Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-02-11
oHAprxR Ill.

family were assembled on the broad piEE-
IA; the full moon shown gloriously, light
ing up the yellow head of Thankful and
the daren poll Of Elizabeth, who were sit
ting together in a hammock; the parents
sat together upon a settee, and Stanley
smoked a meditative cigar with his feet
upon the rail, looking across to The
Matchbox.
"Where is Dudleyi'' asked his father.
"He has gone somewhere with Mrs
Soule-a meeting of the entertainment
committee of something or other,'' sale
Theo.
"Dou't you think it a little odd that
q lady, young, beautiful, and rich goes
nowhere but to charitable concerns and
solemn church functions2 She never goes
to dances nor dinners, nor any of the
performances SO dear to the feminine
heart. What is the reason of her seclu-
sions" asked Scott, who was home again
on leave.
at think some one very dear to then
is dead" said Mrs. RedAeld.
Stanley shifted the position Of his feet
upon the porch rail restlessly.
"There is a mystery" said Thankful
III think Mrs. Soule is one of the sweet.
est and l~oveliest women; but I do not
like mysteries, I think her husband is
living somewhere; I have been there a
good deal, and I have never seen q pict-
ure of him"
81 have" said Elizabeth; "Mrs. Soule
has one In her bed room; she asked me in
one day, and in q jeweled frame upon her
dressing-table there was a picture of the
very handsomest man I ever saw, so dark
and beautiful, so much like Lord Byron,
I said it was Byron. She said no, it was
her husband, and changed the subject; of
course, 1 did not ask any questions.
"For Gods sake, stop talking about
the n~eighborsl'' burst out Stanley violent
ly, and, letting his chair down with a
thump, he went down the long walk to
the gate and leaned over it.
80 Godl How can I bear itf I am
even jealous of poor Dudley, whose privil'
eye it Is, because he is a boy, to go about
with her."
"Hello, Tanl What are you incoming
about9 Come up to the house, said Dud-
ley, who entered the gate at that moment.
Dudley went languidly up the steps
and cast himself upon the bench between
his father and mother and leaned his
head in an exhausted manner upon the
shoulder of first one and then the other.
"Where have you been, sonY'' asked his
mother.
"I still live; / have escaped with my
life and sacred honor from a meeting of
the committee upon entertainment Of the
Associated Charities, of which committee.
Mrs. Soule is the esteemed chair lady. AT.
ter a protracted and warlike session Mrs.
Soule with three other ladies went to re-
fresh exhausted nature at Barton's cafe,
where we had a feast; Mrs. Soule spoiled
a twenty dollar bill to pay for it."
"Was it very swell9' asked Elizabeth.
"What did you haveq'
"What did we not havei When this
feast Of Dives was concluded, l said 4
will arise and go unto my fathers Yea,
verify said Mrs. Soule, i will even arise
also and 60 unto my mother-in-law, and
here we are" Dudley held up his finger
invitingly before his father.
"What are you poking your finger al
me forY" inquired that gentleman.
"The ring, the ringl You do not take
the part Of the prodigal father at all well;
I really thought that you had more tai
ent.n
cit seems to me you have your scrip
ture a little mixed, with the prodigal son
and the feast of Mrs. Dives" said Scott,
who was deeply vexed that Mrs. Souls
had taken Dudley with her and declined
his attendance.
Chow do you know the prodigal son
was not entertained at the house OF
Dives9" asked the scholarly Elizabeth.
"What did the committee decide upon
as an entertainment to raise money for
the Associated Charities = anything
good7" asked Thankful, the peacemaker,
turning her beautiful face to the moon
light.
"They are going to have Lady Clare
acted while a big gun Of an elocutionist
recites it behind the scenes. Mrs. Souls
is to provide the costumes, and they viii
be stunning; she has a lot Of jewels, heir
looms and others; / am to be Lord Ron
aid, with a wig, trunks, and all that's
land his old th1ee-cornered hat, brooches,
and all that
Chow did you come to be in itf'' said
Scott, who found it hard to overcome his
irritation, while he was adjusting a bunch
of royal roses that had come a short time
) before by a messenger, and which it was
quite evident to the family he meant t.
offer Mrs. Soule.
!. "'I went by dale and I went BY
{ down,
|, With 3 single rose in my hair
and Dudley snatched a splendid Jacequem'
mot and laid it on the top Of his almost
shaver yellow pate.
"I don 7 see what they wanted with Q
kid like you for Lord Ronald pursued
Scott; "they ought to have a man.
are ~ wont a nart In tha show Scot.