Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-02-25

hand to the tense face of the mother,
81 do not know" I faltered. "You
see, I have never thought about it."
"Of course you have mott" she ex-
claimed. why should you? And how
silly in me to get started on my hobby
so soon! | am apt to think every one
is as much Interested in children as
| am, but | suppose that is the way
with all mothers. A childless woman
loses both the greatest pleasure and
the greatest pain in life, and l do not
know whether to pity Or envy her"
There was a movement in the room
above, and she held out her hand for
the picture.
Il will put it away" she said, hur-
riedly; "and let us talk of something
else. Mr.. Graham thinks | allow the
boy to absorb me to the exclusion Of
everything else, and perhaps he is
right"
Mr.. Graham was coming downstairs
now. I listened to the descent Of his
slippered feet, and s~peculated idly
whether he breakfasted every morning
at IL. He was evidently surprised to
see me, and, l thought, not over
pleased, although there was no lack of
cordiality in his greeting.
$50 you caught me napping!" he
remarked. 1.-THE fact is, I'm a lazy
sinner at the best of times-eh, Juliet?
I'm extra late to-day, though, but as
| only eat a bit of fruit with my roll
and coffee, Mrs. Graham says it is
no matter if our slavey does growl."
you don't look as though you lived
on rolls and coffee" l remarked, by
way of keeping up the conversation.
"Oh, | make it up at lunch and din
ner, a assure you. Isn't this a jolly lit
tie box?"
He gazed about the bare room with
as much pleasure as though it con
tanned the Injuries of a palace, and
continued cheerfully:
Just look out of the window
how's that for a view? And then the
air we breathe night and day! Pure
ozone--none Of your strained, adulter-
ated products, l a tell you! Already
Mrs. Graham is like a different crea-
ture."
| glanced curiously at Mrs. Graham,
but she refused to meet my eye.
9" have just been saying, Harry"
she remarked, chow different this air
Is from the south, and how invigorat-
ing l find it."
smothered a surprised ejaculation,
and rose to go. Surely my new
friend was rather %bewildering.
"Oh, l say" exclaimed Mr.. Graham.
"just wait a moment till drink my
coffee and I'll walk along with you.
I'm going to the village for the mail"
AS the ~postof1ce was my ultimate
destination also, I resumed my chair,
and Mrs. Graham and l carried on a
desultory. conversation until he re.
turned, hat In hand, and announced
himself ready.
L0u WILL CUIuG 9 me OFTEN.
will you not?" she said, holding nv
hand for a moment. "And you will
not mind If I do not always return
your visits? I do not go out very
much"
"Nonsense!" returned her husband.
"Rousing is just what you need. She
shouldn't be such a ~recluse, should
she?"
He put the question In a laughing
voice. but 1t was evident he was really
annoyed, SO I started for the door.
fearing | might unwittingly introduce
another unwelcome subject If / lin
gered any longer.
glanced f~urtively at MIR. Graham
as we walked along, and more than
once found him inspecting me In like,
manner. The third time I caught his
eye he laughed good-naturedIy.
Both taking stock" he remarked,
with calm nonchalance, .sand both
caught in the act. Well, do / pass
m~uster?"
WtMEMM NH-MLNM