Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-12-10

worse than Abraham's sacrifice II
there had been no lamb At least.
Isaac would have burned quickly"
He saw Sally BIS face drop and gray
shadows creep in. At last she found
speech, and her words were steady.
Whats the use of money and
beauty, an Wis a~ristocratic way, II
Bill an me was ready to tie her down
to u kind? To life on the desert;
maybe-Bill amt no fnandseer-to
tough luck an pore grub That's
what's bound to come if Bins luck
turns. Do you think that's lovln' her?
That lord b'longs to folks that's al
ways had money, an always looked II.
An il he fails, there's Freddy Bryan;
he's a man, the right kind. If he loses
his money, he'll make it again-he's
buckin' brigham she'll live genteel.
l s'pose you'd call it lovin' her to drag
her away from all that, an tie her up
to a little four-by-six life with you
a-trampin' along the railroad" 1t vas
her turn for scorn, and it burned deep.
Alvin walked abruptly away to the
p e window. The beautiful palm gar
den with its waxen-crested Gala hedge
and v~ine-wrapped trellises was full of
winter bloom and fragrance; but he
saw nothing. His eyes were misty.
He was looking into a dun future with
out Viola, a future never before coz
templated.
Sally B., watching, saw her battle
won; and a quick revulsion of feeling
set in. She admired his square, manly
shoulders. Freddy Bryan was thin,
and stopped a little, and the lord was
small for an Englishman. Alvin's
plain, well-fitting business suit had a
wholesome, honest look that appealed
to her. She remembered how valiant
ly he had fought his way on a crutch
through half-starved boyhood to man.
hood, honorable manhood. Even his
straightness touched a new chord-she
was proud of the courage that had
pioneered an operation that was the
talk of the papers. And he had done it
for vi!
Alvin felt her changed attitude, and
when he zane back to her and spoke,
his voice was very gentle. May l see
Viola before I go? It'll be my last
chance, you know"
ooh, All" she cried out, and stopped,
Alvin was astonished at her emo
ton, yet waited.
Almost, ambition had lost; not
quite. "Al, boy! Do you think you'd
better? Won't it be harder for you?
An for her, too?" she added after a
breath.
Alvin's face contracted. Give her
up without one more look into her
dear face? Not see for himself that II
vas we'll with her? That she could
| love-at least, be content with-the
man her mother would secure for her?
His heart beat DANGEROUSLY; and he
told himself he would see her, would
see her!
Yet he took up his hat, looked calm
ly for his gloves and turned steady
eyes to where Sally B. stood, heI
white-knuckled hands grasping a chair
back desperately.
Tell Vi-tell Vino, don't tell hel
anything" he said, with forced calm
ness. Goodbye, Sally b." He bowed
slightly and walked out of the door.
ooh, AL Carter, you're the best man
l ever" She caught her breath and
stopped, staring after him.
Neither to the right nor to the left
did he turn his eyes as he walked
down the winding, rose-lined avenue
to the iron gates. Life seemed at ar
end!
al! AL Carter!!" screamed a shril
voice behind him. Through the gates
Sally B. flew, her hair disordered, hel
full draperies bellying to the wind like
pirate sails, her Grape rufles dragging
out behind her. "Al, come back!" she
cried breathlessly, catching him by the
arm, h~urrying him through the iroI
gates again, through the rose-linet
avenue to the house. Come back an
see vi! Gosh durn it, Al! I throw
up the game! What does a shammint
old Greaser like me want of a big bui
for a son-in-law? You're good enough
right smart better'n I deserve; an
good enough for vi, too. Go long II
the music room there, an find vi. Tel
her if she's said Yes to Reg Lawrenc'
or to Freddy Bryan, or to any othe
Teller, I'll say NO to him! Col"
She dragged him into the hall
pushed him toward the music room
and, sobbing wildly, ran up the sound
less stairs.
Alvin stood still, dazed, half cor
scious of ripping, tearing ruffies on tn
stair, when a little figure sprang fol
ward to meet him.
ooh, Alvin!" she cried in quicl
rapture, then halted questioningly.
Viola, your mother has accepte
me for you," he said softly, and too
her in his arms. And long years @
misery were cut from the lovers ca
endar.
cTo BE CoNTINUED.)
E ~