Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-05-11
WHAT is IT, PAUL."

the wavelets on the pebbly beach be-
meath them. Then Elinor, uplifting
her face, looked upon the clear-cut
features of the slender youth at her
side and saw that the dark eyes were
filled with sadness and trouble. She
impulsively bent forward, and with
slender, tapering fingers touched his
shoulder as though to turn him toward
her, while with almost a sob in her
voice she murmured-
What is it, Paul? Tell mel"
And then the lad, throwing himself
on his face, seized in both his the
trembling little hand. MY heart is not
there!'' he sobbed. you know we'll
where it is, but-my duty" Alright
ed now, she sought to draw away her
hand, but he chung to it. mo, Nell,
no." he cried. ITS the first time l
ever dared! It's the last time l ever
may! I'm going, Nell; I've got to go,
but remember, my heart isn't there.
It's here-it's here with you!"
And then on a sudden he sprang to
his feet, for voices, close at hand, broke
the silence. Some one was climbing
the pathway up the height. An in
slant of listening and Elinor, too,
sprang to her feet.
"If you know he's going to join the
rebel army and can prove it, why,
that's enough" painted the first speak
er. THE trouble is to prove it. Other
wise there's no law to hold him."
Prove it! By heaven, Curtis, you
make me swear!" was the vehement
answer. IF our postmaster would only
do his duty we could prove far more
that he's in the rebel service at this
minute-that he's here a spy in our
understanding notes of all our prep
arations and forces and numbers, and,
just as Andre was hung on the Hudson
so years ago, so should that young
scoundrel hang here now. The laws
of war the world over will tell you
So"
And then scrambling to the crest,
full in the light of the unclouded
moon, the two climbers Strengthened
up and stood face to face with the mar
of whom they were speaking, Elinor
Benton clinging, trembling, in speech
less indignation at his side.
For a moment there was awkward
silence. Paul Ladue, with cleaning
eyes stood squarely, confronting the
foremost, a portly man of 80 years,
who was still breathing hard as the
result of his climb. His companion,
tall and spare and a few years older,
slowly ranged himself alongside his
friend and looked to him to speak. The
stout mar stared for a few seconds at
the silent twain, partly to recover
breath, partly to o wits. Finally
he lamely said, "Oho!"
Then finding the steadfast gaze of
Ladue's burning brown eyes hard to
bear, he turned to his companion.
Rather a-coincidence, isn't it?" said
he. This remark, too, fell fiat, for nc
response followed. 1t became neces-
sary to say something more to relieve
the situation, and obviously the gentle
man knew not what to say. If there
lived in this western community a
man Paul Ladue held in especial dis
favor, it was George McKinnon, junior
partner in the. firm of Benton, Gray &
McKinnon, attorneys and c~ounselors
at law, and it was George McKinnon
who stood there in the flesh and who
but a moment before, had denounced
him as deserving the fate Of The spy
Ample reason had he to hate McKinnor
for, ever since Elinor's return tn,
previous autumn from a visit to rela,
tives In the east. that spergstic praai