Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-07-12
BY AID OF
By MARVIN DANA
(Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

ing, the various members of the coach
ing party were detailing impressions
from the days trip.
By common consent the others
paused when Madam la Baronne de
Vaux began to speak. The dainty
F-renchwoman was a favorite with all,
and she was usually sure of listeners
to whatever she chose to say.
"Ah, that little village" she crie!,
gaily. THAT little village all of wood,
with its wooden church! But in
France it had been all OF brick n
stone. Yet it was like-oh, SO very
like!-a tiny place quite near our
chateau. And it was there that some
thing happened once, something droll,
and sweet"
Madam la Baronne paused and
smiled, and the sweetness in her face
d%eepened, and the drollness flashed in
her black eyes.
Tell us, please tell us, madam" the
others clamored.
Surely" the baroness replied.
There was a dear old boy lived in
the village, and, too, a dear old lady.
He was an old bacnelor, and h was
an old maid. Once, years and years
and years ago, she and ne had been
sweethearts. Somehow they could not,
or would not, marry. He went away
for years, while she remained in the
village always. Then at last he came
back, and they were good friends.
| UNLa,, a,o 4~N la b. ~ ,,,ry nv CO thnu
thought. But every evening he called
on her, and they sat and chatted on
the veranda when the season was
right, and at other times they sat in
two great chairs before the little fire
in the little parlor of her cottage.
"One winters night, when the air was
most biting and their old blood chilled
by the frost of it, they sat cozily n
the parlor, as always, and the old gen.
tleman, l suppose, was very busy to
heap the tiny fire high and to keep the
blaze brisk, so that they sat snugly in
their huge chairs and basked in the
warm glow, and chatted lazily and
drowsily of the past days, when love
was hot in their young hearts,"
Madam la Baronne broke off and
ran her merry eyes over the group
about her.
Have none of you read the tale?"
she questioned. mo? Well, there is
little more. Indeed, l have only to
finish nov In the morning, when the
bonnie entered the parlor to dust it and
put things straight, she found the dear
old gentleman and the dear old lady
in their great chairs before the dying
fire in the tiny CRATE, and they were
sound asleep!"
The baroness smiled, and laughter
ran in the circle around her.
They were married as quickly as
the law would allow. Otherwise there
must have been a whisper of scandal.
And, oh, l am sure that they lived
happy ever after; yes, even as happy
as before!"
5 The group chartered mcrrily over
the narrative and thanked the racon.
} teuse with enthusiasm.
And now let us have some music
the baroness suggested, and turned tc
, a patriotic American. of course
that means you, Mr.. Blennen."
t Blennen's dark, thin face lighted
with a pleasant smile, as he nodded
an assent to the general demand, bu1
before he rose from his chair his eyes
wandered toward a woman at a little
: distance from him and there they rest.
eL with a suggestion of expectation il
their gaze. Almost instantly the
, woman turned to meet his look, ant
. she spoke eagerly:
"Oh, please, Mr.. Blennen."
A the words a glow of pleasure
shone from the musicians face, and h,
; fastened toward the piano.
The early summer night of the Hud
!, son valley was soft, %languorous, silent
save for the restful droning of the in
sects. Through the open windows O
the great drawing-room came the lux
urious mingleu perfumes of many bios
SONS. 1t was a night and a compan,
for music. For Blennen, though
i the inheritor of a princely fortune
: was a master of music.
When he had finished, and the crow,
of enthusiasts at last allowed him Il
break from their compliments, he wen
to her.
She made place beside her, an,
! flashed a glance of fond pride upol
; him.
:, 1T was wonderful, wonderful" sh
u cried, softly. Your genius, Vance, |
u so true-so splendidly true! All, whe,
i | listened to you, my soul went float
ing in a magic land of harmony. /
= She broke off abruptly. Then, wit.
d hardly a seconds pause, she continued
gayly:
n 81 should never mind my insomnia
/ If | could lie and hear you playing"
h Poor child! you don't show any sig
of it. You are as fresh and dainty, a
g lovely and superb IS ever-more beau
e tiful in my eyes, Grace"
e The woman blushed and dropped he
9 gaze in confusion at the passion i
his voice. Her silence emboldene
I'M, and he continued in an cage
o Whisper:
Tell me, Grace, is not my happines
l. coming to me so~on-soon?"
But the woman raised her hand ar
pealingly, whilst she avoided the Ions
ing eyes:
Don't, Vance. No, no, not yet. | al
afraid"
The emotion in her voice checke
him from another plea, and the al
guish of despair griped his heart.
Blennen, alone in his o thi
night, reviewed the situation. He we
confronted by the vital fact that
loved Mrs. Morse with all his sou
hut fbof tho hannv issue Of his 10y