Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-02-21
Lavender
CreightOn'S
Lovers
By OLIVIA B. o

Copyright. 1895. by Olivia B. strohm>.
CHAPTER XXIv-CoNTNUED.

mother is reassured as far as 1t lay
in my power, but, Of course, we must
return as soon as possible"
"Oh, if we only can! Every mo-
ment is precious" Lavender urged, then
reproachfully: 81 couldn't make Owa-
toga take me back. He insisted upon
waiting over to-day, at least. When
I appealed to Col. Boone, he said l
must be patient until sunrise to-mor-
row.. If nobody came in search for
me by that time he would himself take
me home"
$50 / am superluous; shall I go
~back-alone?"
She shook her head in smiling dis
sent, and he went on: "But / am not
altogether useless, since l have brought
you this" and he produced the bun
die which the slave had given him.
America! The dear, thoughtful
souli"
Lavender's lip quivered between a
smile and tear at sight of the pack
age with its careful wrapping.
"And this" Winslow drew from his
knapsack the small silk bag he had
picked up on the beach.
Thank you" Then, as she took the
bag, and CAM a step closer: "And
thank you for coming for me-" she
said, sweetly. Then, drawing back
with a petulant sigh: "But, indeed, II
seems | shall neve have done with
thanking you"
SIS it, then, so hard to thank msf'
His eyes demanded a reply.
1t came with reluctant grace: I'll
is never comfortable to be placed un-
der obligations"
Pardon me-" he asked, meekly; "but
are those really your reasons in the
abstract, IT only in my own unfor-
tunate caseg"
She half-turned from him, idly polk.
ing the fire with a stalk of sugar cane
can obligation is a bond-a fetter,'
she said,
Sometimes" he admitted. ut IL
also a tie."
Then unconsciously his voice soft
ened, and he stepped very near: q
can imagine that obligation might b.
happiness"
He was emboldened by her yielding
manner, and, too, the words of hel
mother rang in his ears like the re
frain Of a harp: "You, whom sh'
loves!"
He had refused to accept the word
as sober, serious truth, and had salt
over and over again to himself tina
he had mistaken their import. but il
spite of judgment, the memory Of then
gave him courage.
"The heaviest obligation in tn,
world he said, brings the mos
happiness"
She looked up quickly, with a side
wise turn of the head. Then, irrele
vanity: There, I had forgotten tn
meal, and Col. Boone wants hoe
cake for supper" Resuming he
task, she applied herself to the gritter
She sat on the ground. The once stii
folds of her muslin gown now drag
Cling Imply about her, were staine'
with berry juice and Topped here an
there with cookie burrs. She shivere'
a little in the night wind, and withou
a word Winslow put the cape of hi
coat around her.
Boone promptly returned, and togeth
er he and Lavender set about prepare
tons for supper. Winslow looked Of
in lazy, satisfied silence.
The meal was spread on the groun'
in the most primitive style.
eff you want to be useful while yo'
sit there, Mr.. Winslow, sir, suppos
you sharpen these twigs for forks
That rabbit will be too hot for an,
fingers but mine"
Winslow assumed the work with
show Of earnestness, but looked up oftel
to watch Lavender. In the weird ligh
that was neither sun, nor moon, no
fire, but a blending Of all three, sh
fitted about like a wrath Of sun
beams entombed in the forest shades
1t was one secret of her charm 70
him-this entire qualification Of hi
artistic sense. 1t was not her beaut
alone that pleased him: 1t was the ele
ment Of the picturesque, the dramati
which that beauty never lacked.
He watched her now, as she waite
upon Daniel Boone, whose wishes sh
seemed aver to anticipate. A gour
of water for the part of the fire tina
was too hot; more salt for the mea
or a deft turn of the hoe-cake whe
needed.
To this primitive cooking sh
brought an alert interest that vastl
pleased the old pioneer. She toast
ed bits Of venison on the end of
bayonet held over the Goals, an(
shielding with the fee hand her chez
from the 1relight's glow, she hid, tot
the blush that covered 1t at the oil
mans words Of praise.
She'll be a fine housekeeper som
day; l envy the lucky fellow she's
Cook lVrS hnu " ILLS oAnpio SUI
praise of woman could no further &
At last the game was done to
turn, the hoe-cake ready, and thes,
with jelly and rice pies from Amel
ica's bundle, completed the feast. Their
was a moments wait, while Boone sal
a short, quaint grace. To the Glosin
words 'for the preservation Of on
lives" he added an unctuous Amen,
exchanging glances with Winslow. Th
young man bowed lower, his thought
thus solemnly recalled to the DANCE
Of the afternoon, safely passed.
Then he changed the subject light
ly. II am glad | came, ever though
NJ addad renroachfully. s'our lad