Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-06-23

Different"
Eyes, but in the sense in which you
mean the question. ] am just as was,
save that l love this man"
But you had no right to love him
or any one" burst forth Langford bit
terly.
And do you reproach me with
that?"
do II"
Think of your wife,"
She's dead" said the man hoarse-
ly. 81 have searched the world for
you. l have come back here to make
amends, to own my fault, to marry
you before God and man, to take you
back, to do for you as long as I shall
live all that a man can do"
There was such genuine passion in
his voice and in his appeal that the
most inimical and Indifferent would
have recognized it, but there was no
response to it in the woman's heart.
A greater love than his had come into
her soul. The whole current of her
being flowed to the man by her side.
NO" she said. Your words have
no appeal for me. They awaken no
response in my heart. l love this man,
not you"
Have you thought" cried Langford
meaningly, that you are not free to
love any one but me?"
"By heaven!" cried the man spring
ing forward, this time l will be an
swered. Why is she not free to love
me or any one?"
Because" said the other resolutely
before she came into your life she
belonged to me"
Belonged to you?"
Eyes, to me"
"And by what tie?"
Langford hesitated. He was furi
ously wrought up. He saw that 1t was
necessary to make a break, a rupture
between these two. He thought that
If he could do so, his own suit might
the better prosper. He was in deadly
earnest and therefore he took the risk
How frightful 1t was, he had no pre-
conception. He did not understand
that he was dealing with a primitive
man. How should he? He did no
understand what passions slept be
meath the surface. And perhaps If h
had understood, to do him justice, TO
he was a fearless man, he would hav
ventured just the same.
"She was my mistress!" he sal
through his teeth.
shame! Shame!" cried the woman
and then fell silent, clasping her hand
and waiting for what might come. TIL
hour of her travail was upon her.
Langford flashed q look at her an
then his gaze reverted to the a TIL
expected outbreak did not Instant
come.
{ "Mistress!" said the other. Il kno'
not what that means, but tbs a wor
l of bitterness. Say further and NOR
clearly your intent"
; "Why, you fool!"
"He that calleth his brother a foc
shall be damned" said the man.
! Langford stared at him.
where nave you lived" he erie
I that you don't know the meaning
words?"
. ct have lived nowhere but here al
I have known no language but VIII
> this woman has taught me-"
= yet she could easily have taugl
j, you the meaning of that word" tt
other responded with cruel, ruthle'
. meaning.
. II will take the lesson from YOU"
"You will have 1t then!"
II will"
"She was my wife, but without Il
" blessing of God or the law of man.
4 owned her, do you understand? l pc
- sessed her body and soul"
mot SOUL" said the woman, but Il
h protest was lost.
a you lie!" cried the man, swift
leaping upon him.
n No tiger ever sprang with SUI
swiftness or such ferocity. Langfo
y was prepared for IN attack. He des
s. a blow at the oncoming figure with
the force of his arm, and skill al
training enabled him to put into
,e more than one would have fanci
from the slightness of his figure. l
;" struck the man fairly in the che
The blow apparently might have sta
Is gered an OK, it had no effect whatev
upon the other. In an instant Lar
TX ford was caught as If in the grasp