinch and
save. A lonely old m needs little
to support life.
Anne Hardy, her mouth full of pins,
draped the silk round the graceful
young figure.
"Sakes, Mis- Lane" she murmured
in frank admiration, 81 just guess
there will never be such a bride OF
dress seen here again. It's a real
pleasure to make for Elvira-that il
is"
Elvira smiled and blushed at the
warm flattery, but old Clarissa sat un-
moved. Were not such words hel