Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-01-10
Lavender
Lovers
By OLIVIA B. sTRoHr1
Copyright. 1925, BY olivia B. suOhml
CHAPTER xvII.-CoNr1NuED.

optical delIsion common to the fever,
and so binding al to account for her
error-weak, too, and i'll as she was.
Another trick of fate to aid him.
His quick wit saw the possible advan-
tage for him in the role Of the favored
Winslow. And Lavender had not
heard her mothers words; she need
not know that he spoke in other char
acter.
Louder this time, and for the bene-
ut of the listening girl, he said: Per
haps my halo is brightest because I
bring good news. We are trying to
arrange for your return home; do you
want to go?"
The thin face, outlined In perfect
profile against the pillow, relaxed in a
smile of infantine sweetness; the eyes
glowed with eagerness as though be.
hind each a tiny cresset burned. But
the spark went out, as, quick upon
the heels of delight, came the sense
Of duty-the habit of sacrifice.
II cannot leave the rest" she muir
INJURED.
"And what if they go too? What II
you all go home t~ogether?"
"Ah, that would be the answer to
prayer"
"And you will get well faster II we
promise to take you back?"
She nodded slowly, with perfect
trust and a happy sigh Of content, and
then sank again to the pillow.
During this dialogue, Lavender had
drawn closer, standing tense and up
right against the wall, her ears
strained for the words which seemed
freighted with a new, strange mean.
ing.
AS Gonzaga pronounced the pronoun
"we," she gave an involuntary start,
and took a step nearer. But before
she could speak, Gonzaga, anxious to
close the interview while yet It re-
bounded to his favor, bowed over Mrs.
Weighton's hand and withdrew.
Lavender followed him past the sem
tinel on the threshold, who moved
readily enough this time, to let the OBJ
noxious visitor pass out. At the open
ing of the irregular row Of stones
which served as fence, they paused.
Lavender was the first to break ST.
lence. WAS it right to raise mothers
hopes with such a definite promise?
It will be all the harder to disappoint
her."
"Why must she be disappointed!
There is a way"
She was not looking directly into
his eyes, or she must have read theiI
message. Her own were upon the
sumach bushes opposite, saving theil
cardinal glory for a later day when
they alone, might shine In a brown
and barren wood.
She shook her head: "There is nc
way. Father has tried to sen the farm
meeting only ridicule where men may
have land for the asking. The work
SO far, has added little to the value
You see, we have figured it out prac
tically," she ended with a sigh, add
ing: AT great expense we came-ws
have no way to return"
Except with me-"
At his words, she gave him a startled
glance, and then-her eyes slowl!
dropped before his, as she realized
his meaning.
He was bending close, his look de
-ouring her, as If with the very force
If his passion he could bend her will
10 his.
In the long pause which followed
lavender had time to regain sell
possession, and her voice was cain
aow, almost cold: "Am I, then, to un
derstand that you will take m,
Nother back home II I will MARI,
you?"
Her matter-of-fact tone and man
ner for a moment chilled his ardol
Did his offer appear to her only II
the right of a cold-blooded PROPOSE
ton? Could he not make her desir
it too7
His heart sank as he read the ar
swer in her eyes-cold, blue and clea
like vi0lets buried in a glacier.
But sgain the old ~recklessness cor
Rumed him; she was cold, but she wa
beautiful.
"That is my offer, fair one, you
mothers comfort-her life, perhaps
may be saved; 1t rests with you"
Then suddenly another argumen
occurred tc him. II may say withou
vanity that I seem to have found favo
in your mothers sight. You will az
init the cordially of her amer tt
night? Again | say, it rests with you.
A curious jay peeped and twittere
at them from a dead larch near. Sh
watched the bird soar away like
fash of blue fame. then said: "Yo
a 1t rests with me, and in the sam
breath declare 1t to be her wish. Ths
is a paradox, senior, since her wis
must ever be my law"
She paused a moment, then addet
dreamily: Il wonder II this offer I
yours is an answer to prayer? Ma!
near me to the end. For my mother
sake, | pray daily, hourly, for a way
! way to take her back home wher'
shey tell me, she may win new leas
Of life. And her life-it is very dea
" me, senior"
There WINS q Lint of tears in he
~oice, and the little dreary smile mad
whe mans heart feel a new throb
asity. But passion was stronger, an
NE would not falter now
Suddenly she faced him, and sal
rfarn.u. GAG for vniir mart sannr