Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-12-06
Lavender
Lovers
BY OLIVIA B. srRoHM
~tcopyrish., 1905. BY Olivia B. strohm,.
CHAPTER XI. DISCONTINUED.

Ia the huge CHIMNEY, unQe the
crane-hung kettle, fickered a small
fire. Shadows danced on floor and
Watson the white draped bed in the
corner-on the snowy cloth spread
over the table, a rude slab on oaken
posts.
Guns hung on the buck horns above
the door; an old print of the Madonna,
and a few family portraits In dull
frames, decked duller wall. The color
ing was somber, but the freight glow,
and the sparkle Of silver on the table,
frightened the interior. Everywhere
was a nameless charm, foreign to the
wildwood. Perhaps it was in the white
curtains-in the basket of gay worstea,
in the wild flowers blooming on a
telpiece and table.
When the meal was finished, Law
ender filed her fathers pipe. "Do you
know, dad, that you are giving your
self altogether too many fancy airs?
There Ii such a painful contrast be-
tween your buckskin coat and this gold
tobacco box. And Is for mother-that
knot Of real lace is poking fun at the
linsey gown 1t adorns."
"But not at the face above It, child"
and Mr.. Creighton looked fondly at
his wife. AS for you, saucy MINK"
he added, these dainty hands and
feet are quite out Of place here. As
long as you wear high-heeled slippers
and an amber bracelet, don't laugh
ct your poor fathers luxury"
"But the shoes-my dear Virginia
shoes-are wearing out. What shall I
do then, Dad?"
do as did the men at Valley Forge,
dear; bind them up with rags"
Just then there vas a shutting step
outside, and the rattle Of pals. Law
ender few to the door to admit Amer
lea, who, as she entered, grumbled to
herself: Reckon y'all t'ink I'm slower
'n'lassesin winter, but dat ole moody COW
is de mos onrulines' critter eber I seed.
She was in de gully crost de crick, an /
had de beatenes' time gittin' her
calm 'Suke' till my th'oat mos
cracked. Den It TUX me q pow'ful time
to git my. strippins."
While she was talking America was
emptying the warm milk into broad
pans, and Lavender carried them into
the small lean to that served as kitch.
en-. and which the old negress calls the
quarters" IN memory Of days on
Blennerhasset island-days which she
would never allow to be better, but to
which, in many little ways, she paid
unconscious tribute.
Suddenly, in the midst of pouring
the milk, she stopped with hands on
her hips, exclaiming: $50 Gawd, ]
done forgot to tell val dat some
body's comm up de ribber. Hit mout
be Mars. Gerald, but de skift AIM
white. Oar was only one man in it
and peered like he was pullin' fer dii
yer sho'.'
Unconsciously, Mr.. Creighton's eye.
sought his gun, and his hand moved
to the hunting-knife in the silver scab
bard at his belt.
Lavender went to the window -s
loop-hole heavily barred. Twilight wa!
almost over, and the zone of gian'
pines that bound the clearing doomed
into the fast b%lackening zenith.
Somebody is crossing the stile," sh'
said. "Ah, 1t is Senior Gonzaga."
Opening the door, she met him will
frank cordially, and he bowed i'm
pressiveIy over her hand.
They were all surprised, but delight
ed, and Mrs. Creighton asked: "Yol
are living near us, senior?
mot permanently, madam, it is m.
purpose to travel through the new ter
ritory, and l only stopped for a shor
stay in st. Charles. Friends are rar
In this Country, and one likes to re
main neal them as long as possible.
He glanced at Lavender, but she wa
busy with the snood that bound he
hair, and took no notice of his word
or look.
To the exiled family, the presence Q
q visitor was a treat, and they were al
brighter for this breath Of the QUITE
world. Besides, this man was edr
Gated, had travelled much, and Their
waa FOOD for conversation outside thei
present narrow scope in his wild
knowledge Of men and things.
Gonzaga noticed that Mrs. Creighto
was paler, thinner, with deeper line
about the mouth, and at the corner
of her Swallowed eyes.
To MI. Creighton he gave attentio
as a new factor in his plans. But b
mentally decided that he need TAX
him slightly into consideration. Th
elder Creighton was a quiet man-nt
selfshly absorbed, but with a min
which, being long focused upon pra
tical daily troubles, was narrowed I
the contemplation of those thinl
which were his own and his family
immediate concern. Reserved, nj
laxative or fond Of entertaining, b
well-bred courtesy was, nevertheless
unfailing; his habit Of mind INTEL
gent, sober.
Gonzaga read this all clearly. and d
cided that upon the mother must he d
pend for influence with Lavender.
this he took careful note, saying
himself with an amused smile: II
the father, a sweetheart more or les
will not matter; he will concern hir
self little with me"
The evening was nearly over, az
still the visitor had addressed no wol
IN private with Lavender. For this, Il
maid was thankful; hers raj a kee
ness Of intuition, fostered by the y
ried experiences Of the last Re
months; by the new and strange mo,
OF life. The shrinking bashfulness-
the guileless ignorance, which'the fas