Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-03-19

even than that.
AS she had grown more remote
Conrad became more fervent, 1t was
as If he FASTENED after her, to draw
her back as often as she eluded him.
II must go ont" he said excitedly.
I've gone too far, now, not to put you
to the test, even if | make the blunder
of my life. I'm risking my whole hap.
piness, my whole life, on the throw.
can't live without you, and | won't.
It's a threat, if you like-I know what
I'm saying. You will have me, won't
you, Aimee?'
There was a knock at the door.
Come in" she called, welcoming
the delay. Conrad rose in anger.
A maid entered, bearing a letter,
which she put in Miss Allison's hand,
than left the room. In an instant
Aimee's poise had asserted it's dom
ination. She looked curiously at the
address.
you must answer me now!" Con-
rad exclaimed.
She held the evelope in her slim,
tapering fingers, d~elicately, as if re-
ceiving some subtle, sentient impress
sion. will you excuse me for a mo-
ment while l read this letter." she
asked, trembling.
mo, WON'T" he cried, distracted
ly. Why should you trife with me
at a time like this? If you mean to
refuse me, you might at least do it
quickly and mercifully."
I'm not sure what I may do" she
said, softly. 1T may be better for
you if you wait, though l don't prom
Use it will. / don't recognize this
handwriting at all, but somehow I
have a feeling that it will help me to
answer you. OF course, though, l
may be mistaken. l wish you'd let
me try it, Conrad"
He walked to the other end of the
room and stood, modify, at the win
dow, looking out. She tore open the
envelope and found two Enclosures
At the sight of one, as it fell upon her
lap, half-opened, her color changed,
and her breath came faster. She read
the other one first, however:
my Dear Miss Allison. ] am sending
you herewith a letter which would have
been sent many months ago., had / been
able to determine positively for whom it
was intended. 1t was written by Lieut..
IRENE on the night of the engagement
in which he was killed. He was prob
| Hl,r nz.,-0I141 - fa1I l.. -,,IlA~I.r -
fore he had time either to complete or
address the letter. l attended Lieut..
IRENE in the field hospital, and was with
him till he died. He recovered conscious
ness for a little while after the operation,
but had strength enough only to ask me
to deliver this letter, without being able
to communicate the proper address. You
will understand that it was a delicate
matter to find the person for whom it
was meant, as none of his friends knew
of your engagement to him. 1t was al
most a year before I was. able to be sure
that it was meant for you. | hope that
you will forgive the delay and will be-
lieve me worthy of his and of your
confidence. MARGARET TABARD."
Miss Allison cast a swift glance
Towards the window before she took
up the second sheet. Conrad had not
stirred. She held the penciled paper
to the light.
my Dear, Dear: l have only a few
minutes, perhaps, before we go into ac-
ton, and some presentiment, which by
tomorrow will probably prove to have
been nervousness, makes me want to
write a word to you before the fun COM
mences. 1t may be that 1 won't pull
through this time. The officers have been
picked off in a rather nasty way, of late.
So, in case anything should happen,
there's one thing l a to tell you. If ]
could only know how to do it. In spite
of all that has happened, it may be pos.
sible that you don't quite realize Just
how much 1 care for you, dear girl. II
may be more than you think. It's SC
much more than l can realize. Nc one
ever can want you as much as 1 wan
you, but ven more than that, / wan
you to be happy--in your W way, not
mine only. l don't want my love evel
to bind you or to come between any two
selves you may find at war with one an
other. You happiness Is all l have tt
care for in this world; it's your only
rival. If o asked me to kill you,
could do 1t to make you happier. AS fol
my own life, that's one of the leas'
things I'D sacrifice. If 1t would make
you happier, I'd even live, when dyint
would be much easier. So 1 hope you'll
understand me when | say that, IL there's
ever any other man who can make yol
happier h /, or can even make vol
happy after I'm gone, my greatest hap
piness will be yours. Don ever try t.
hold yourself faithful to a memory fo
my sake! Believe me, this comes from
my heart: believe that 1t is. as well as
can measure it, the height and the deptl
OF my love for you.
wise as you are, and subtle as yol
are in the mysteries of love, I doub
II you could ever quite stand this If
should say 1t to you, face to face; yol
might think ! was lacking in strength
and intensity of desire; but IL I SHOULD
die, you'll have time to think it over, ant
you'll understand. So I'll not send thi
unless Tn pretty badly hurt. There's
something about sorrow that
Miss Allison looked up through he1
tears to see Conrad watching he
from across the room. He came owe,
to her eagerly, his ayes shining, ant
took both her hands.
She spoke as steadily as she could
making a great effort to master her
self. Conrad saw her now, for til,
first time, perhaps, struggling openl,
with an overpowering emotion. Sh,
had come into the light.
Il was right" she said, this lette-
has helped me, and told me what m,
answer should be. | have known, il
my life, one truly magnanimous man
You have asked me If there were an,
better way that a man could love, ant
he has told me. There Is a bettel
way, Conrad, and | can never accepi
anything less than that, for | have
had the most that q woman can have!
He understood"