Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-01-19

know more about it than | do"
Il don't think we need be quite so
distant; it sounds rather idiotic."
| Very WE'LL" said BERTHE. huffed; sit
was quite up to the level of my usual
conversation on first introductions
though"
"Oh, | didn't mean that" she said,
hastily. 81 mean, as we've known each
other so many years"
81 see. Well, I'm glad you put it in
that way, because l have something
rather-rather delicate to ask you,
something I couldn't ask a complete
stranger"
What is it," she said, in a low
voice, not quite knowing whether she
hoped or feared. He hesitated.
"The fact is, l should rather like you
to return me the ring l once gave YOU
er-you may perhaps remember
ooh, certainly" she said. She had
forgotten all about it; it was still on
her finger. She handed it to him. 81
am sorry; of course, ] meant to return
it to- you this afternoon. How foolish
of mel"
She would have liked at least one
more attack upon her ems of duty.
Not that she would have yielded, of
course.
mo-" said BERTHE, sit was rather
strange of me to ask for it. But the
fact is, I want it just now for a special
reason"
He held it between his thumb and
forefinger and looked at it tenderly.
She saw that the attack was coming,
and rejoiced.
what reason?" she said, almost in
a whisper.
"Well," he said, las we are on such
friendly terms, l don't mind confiding
it to you. You see that tall girl in
blue owe there, under that scrubby
green stuff"
"Maude Merchant" said Eva, start
led.
Eyes. Fact is, I've got the next
dance with her, and it struck me that
she's such a ripping girl that I've de-
cided to ask her to marry me, and on
occasions like this it is always useful,
I find, to have the ring ready, you
know"
"O!" said Eva. She could think of
nothing more to say.
"As you are a sort Of a sister, you
know" he went on dreamily, 81 don't
mind telling you how ~passionately I
love her. 1t is so nice to have some
body to confide in, in a case like this
somebody sympathetic. You know
Maude?"
YES" said Eva, in a choking voice.
isn't she a dear girl? Isn't she per-
feet? Did you ever see such hair, such
eyes, such an outlook? And her dis
position is so sweet"
Il think you've-you've made a very
good choice"
Eva was making a heroic effort to
see things in the common-sense light;
to a sister all this should be inter-
esting, nothing more.
I'm glad you are pleased" he said.
II value your opinion more highly than
that of any other friend I've got. So
you advise me to do it,"
20, yes!" she said, with hollow
cheerfulness.
Thank you, thank you so much!" he
said, shaking her hand earnestly and
looking into her eyes. isn't that the
next dance beginning"
1.-Two hoI q hao1oahn Che Intar-
mined to go home, and looked around
for her mother, but was claimed fol-
the next dance by an elderly gentle
man who would take no refusal. And
she was fortunate to have got rid OF
a man who could see anything in that
horsey Noreham creature.
Her next partner, a cheerful young
man, said, Have you heard the news
about Maude Noreham?"
Her heart sank, in spite of all her
determination. Observation-Disclosures en-
gagement?" she asked, family.
"Yes," said her partner. Lucky
beggar, isn't he?"
She didn't know what reply she
made, nor what they talked about for
the rest of that dance. She only knew
that, in order to do this so suddenly
BERTHE and that-that person must
have had an understanding for months
before. . must have simply been wait
ing for the opportunity. Unjust have
oh, the villainous treachery Of it all!
Mother, l really think we had bet
ter go now" she began. when her eye
fell on a familiar figure. BERTHE was
standing at the table. Though MUNICH
ing a sandwich, he looked the picture
of hopeless misery.
Nonsense, n~onsense!" said the
duke; 81 couldn't allow such a thing;
the next is my dance with Mrs. Row.
en-" And they went away and left her
helpless and alone.
BERTHE came slowly toward her,
m%ournfully rubbing crumbs off his
gloves. His step was heavy; it seemed
as if the light had gone out of his
life.
81 think the next is u dance, Miss
Rowen," he said, offering his arm.
What was she to do? She took 1t
and they walked toward the ballroom
in silence.
do you want to dance this?" he
asked, in hollow tones.
"Just as you like" she replied.
II do not feel" said BERTHE, las If
should aver want to dance again."
He took her to the conservatory and
they sat down in the same corner as
before. He groaned and put his head
on his hands. She waited, with some
surprise.
ooh for a little sympathy" he
moaned.