Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-09-02

From Out of the Past
Copyright, by W. G. Chapman.)
BY CHARLES L. DOYLE

.
had they been witnesses. To the
mothers offer to relieve him Of his
burden he returned a hasty negative
and begged to be allowed the pleasure
of retaining his charge. She had
turned to converse with the stranger
who manifested such admiration of
her child, and they discussed the
sleeping beauty exhaustively, from
her dimpled face to the dress and
tiny shoes she wore.
At last Leith casually remarked that
his destination was Chelsea. and
learned that she was bound for the
same place. The conversation drift
ed into other channels and soon he
heard how she had left her home IN
an eastern city three years before,
when her husband died, returning with
her baby to the home of her child
hood. The village quiet oppressed
her, however, she said, and she longed
to take her baby and go far away
from it.
II used t o live in Chelsea long
ago." remarked Leith, when she had
finished her story. $50 long ago,
however" he continued, that you
would hardly be likely to remember
me-"
She looked at him ~curiously, but
shook her head.
There was one little girl there" he
resumed, that | was very fond of.
Her name was Lucy Mayburn. Poor
little Lucy! shall never forget u
farewell. And it was all my fault
that we did not meet again. was
false to my vow, selfish and forgetful
Of all else in the cursed fight to make
money in big New York. | wonder if
you knew her?'
The turned pale and then
flushed nervously, controlling her agi-
tation by an evident effort.
81 knew her" she replied, softly,
but she is not there worcestershire
went away"
so she has gomez" queried Leith;
married, | suppose, Who was the
lucky fellow who won herr"
He felt sure that she had recognized
him now, but allowed matters to take
their course and awaited her reply
vita a brave show of composure.
His name was Logan" she said,
TREMENDOUSLY. Lucy Mayburn was true
to her promise tor seven long years;
her promise to you. But she was an
orphan, practically alone in the world,
and a day came when a good kind
man offered her a refuge from her
loneliness, She was frank with him
and told him the truth about herself,
that the best she could offer him
was her respect and a broken heart.
And he accepted the conditions. When
her baby was born she realized that
she had found peace, if not actual hap
piness. Then came sickness and other
trials. She had many troubles"
The voice of the speaker faltered
and broke, her eyes filled with tears.
and turning away her face, she
sobbed bitterly. She had betrayed her.
J self. but she no longer cared.
Leith laid the sleeping child gently
beside him and bent over his old
sweetheart.
Don't cry, Lucy" he whispered;
a don't cry, dear, | was a brute to
r play with your feelings this way"
d She glanced up with startled eyes.
. Then you knew me?" she faltered.
Yes, Lucy, | knew you" he said,
softly. And perhaps, dear, it was
: ordained by Providence that we should
meet like this. Listen, little one
Can't you forget the weary years and
u let me fulfill the promise made sc
D long ago? Let the past be as a dream
{ and awaken to the happiness of the
IL present, Lucy. Whatever l may have
done, no other woman has ever held
u the place in my heart occupied by YOU
y image. And it isn't too late now. Lei
u me care for your child, and we vii
a. take up the broken thread Of our lives
u where it, snapped"
- The other passengers in the cal
were watching c%uriously the two act
ors in a little drama which they coul(
not understand, but neither Leith no
the beside him were consciou.
Of their surroundings, and the bah.
slumbered peacefully IN. The long
warning whistle Of the locomotive
- shrilled through the air, Us the trail
neared Chelsea. Lucy timidly slipped
her small hand into Leith's big BROW
one, smiling through her tears, and h
knew that he was forgiven. Whel
~ the train came to a stop Leith swuni
" the sleeping baby IN to his broa'
shoulder, and with his long-lost low
beside him stepped from the car int
~ the purple twilight shadows tina
In brooded over the quiet scenes of hi
boyhood home.
Ill Nero's Test.