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

had been feeling lonely and somewhat
depressed and tired from her long days
work, and she had SO entirely entered
into his appreciation of Serino's I'M
happiness.
Yes, those were the reasons.
"All noble women live for others.
Self-sacrificing is the measure of moral
greatness. Take care you do not spoil
the lad. Let him study, but put re-
sponsibilities on him, and make him
bear them. Do not take all the burden
on your shoulders; let him share them.
1t will develop him and give him a
mans strength" the queer stranger
gravely %counseled, and the quick jump
of her heart made Bette realize that
his words struck a hidden fear she had
never been willing to acknowledge.
The door slammed and a quick rush
was heard up the stairs to the accom-
paniment of a ragtime whistle, ending
with a call, Bette! Bethel"
A handsome, well-dressed lad dashed
II liS III aliu ian up W bClIlt, hlSStu
her and flung his books on a chair.
What kept you so late, Carl?" Bette
asked, passing her white hand caress-
ing over his head, folding up her work.
Went out swimming with some
boys. I'm as hungry as a bear. Hurry
and get supper, Bette, won't you?"
Carl, were those the boys l asked
you not to go with? Those rough fell
lows on the levee? They are no asso-
ciates for you. Did you not promise
me?" Bette looked troubled and vexed.
ooh, bother, Bette! A boy is not
like a girl. What difference does it
make? They are not a bad lot, and
they are loads of fun. One fellow-but
I suppose l better not tell you, you'll
think it was awful. 1t was only Toms
fun"
TON Kelley? What did he do,
Carl?"
ooh, nothing much; just took a lot
Of apples from old Bertrand's stand
at the market. You ought to have seen
the clever way he lodged the police
man."
Carl laughed carelessly, but a keen
look of anxiety came over Bettie's face,
and her queer neighbor, still standing
a spectator, in the growing twilight,
looked keenly compassionate a he
watched the brother and sister.
The boy, Carl, was strictly hand
some, but not like Bette, his face
lacked the decision and strength of
hers, and in his brown eyes and rather
full lips the watcher from the other
side of the rusty railing read what he
feared.
"The burden will increase in weight.
and he will never lift nor bear it. He
will impose it on her, and it will break
her proud spirit and crush her to the
EARTH" murmured the man.
tits hot in that dark, old room.
Let's eat supper out here, Bette. Call
on me when you r ready, and I'll
go in and help you bring it out. Do
hurry. Hello?"
Carl, who had dragged an armchair
on the balcony and threw himself into
it, started at sight of the gray-haired
stranger, composedly smoking, a few
feet away, and who was scrutinizing
him keenly.
"Tm your sisters neighbor and
friend, Won Buford. We were speak
ing of your schooling. Would you like
to go to school in Germany"
Carl sprang up delightedly and was
soon deep in a discussion as to what
he could and would do in the way of
study if he had the opportunity.
The stranger listened intentively and
sternly.
would you study, or do you prefer
to be idle and dissipate and lose the
opportunity of an honorable career and
break the heart of that noble and beau
tiful girl, your sister?
'Have you the courage and manhood
to resist the follies and, temptations
Of youth. and, taking her for a guild
ing star, strive and toll to reach up
to the heights on which she stands, so
far above you? If SO, young man, 1
will open the way for you. l will put
within your reach the weapons of
knowledge, which will enable you to
lead an honorable and useful life.
You can then buy back your ancestral
home for her. She is worthy of every
effort and sacrifice"
Carl, staggered and amazed, stood
silent, hardly able to grasp the mean
ing of the strangers offer, when Bet
tie came out holding a tray prettily
set.
Bring out the table, Carl, we'll take
supper out here. Will you join us?
I'm sure you can step over the rail-
ing" she said, with friendly hospital
ity, to her neighbor, moved by a singu-
lar impulse of confidence.
why, Sis! l did not know that
you and Count Won Buford were
friends" Carl whispered hurriedly, as
I)CltlG ocuL Hill Ill lOl IL6 CF6dIll Ill Uu6
ice box.
Bettie's invitation was promptly &C.
cepted, her neighbor stepping over
and Joined them. Setting around the
little table, while the stars came out,
and a crescent moon gilded the dingy
house-tops, and peeped down the mar
row street below, where the days
traffic over, ONE ragged urchins
played craps on the edge of the gutter,
under an electric light, Bettie's neigh
Dor told her of his intentions to take
Carl back to Germany with him, give
him a scholarship in a royal college
and supervise his life and studies.
HE will be a successful man later
on, and he can purchase back from me
the home on the Teche you were think
ing of, when the canary bird sang of