Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-10-22
CHAPTER Xx.-continued.


Sally B. sped away to the kitchen.
Stella detained Uncle Billy a second in
the hall, her hand on his coat lapel.
She had intended to speak with him
about schools, where to go, how to set
about the new life; but these ques-
tions must wait. His trip and its sue
cess were the only things that mat
tered now.
Aren't you going to rest?" she
asked. There are plenty others to
work. Go to bed early, won't you,
Uncle Billy?"
He crossed his warm, strong hand
over hers with fond pressure. 1t was
sweet to have her womanly solicitude,
to feel her near him, her soft hand
pulsing under his own. "Afteh the
fight is time enough to rest, little girl.
l must see that my wagon and stock
are all right for the first hard drive.
I'll have to trust to luck afteh that, or
to the hostlehs-that's about the same
thing"
"Well, rest as much as you can,
then. I'll have a luck flower for your
button-hole when you start" She
smiled into his eyes, her own shining
with excitement. You'll win, Uncle
Billy! know it,"
She watched him down the street to
the stage barn, where she knew no
item of preparation would escape his
vigilant eye. Yet there was time to
spare. Would he take advantage OF
it? Perhaps not. She knew he was
master of that perfect relaxation that
prepares for stress as we'll as sleep
does.
Alvin had dropped his study, Viola
was fighting her trouble alone and
Sally B. was in the kitchen. Stella
left with no pressing duty, wandered
into the dark parlor. Lighting it was
Viola's task, but she had forgotten to
night, to Stella's satisfaction.
She drew a chair to the window thai
faced the dim mountain across the
gorge, closed her senses to the little
world about her and was quickly of
with the sprites of the night to keel
her hearts tryst with Alfred. No
quite alone did they two meet thi'
night in fancy's fair halls. Viola, AL
win, even Sally BIS uncompromisint
black eyes interrupted Stella's dreams
Minutes licked by unheeded. HUI
rying feet came and went; calls, cries
hasty commands, odors of unusua
cooking foated past inadequate doors
but Stella was oblivious till a draugh
of air struck her cheek sharply an
jGideon's voice called her.
She started to her feet. Gideon
.Where-you said Tomorrow in you
message! Who told you was here?
mo one. l can always find yor
Stella. Something tells me. The ii
slant | opened the door | knew 20
were here. A kind of fragrance
could tell it"
Don't, Gideon" she interrupted
She was looking for matches, but hi
alert sense caught the aversion in ton
and movement.
Your father once told me that
Pima princess was my great-grant
mother. | cannot escape my heritag
from her" He took the match she ha
struck and lighted the hanging LAM
The flame shone full on his upturne
face, and Stella gazed at him ia
cinated, while he adjusted wick an
shade. He seemed to her excited ga2
the concentrated beat and pulse Of
hundred lives controlled by the mastt
will that spoke through his burnin
eyes. Often she wondered about h
power over her, wondered why Gil
con away, Was so small a part of hi
life; yet near, so masterful, monopoli
ing. in the pause while he attended
the lamp this question rose agar
and was still unanswered.
He turned to meet her mute scr
tiny. His eyes we're deep and tende
his voice wooing. You're glad
see me, aren't you, sweet Starr" +
threw his arm about her waist with
motion both swift and gentle,
might be a panther mothers, az
kissed her on the forehead.
Don't, Gideon!" Stella erie
breathless, struggling unavailingly, y
not quite sorry that his arm did n