Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-10-17

1t was with a satisfied smile that
she opened the small gate to admit
DR.. Garde into the old-fashioned gar
hours later.
"Hester's gone to see little Ruth
Gilmore" she explained, but sit
right down. You look tired"
Felix Garde dropped into the quaint
garden-seat YEARLY, and, holding his
hat in his hand, let the cool breeze
play across his forehead. His eyes
had a sad and somewhat tired look.
How sweet it is here" he said.
Mrs. Splint looked at him keenly.
Then she made a bold move.
Il should think you're gettin'
about tired of Twin alone" she re-
marked.
The doctor glanced at her quickly,
but she met his gaze without finch
ing.
What do you mean?" he asked.
What 1 say; you'd be happier if
you could make up your mind to
marry again."
The man sighed.
"You knew Madeline, Mrs. Splint,"
he said at last, "and you know that
my heart died with her"
Mrs. Splint gave vent to an internal
"Humph!" Aloud she said nothing.
"It would not be right" he said
slowly.
What would not?"
Suddenly he faced her.
would it be right? You are a
woman; tell me, would I be justified
in marrying when there is so little l
could give in return for any woman's
companionship?"
Mrs. Splint looked at him steadily.
She wished he could see what was in
her mind without her telling him,
He sat very still for a while and
Jane Splint, being a wise woman, did
not interrupt his thoughts. At length
he rose and put his hat firmly on his
head.
Il think l will go and bring Hester
home" he said.
When Hester Maxwell entered her
aunt's sitting-room an hour later
there was a glorified look in her ayes
which lent a strange beauty to her
face.
Aunt Jane" she said quietly, 81 am
engaged to be married to DR.. Garde."
For the lands sake!" Mrs. Splint's
knitting dropped in her lap and sew
eral stitches slipped. She had not ex-
pected this so soon.
"Say you are glad, aunt"
Indeed l am" that lady replied
truthfully, while she gently stroked
her niece's soft hair.
The engagement was a short one.
If she missed anything in his
during their engagement or the early
months of their married life; no one,
not even the doctor himself, ever
knew 1t. And so the weeks slipped
away and winter drew near.
1t was late in December. Hester
sat alone in her small neat sitting
room with some soft, white stuff on
hSi AoP, Oob ohC wac hOL bC"luS. Olc
was thinking of her husband, and OF
the fact that, though she had been his
wife nearly half a year, she had never
yet heard the words Of love from his
lips which should have been uttered
before he asked her to share his life.
She rose with an unconscious sigh
and went to the front door, for some
n had turned in at the gate, and
though she tried to greet her visitor
cordially, Nettie Mixter's presence
just at that time grated on her.
Come right in and lay off your
things" she said.
Nettie stepped into the warm sit
ting-room, where a large stove gave
out a genial glow, her small eyes TAX
ing in the details of the room with a
quick, ~envious glance.
my! but you're gettin' quite fixed
up" she remarked tartly.
Hester drew a chair nearer the
stove for her visitor, and resumed her
own seat by the window.
You're gettin' ready for summer
pretty early, amt you?" Nettie said
presently. THAT a lawn waist?"
mo" The color rushed into Hes
ter's face.
"Tm most forgettin' what 1 come
for" her visitor resumed; mamma
wants to know If the doctor could
step round and see her tomorrow;
she's got that pain under her shoulder
again."
I'm sorry to hear that; I'll tell
him." Hester said.
"Oh, say, Miss Hunter was in to
see us yesterday, and I most. died
hearin' her tell NAV about Mrs.
Splint's .cllin' her what a time she
had gettin' the doctor up to the
scratch"
Hester gave her a puzzled look. The
small, dark eyes encountered hers
with a vindictive CLEAN.
MRS. Splint said he never'd have
got to the proposin' point If she
hadn't given him a push, as good as
told him, in fact, that he could have
you for the askin'. Well" rising
leisurely, 81 must go. Come round
soon, Hester, and bring your SEWN"
Hester Garde shut the door directly
her visitor had stepped outside. There
were N prolonged good-byes. She re-
turned slowly to her seat near the
window and looked out at the bleak,
threatening day. The hands holding
the garment in her lap trembled until
the small, lace frills quivered as IL in