Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-06-13

very we'll lAhICoO Va hN'AA6 o.
time with the crowd as they always
did, they prefer to sit around by
themselves at parties and Virginia is
getting so dreamy that you have to
speak two or three times before she
realizes she is on earth
"Oh, WELL" said her sister, consol-
ingly, "all girls have those spells. l
remember how Bob Lane and used
to think our folks cruel and unsympa-
thetic because they r~uthlessly, spoiled
our cherished plans by sending us
away to school. Virginia will get over
her foolishness in good time and be
able to laugh at herself. Don't a
it to heart So"
Its all very well for you to take
that view, for your girls are too srSNL
to give you any trouble yet; but Just
wait a few years. Virginia's health
and lessons suffer while she is moping
around, and l really have to force her
to eat when she and Herbert have had
a little tiff. l wish they would fall out
and scratch each others faces as they
did years ago. Then maybe this non
sense would come to an end. I always
think of Editha when l see her, for
she moped just like that when she
was Virginia's age"
"Editha! The very person! Send
for her to come and spend a month
with you, and if that doesn't bring
Virginia to her senses nothing will.
1t will mean a lot of hard work, but
you will be repaid for that, l am
sure"
In less than a week Mrs. Castle was
able to carelessly at the
dinner table that Cousin Editha and
her family would visit them next
week, Mrs. Randolph narrowly
watched Virginia without seeming to
do so, and saw just what she expected
in the pretty face of her niece.
Cousin Editha!" said Virginia, with
a pleased look. 81 haven't seen ner
since the day I was flower girl at her
wedding. She was just II then-as
old as | am now-and l was ten. Do
you remember, mamma, how perfect
ly beautiful she looked?"
YES, she was a lovely bride" said
MIS-. Castle. UNLESS you eat more
supper, Virginia l cannot allow you
to go to the lecture this evening"
How many children has she?' ask
ed Mr.. Castle. Three or four?"
Three" answered his wife. 1.-TWO
boys and a baby girl"
The whole family had been instruct
ed as to behavior and these plotters
against Virginia determined to do or
die during the weeks to follow. Even
Rob promised to tear himself from the
delights of baseball, if by SC doing
Virginia could be made to act with
little common sense" as he expressed
it.
A few days later Cousin Editha and
her family made their appearance.
Give me the baby, Ede," said a
young man who had conducted two
small boys in dirty linen suits down
the car steps. "The brakeman will
carry your luggage"
"Ede!" Virginia looked in disgust
at the innocent young man, but her
disgust changed to establishment a
minute later when her mother kissed
the pale young wonan with her hat
on one side of her head and told hel
how delighted they were to see then
all. Was it possible that this was the
beautiful bride of seven years ago,
The long train, exquisite veil and
white flowers with which Cousin
Editha had always been invested in
Virginia's memory faded away before
this tired, thin woman and her little
family.
And this is Virginia" said Cousin
Editha, as soon as the boys had beer
packed in the surrey and the baby OF
Mrs. Castles lap. You're quite {
young lady, Virginia, and a pretty one
too. No, Carlos, mustn't whip the
horsie! Jack. stop pulling at the lines
Those children were clean when we
started, auntie, but only for a few
minutes, l suppose I'll have to take
the baby. She's cutting teeth and fear
fully cross. Yes, m Is well a.
usual, but she always seems tired
She helps me a little with the chill
dren and"-Jack! l have spoken to yol
for the last time! If you touch thos,
lines again I'll spank you as soon q
we get to auntie's."
Virginia sat silent during the shor
ride. Cousin Editha's husband ha,
walked with Rob, leaving the sure,
for the ladies and children, so Mrs
Race had the whole care of the livel,
infants. Mrs. Castle sat with her II
the back seat and Virginia had TIL
two boys with her in front, so Their,
was little chance for her joining II
the conversation if she had wished to
Her cousins sharp, tired voice gratet
unpleasant on her ears as she remem
bered the soft, low tones that had re
sponded so unsteady to the momer
tous questions the day she had bee,
the flower girl.
EIDE hasn't been very well lately
but l think the rest WILL do her good,
Mr., Race was saying to Mrs. Randolp,
when they drove up to the porch
i've got to hurry back to the city t
attend to some business, but I'm gla
to leave the babies in such goo
hands"
Virginia fastened to her room t
examine the extent of the damag
two pairs Of dusty shoes had done t
her dainty white dress, but her moth
err Dol called her down to wheel tn
baby while Cousin Editha rests a fey
minutes" The few minutes proved t
ho twn hours for Tho tirnd mnthn