Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-09-17
XIV.
"Tis But Thy Name That Is MY
Enemy"


Enemy"
Alfred did not leave the dining
room, but seated himself in the
screened niche that had hidden the
water cooler from the general gaze.
He was glad to be out Of the light,
even the mild light of sputtering can
dies. He wished to think, to live over
again some of the moments of the
night. But the hustle of belated dan
GERS and Sally BIS hasty orders for his
supper annoyed him, till Stella's voice
was added to the hubbub, and he
found himself straining to catch her
every word.
Its most ready, Stella he heard
Sally B. say as a soft step came
nearer. "Everybody's gone, and
look out fur yer silk trail! I've set a
, table in among them greens where you
an him play-acted; but the screens
in front SOS nobody a see in the
winder,"
How dear you are!" he heard Stel-
la reply.
Huh! It's Vic that's dear. You bet
Al Vincent's the only Teller Ytc'd
make a kitchen fire for at three in the
mornin'. Yic's stuck IN Al; says he's
all samee red button Chinaman.'"
Stella made a light movement be
fore she spoke again. ooh, what nice
things to eat, and linen napkins, hem
stitched! And china! Where did you
find it all?"
ooh, them's some bits of high life
I've KEEP hid fur a spell. You XIII
make the tea soon's the water biles;
an take in the tray. I'm dead tired
Goodnight"
"Oh, Mrs. Sally, you're going tt
stay, too, aren't you?"
"Lawsy! You don't want me. An
| want 40 winks fore sunup,"
Alfred blessed her understanding
heart.
You're so good to me-" Stella said
and the swish of her silken skirt a
she crossed to Sally B. reached Al
fred's ear.
"Shucks!~ Good for nuthin'! be
young myself oncet."
An instance of silence followed, a
audible kiss and Sally B. tramped on
of the room by a side door, Will
Stella descended to the kitchen.
Alfred was grateful for the still
ness, glad that, for the moment, eve
Stella was unaware of his nearness
He would not speak till there was II
danger of interruption.
Vic Wah came in and put out all tn
lights save the n in the screene
corner of the stage. Alfred heard hill
leave the room and pass through tn
kitchen, giving Stella an elaborat
goodnight before he shut and locke
the outer door.
With the grating of the key and til
assurance of no further intruding, A
fred slipped from the actual, the so
did, into the love-land his Romeo
dress recalled. The darkness was We
come. Not even yet would he ca
Stella. For a moment he would drear
No need of lamp or candle; the r
splendence of his visions illumine
him. The song in his heart throbbt
m%elodiously on, it seemed for hours
yet it was only minutes, and but a fe'
I when the rustic of skirts and a seco1
light appearing behind the scret
aroused him. The rustling went al
came again, and a faint tinkle
d china struck his ear. Then he hea.
n his name!
n "Mr. Vincent" softly; and after
d breath, hesitatingly, Romeo"
Alfred sprang out of his nook, b
l. did not speak. There she stood, abo
n him on the high stage, the light fro
le behind the screen flaring sidewi
s upon her; next him the cheek he hi
n longed to kiss in the play, but d
;e not. A little pale she was now, y
IF so fair and sweet! Her lips were apa
d. her hand lifted as if to catch t
re sound of his coming. How beautif
she was! How sweet and womanl
d. And in the lonely darkness how ne
and intimate-his own! his own!
l. (TO BE CONTINUED.)