Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-06-27
CHAPTER xx.-Continued.

"If anything disagreeable should be
laid or done this evening here" she
said, Il want you to promise me that
sou'n restrain yourself, and not say or
No any of those things that make me
THAT jar on me. You understand"
Il am always myself" replied l. Il
Lan't be anybody else"
But you are-several different
kinds of SELF" she insisted. And
please-this evening don't be that
kind. It's coming into your eyes and
chin now"
had lifted my head and looked
round, probably much like the leader
ger.
rs this better?" said l, trying to
look the thoughts l had no difficulty
in getting to the fore whenever my
eyes were on her.
Her smile rewarded me. But 1t dis
appeared, gave place to a look Of ner-
vous alarm, Of terror even, at the
rustling, or, rather, bustling, of skirts
In the hall-there was war in the very
sound, and felt it. Mrs. Ellersly ap-
peared, bearing her husband as a de-
iected trailer invisibly but firmly
coupled. She acknowledged my salu-
tation with a ~stiff-necked nod, ignored
my extended hand. l saw that she
wished to impress upon me that she
was a very grand lady indeed; but,
while my ideas Of what constitutes a
lady we're at that time somewhat be-
logged by my snobbishness, she failed
dismally. She looked just what she
was-a mean, b~ad-tempered woman,
in a towering rage.
"You have forced me, Mr.. Black
!ock," said she, and then l knew for
just what purpose that voice of hers
was best a~dapted-"to say to you
what l should have preferred to write.
Mr.. Ellersly has had brought to his
ears matters in connection with your
private life that make it imperative
that you discontinue your calls here"
MY private life, ma'am?" l repeat
ed. 81 was not aware that | had a
private life"
Anita, leave us alone with Mr..
Blackjack" commanded her mother.
The girl hesitated, bent her head,
and with a cowed look went slowly to-
ward the door. There she paused,
and, with what seemed a great effort,
lifted her head and gazed at me, How
I eve came rightly to interpret her
look | don't know, but I said: Miss
Ellerlsly, I've the right to insist that
you stay" l saw she was going to
obey me, and before Mrs. Ellersly
could repeat her order l said: Now,
madam, if any one accuses me of hav-
ing done anything that would cause
you to exclude a man from your
house, | am ready for the liar and his
lie."
AS I spoke I was searching the
weak, bad old face Of her husband for
al explanation. Their pretense Of out
ragged morality l rejected at once-it
was absurd. Neither up town nor
down, nor anywhere else, had l done
anything that any one could regard as
a breach of the code of a man of the
world. Then, reasoned I, they must
have found some one else to help
them out of their financial troubles
some n who, perhaps, has made this
insult to me the price, Or part Of the
price, Of his generosity. Who? Who
hates me? In instant answer, up be-
fore my mind flashed a picture OF
Tom Langdon and Sam Ellersly arm
in arm entering Lewis Office. Tom
Langdon wishes to marry her; and
her parents wish it, too; he is the
man she was c~onfessing to mi about
these were my swift conclusions.
I'VE do not care to discuss the mat
ter, sir" Mrs. Ellersly was replying,
her tone indicating that it was not fit
to discuss. And this was the woman
/ had hardly been able to treat civilly,
so ~nauseating were her fawnings and
gatherings!
sol" | said, ignoring her and open
ing my batteries full upon the old
man. you are taking orders from
Mowbray Langdon, Why?
AS | spoke, | was conscious that
there had been some change in Anita.
! looked at her. With startled eyes
and lips apart, she was advancing to-
ward me.
ANITA, leave the room!" cried Mrs.
Ellersly harshly, panic under the COM
mand in her tones.
| fclt rather than saw my advan-
tage, aud pressed it.
"You see what they are doing, Miss
Ellersly," said /.
She passed her hand over her eyes,
let her face appear again. In it there
was an energy Of repulsion that ought
to have seemed exaggerated to me
then, knowing really nothing of the
true situation. 4 understand now!'
said she. "Oh-lt is-loathsome!"
And her eyes blaze6 upon her mother.
"Loathsome," | echoed, dashing at
my opportunity. IF you are not mere
~ q chattel and a decoy, II there is
any womanhood, any ~self-respect in
you, you will keep faith with me-"
"Anita!" cried Mrs. Ellersly. Go
to your room!"
I had, once or twice before, heard
a tone as rep~ulsive--a female dive
keeper hectoring her wretchd white
slaves. I looked at Anita. l expect
ed to see her erect, defiant Instead,
she was again wearing that cowed
look.
Don't judge me too harshly," she
said pleadingly to me. Il know what
is right and decent-God planted that