Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-11-26


she said, lifting a pale gray gown from
the hlmy heap.
YES, l s'pose the toot onsembel of
that's good. But them pale colors
don't fit me; an the work on that
won't stand the eyes Of a con-
Missioner"
81 suppose Mr.. Bernard has a lot
Of things, too" Esther said as soon as
she could control her face.
You bet! Only mems things amt
interestin' like women's. 1 wish men
wore lace an things, like they did
when that picture was took" GhN
glanced up at an exquisite engraving
| of a scene at the cour. If Louis XIV.
81. presume NJ, Bernard would
rather wear the dress of 1862
Eyes. An I'd rather he would. His
manners don't somehow fit what he's
got now. l never noticed that Bill
was short on when he was
wearin' a blue shirt, an punchin'
mules, or huntin' a lead. But in this
fine house, him a pushin' victuals with
a silver knife, an eatin' soup audible,
while people sets round an tries not
to laugh; an the flowers and the pic
lures someway shamin' him-why
good Teller as he is, l wish he'd go
back to his blue shirt an mules, or
else buy SOME manners. An the worst
of it is, l know l got just as bad a case
of not fittin' here myself; only I'm
that stuck on myself, l can't see it.
Pve-been going back right now on all
my polish for a coon's age"
Esther ventured no reply, and the
other woman began to put away her
wardrobe. "Ain't it too bad nav had
to die fore l got a chance to wear half
these here new things? Blacks so un-
becoming! An l can't even wear
white ruches; them's for widders."
Ether was startled. No wonder on
ventional people could not understand
Sally B. Esther knew that no more
devoted daughter had ever lived than
Sally B. had been; yet who, that knew
nothing of this would believe it in the
face of her last remark?
BET she had a good time" the other
went on. I'VE took her all over Yer
rup; an she lived two months after
we come home. l bought her more
clo'es than she'd had in all her life
before; she could put on a different
dress every day in the month! We
took her riding in the victoria, took
her to the theater, the Cliff, an every.
where! She didn't suffer none; |
thank God for that" She went in and
out of the closet once or twice with
out speaking, and Esther waited.
Her sentences had been tossed by
gusts of emotion; now speech was
entirely wrecked. While she strug
gled for calmness Viola entered.
ooh, Stella! Esther" Viola's arms
went round the other girl impulsively
and she burst into tears.
What under the canopy are We cry
ing for?" her mother asked; yet she
knew; and her own tears were hardly
restrained.
ooh, ma, it's SO good to see her! Sht
belongs to the old, honest tine wheI
we said what we thought, or KEEP
still"
The mother WINGED. Viola's unus
ual emotion disclosed unwelcome facts
She was taller, and had blossomec
into a soft, wood-violet sort of beaut.
that yet had something mystic abou
it; as rare as f%alicitous.
They spoke of many things, Viola
womanhood Unfolding her in a mantl
Of sedateness. Esther knew she hal
been defrauded of her girlhood, ant
longed to set her free from her un
youthful self-control; wondered if sh'
would, at the last test, sacrifice hersel
to her mothers ambition.
They went the round of the bed
rooms, the kitchen, where Vic Wal
greeted Esther with voluble cordially
the stables, Conservatives, and breeze
swept gardens; and Esther was pre-
pairing for the street when the mai,
brought a card.
"Mr. Bryan, ma" Viola said. He
face grew gray and dull; while he
mothers was swept by a quick pane
rama of doubt, question, mother love
ambition.
She put her arm about Viola's sler
! der waist Honey, nanny expects
heap of you. Will you do it."
y Viola turned suddenly, spoke wit
strange impetuosity. Don't, ma!
h can't do it! Freddy Bryan's homes
d He'd ask me just the same If l wa
h poor. I thought l would say yes, whe
n l told him I'd give him my answer tt
day. But I won't cheat him. I'll to-
S him l can't care for him as he d.
serves. It's no use, ma" She put u
a protesting hand, and even Sally T
was held to silence by the new sterr
Q ness in her daughter.
And Esther, distressed at the tras
edy in the girls face, made her adieu
quickly, that Sally B. might not Sc
q the angry resentment in her heart.
CTO BE CONTINUED)