Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-09-19
/ aouate GESTURE; he vas utterly unlfEs

senate gesture: he was utterly unlnks
himself. His emotion burst through
and shattered pose and cynicism and
hard crus, OF selfshness like the Eek
I ploding powder bursting the shell. Il
can't give you up. Anital" he ex-
| claimed In a tone OF utter desperation
Il can't! ] cant!"
But her gaze was all this time stead
lily on me, as IL she feared l would go.
should she look away. Il will tell
you myself" she said, rapidly. to me.
"We-Uncle Howard and Tread in
the papers how they had all turned
against you. and he brought me over
here. He has been telegraphing for
you. This morning ne went to town
to search for you. About an hour ago
Langdon came. / refusedsto see him.
as / have ever since the time l told
you about at Alva's. He PERSISTED,
until at last I had the servant request
him to leave the house"
"But now there's 40 longer any
reason for your staying. Anita" he
pleaded. HE has said you are free.
Why stay when you would really no
more be here than If you were to go,
leaving one of your empty dresses?"
She had not for an instant taken
her gaze from me; and so strange
were her eyes, so compelling. that I
seemed unable to move oil speak.
But now she released me to blaze
upon him-and neve shall l forget
any detail of her face or voice as she
said to him: THAT Is false, Now
bray Langdon. l told you the truth
when l told you l loved him!"
So violent was her emotion that
she had to pause for %self-control. And
1? 1 was overwhelmed, dazed
3 stunned. When she went on, she
was looking at neither of us. YES
I I loved him, almost from the first
from the day he came to the box al
the races. l was ashamed, poor crea
r ture that my parents had made me!
) | was ashamed of 1t. And l tried tt
' hate him, and thought I did. And
: when he showed me that he 40 longe'
cared, my pride goaded me into thu
. folly of trying to listen to you. Blu
I loved him more than ever. And a
you and he stand here, I am ashame'
again-ashamed that I vas ever s.
blind and ignorant and prejudiced a
to compare him with"-she looked a
Langdon-"with you. Do you believ
me now-now that l humble mysel
before him here in your presence?"
l should have had no heart at a.
: If l had not felt pity for him. Hi
face was gray, and OF 1t were thos
signs Of age that strong emotio
brings to the surface after Al
"You could have convinced me in n
other way" he replied, after a 8
lence, and in a voice l should nc
. have recognized.
z Silence again. Presently he raise
: his head, and with something of hi
| old cynicism bowed to her.
you have avenged much an
many" said he. 81 have often had
, presentiment that my day of wrat
would come"
He lifted his hat, bowed at me wit
out looking at me, and, drawing tn
tatters of his pose still further owe
his wounds, moved away toward tt
landing.
I, still in a stupor, watched him u
til he had disappeared. When
turned to her, she dropped her eye
Uncle Howard will be back tn
afternoon" said she. III l may, I
stay at the house until he comes
! take me-"
A weary, half-suppressed sig
escaped from her. | knew how 81
must be reading my silence, but w
still unable to speak. She went to Il
horse, browsing near by; she stroke
his muzzle. Lingeringly she twin'
! her fingers In his name, as If abo
: to spring to his back! That remin
, ed me of a thousand and one chang
! in her-little changes, each a trit
, in itself, yet, taken all together, ma
7 ing a complete transformation.
Let me help you," l managed
Say. ana l Dent, anu uiduo q 81
of my hand.
She touched her fingers to +
shoulder, set her narrow, graceful fo
upon my palm. But she did not ris
I glanced up, she was gazing VISIT
ly down at me.
women have to learn by experien
Just as do men," said she, forlorn
"Yet men will not tolerate It,"
1 suppose I must suddenly ha
looked what / was unable to put In
words-for her eyes grew very wiz
Of and, with a cry that was a sigh a
a sob, and a laugh and a caress
in one, she slid into my arms and
=. face was burning against mine.
III do you remember the night at I
theater," she murmured, when yc
lips almost touched my neck?-
n az loved you then-Black Matt-Bla
Matt!"
And I found voice; and the hol
IT, wandered away.
as 1.-THE End.]