Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-10-12

sit out on the porch, where it was COO
and dark.
very WELL" she said, "if you don't
enjoy dancing with me. I'm rather
tired"
He chose to ignore her challenge and
led her to a corner where they could be
alone.
81 suppose l ought not" he said, ito
drag you away from the count, but this
is probably the last chance I'll have and
there's one or two things want to say
to you. OF course you don't know that
there are people around here who have
begun to bet on you, do you?"
Il hadn't heard Of any such thing"
"a wager was made a little while ago
that involves a suit of clothes on each
side. The announcement of your EN-
gagement to the count will have to be
made within a week, or some n will
lose"
How interesting. Let me sea suit
of clothes is what a gentleman usually
bets on an election, isn't it?"
Its likely to be-"
81 am immensely fattered. An cleo
ton ought to be an important thing.
And if what is bet on an election is bet
on mt I must also be important, mustn't
I? The count will be amused when l
tell him about it. He will regard it as
one of our delightful unconventional
tiles. Oh, that music is too good to lose.
Don't you want to dancer"
The count was waiting for her when
they finished, and it was two weeks later
when she and Thornton met again.
Billey Renshaw had o his bet. Her
engagement to Count baskerville had
been announced within the specified
time, and her sister, Mrs. Richmond,
was one of the happiest women in the
world. 1t was she, in fact, who had
heralded the glad news.
Thornton had taken dinner at the club
and was sitting alone in a corner of this
big living-room. She stood beside him
before he knew that anyone had en-
tered.
WELL" she said, extending a hand
dlCu Y yOu SOlu6 W SohSi dLulntS llS
II suppose I'll have to, to be polite
But I'm not sure that you are the one
to be congratulated"
Very nice of you to say that-aftel
you've lost"
after I've lost-yes. But I've got Sc
used to losing that don't expect any
thing else any more"
What a pessimist! l suppose you're
blaming poor old Fate, too"
mo, | don't believe in Fate. It's jus
a case of people. If othe; people coult
find happiness in making me happy tn
whole question would be solved. Blu
there's the trouble. To make me happ.
it would be necessary for other peopl
to make themselves miserable. So
; continue to- lose"
, still, l don't believe you would keel
|, on losing if you always really played t.
win. One can hardly expect to be vic
torious when one gives ones gam
away. Your tailor probably is glad
though"
81 don't see where he in"
THE suit that you will have to pa
J for. Isn't he going to make it?"
After he had explained that he ha
: not been a party to the wager they sa
looking steadily at each other for a Ion
time.
But" she said at last, you haven
yet convinced me that you always pla
to win
There was something in the way st
said it that brought him out of HI
stupor, and he caught her hands an
held them.
"What," he asked, when she insiste
that they must not remain there alon
any longer, will the count say?'
81 don't know she answered with
sigh. Probably he will call it anothe
of our delightful unconventionalities
Chicago Record-Herald.