Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-07-04

wildly, II love you, l love you! ]
have loved you ever since l saw your
picture last night, but it seems to me
now as if | had always loved you"
The girl arose from the grass with
an expression of profound disgust
upon her features. well. of all in
comprehensive things!" she ex-
claimed. "You are certainly the most
impudent mar / ever saw. How dare
you say such a thing to me? What do
you mean?"
II mean," said Hepburn desperate.
ly. that l don't care what things you
say to me now, if only some time you
will marry me-"
The girl of the double negative
spoke never a word, but with tight.
shut lips gathered her skirts in both
hands and began to walk rapidly
away.
For over a week he saw nothing OF
Miss Darlington. That young lady re-
manned in her room nursing a nose.
formerly of classic proportions, and
an eye which resembled a boiled
~gooseberry, sunk deep in the brilliant
and varied hues of a summer sunset.
Her indisposition did not, however,
prevent her from inspecting that hor-
rid man" from behind her curtains,
and secretly commenting upon the
facts that he was certainly very good
looking, and that he took sly peeps at
her window as he passed.
If she had expected a repetition OF
Mr.. Hepburn's former frenzied con
duct when she again appeared in the
corridors of the hotel she was disap'
pointed. At first he seemed not TO
even see her. Then after they were
introduced by a mutual friend, he
treated her with the grave courtesy
which a happy instinct told him would
be most pleasing to a young lady with
a high regard for the conventionali-
ties of polite society.
1t was only towards the close of the
season, and when preparations were
being made by her family to return to
the city that, piqued by his indiffer-
ence, she began to unbend a little.
They met often, then oftener, then
walked together. They discovered
that they had many points OF interest
in common, although photography was
not one of them.
"You see," explained Miss Caring
ton, my brother takes pictures, and
yne crank of that kind is enough in a
family"
One warm September evening they
walked upon the almost deserted pi-
azza of the hotel in the moonlight, and
it seemed to Hepburn that the hour
was ripe at last. Ardently, but this
time with dignity and decorum, he
told her again of his love. Memories
of that other proposal must, however
have returned to the lady's mind, fol
one drew herself up haughtily and
said:
Il am surprised and sorry, Mr.. Hep
burn, that you should SO have misun
derstood my sentiments toward you
l esteem and respect you, but / dc
not love you. l cannot marry you, but
| will be a sist-' Miss Darlington
paused and blushed. 1t was the regu
lation formula which she had rendered
to more than one callow youth, but |
was too obvious a chestnut to offer tt
a man of MI. Hepburn's characte'
and experience. To her utter amaze
ment, he seemed to entertain no sen
sation Of chagrin or disappointment
Instead, he drew her only half-resist
ing form into his arms, and for tn
second time in their short acquaint
ance pressed a kiss upon her brow.
Again she intimated angrily, as sh,
had once before done: you are Gel
tainly the most presumptuous man
ever heard of! Don't you understand
me? l said mol"
Hepburn's face beamed with jo
and satisfaction. my sweetest girl,
he said, gayly, repeating the osculs
ton, Il hear you. But don't you n
ulGlllUGl JhdL JOu ICulI Cu lOu6 DIS
when you were in school that a doubl
| negative Is always equal to an affirm
alive? This is the second time you'v
; turned me down. What other col
! clusion can | draw"
: That evening, when the happy ma
was again alone in his room, he foun
. in close proximity to the fatefu1 piec
Of glass a letter placed there by tn
: bell-boy, and bearing a special deli
!, cry stamp. TT read as follows:
: Dear Hepburn-Did you take ava
with the rest Of the stuff you bougf
Of me last summer an opened box {
: 4x5 dry plates? If so, for heaven
+. sake, return them at once. I hoI
y you haven't monkeyed with an
! spoiled them. They were left hel
: by a young fellow-Billy Darlington
q to be developed, and he is rending t.
earth because they can't be foun
: Wire If you have them. Yours,
: SANFORD"
. Hepburn smiled, with some concel
on his features, however. What
!, careless fellow Sanford is," he sail
: 81 always insisted that he would new
: make a business uccess. STILL" ]
admitted. without a shadow of relu
: lance, "he does keep pretty got
y plates"
: To Preserve Hoods Birthplace.
y A meeting c%onvene nv the Layt,