Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-09-19

a seat within, he hastened away In
her service.
The ready sympathy and aid accord
ed her in her dire need, had quickly
won the confidence of his fair COM
panion, and her ardent appreciation
of the kindness thus bestowed, in.
spired the desire to render herself
as agreeable and as little burdensome
as possible; and ere a mile Law No
hind them, her little story had been
briefly confided; how her father. be-
ing in adverse circumstances, had left
her three months before in N-ville.
with friends, while he had gone out
in the country to begin life anew.
AS the villagers had informed him,
the road was neither difficult nor OBJ
scure, and In little more than an. hour
he drew rein before the comfortable
looking country house known as Red.
bank Farm.
Almost before he could assist her,
his eager companion had sprang light
ly to the ground, and was already at
door, while Leonard more deliberately
secured the horse. He could not
bring himself to leave her thus alb
ruptly, without at least learning the
result of her fears for the one so dear
to her.
Advancing therefore to the door
through which he had seen her disap-
pear, he was met by a woman whose
kind face betokened unmistakable
gravity.
1T is fortunate you have brought
her" she said, with the ready com
municativeness common to rural dis
tricts, and evidently supposing that
Leonard had accompanied her young
visitor as a friend or relative. "The
poor man has been calm for her day
and night, and l hope now he'll die
peaceful"
What" cried Leonard, with
! startled emotion that surprised him
self, do you meal to say he is so Ill
as that?"
80 ill.," repeated his hostess. why
he cannot last more'n an hour,
should say. Why was his girl so SLOW
in comm? l wrote a letter for hin
myself, when he was first took, nea1
three weeks ago., and l took care t.
write on the back of 1t: in haste!'"
For the simple reason that the let
ter did not reach her till yesterday,
replied Leonard, almost resentfully
How could it go through the mai
with no stamp upon it,"
mo stamp!" repeated the woman,
look of deep contrition suddenly over
spreading her c~ountenance. "Deary
deary! I never thought O that!
haven't wrote a letter since I was
girl, when they used to be paid TO
at the other end. l never thought c
the stamp"
She turned hastily away, an
Leonard in%stinctively followed to tn
room near by, where as she softl
opened the door, they both stoo
motionless on the threshold.
1t was truly a scene to move tn
stoniest heart. With a reckless han
the girl had tossed her hat aside, an
kneeling on the floor at the bedsid'
her head was buried on the breas
of the sick man, his wan hand restin
caressingly but helplessly on the sol
brown tresses. But on his pallid fact
worn by illness and many a trace {
sorrow, beamed now a smile of il
effable peace and satisfaction, Will
in whispers came the words:
I II knew you would come, my da
ling; 1 knew 1 could not go withol
. seeing you once more"
i. Heart-broken sobs ~convulsing tt
slight young form alone answere
him, till at last came the cry:
n "Oh, father, do not leave me! "
will not die and leave me all alone!'
~ The piteous appeal seemed sudde
ly to disturb that rapture Of pea
" which the fulfillment of his ceasele
q prayer had brought, and over the d
ing face crept a visible shad
Helplessly he gazed upon the he;
pillowed on his breast, and then
+" with mute duplication he raised /
is dim eyes; they fell by chance as
n. were, full on Leonard's plying face
n. In a moment the latter stood best
ID him.
,s I am a stranger to you and yo
10 daughter" he said, soothingly, *
if I can do anything for you, you ha
IL only to ask"
only be a friend to her If you cal
whispered the dying man, with pa
70 full effort, increased by the emoti
a stirred within him, and with one mt
glance of utterable love upon her
81 was leaving, his eyes closed, and
IL stiffness of death fell softly upon
20 sick
Through all the autumn and win
months that followed, faithfully
h. discharged the trust SO generou
90 undertaken, proving himself the
est Of friends and councillors. In
spring suddenly Leonard awoka to
he himself a prisoner fast caught in
net which Love had woven of tire
spun by chance.
w ..-
owl RINGS FIRE ALARM.