Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-16

was at having earned her gratitude,
even in so little a matter. II have
thought of that" said |. ut is of no
consequence"
But you don't understand" she
pleaded earnestly.
ION the contrary, l understand per
fectly," | assured her. And the rea-
son l am not disturbed is-you are
here, you are not with him"
She lowered her head so that l had
no view of her face.
you and he do not marry" l went
on, because you are both poor?"
NO" she replied.
Because he does not care for your"
"No-not that" she said.
Because you thought he hadn't
enough for two?"
A long pause, then-very family:
"No-not that"
Then it must be because he hasn't
as much money as he'd like, and must
find a girl who'll bring him-wEat he
most wants."
She was silent.
THAT is, while he loves you dearly,
he loves money more. And he's will
ing to see you go to another man, be
the wife of another man, be-every-
thing to another man" | laughed.
"Tll take my chances against love OF
that sort"
you don't understand" she muir
INJURED. you don't realize-there are
many things that mean nothing to you
and that mean-oh, so much to people
brought up as we are"
NONSENSE" said l. What do you
mean by we? Nature has been bring
ing us up for a thousand thousand
years. A few years of silly false train
ing doesn't undo her work. If you and
he had cared for each other, you
wouldn' be here, apologizing for his
selfish vanity"
mo matter about him." she cried
impatiently, lifting her head Taught.
lily. "The point is, l love him-and
always shall. | warn you"
"And take you at my own risk?"
Her look answered "Yes!"
"Well,"-I took her hand--"then
we are engaged"
Her whole body grew tense, and hel
hand chilled as it lay in mine, Dom
please don't" l said gently. I'm
not so bad as all that. If you will be
as generous with me as l shall be
with you, neither of us will ever re
greet this"
There were tears on her cheeks as
l slowly released her hand.
81 shall ask nothing of you that yor
are not ready freely to give" | said,
Impulsively she stood and put ou'
her hand, and the eyes she lifted tt
mine were shining and friendly.
caught her in my arms and kissed hei
not once but many times. And il
was not until the chill of her ice-likt
face had cooled me that l released
her, drew back red and ashamed anC
stammering apologies. But her i'm
| Dul0G VI lItllulllC0 udu DCVn hlllSo
she once more, as I saw only too plain
ly, felt for me that sense of repulsion
felt for herself that sense of self-deg
radiation.
II cannot marry you!" she NUT
tered.
you can-and willard must"
cried, Infatuated by her look.
There was a long silence. I coult
easily guess what was being Tough
out in her mind. At last she slowly
drew herself up. 81 can not refuse,
she said, and her eyes sparkled will
defiance that had hate in it. "Yot
have the power to compel me. USE
it, like the brute you refuse to let me
forget that you are" She looked 81
young, so beautiful, SO angry-and 81
tempting.
$50 l shalt" | answered. "ChildreI
have to be taught what is good TO
them. Call in your mother, and wei
tell her the news"
Instead, she went into the mex
room. l followed, saw Mrs. Ellersl.
seated at the tea-table in the corner
farthest from the library where he
daughter and l had been negotiating
Wont you give us tea, mother?'
said Anita, on her surface not a trac'
Of the cyclone that must still have
been raging in her.
Congratulate me, Mrs. Ellersly,
said I. "Your daughter has consented
to marry me-"
Instead of speaking, Mrs. Ellersll
began to cry-real tears. And for
moment | thought there vas a rea
heart inside of her somewhere. Blu
when she spoke, that delusion van
ished.
"You must forgive me, Mr.. Black
lock-" she said in her hard, smooth
polite voice. 1T is the shock of real
izing I'm about to lose my daughter.
And | knew that her tears were from
10y and relief-Anita had come up tt
the scratch" the hideous menace O
"genteel poverty" had been averted.
do give us tea, mamma salt
Anita. Her cold, sarcastic tone cut m,
nerves and her mothers like a razoI
blade. l looked sharply at her, ant
wondered whether | was not making
bargain vastly different from that m!
passion was picturing.
Ito be Continued.)