Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-03-21

this unfortunate occurrence win doubt
tess end II"
She glanced up at me. her long
lashes wet, but her dark yes spark.
ling with mischief. t
"oh. she won't care so far rs you
are concerned" she exclaimed indif-
~ferently. But | suppose she will
think I am perfectly horrid. Well. |
don't care If she does; she might
have waited and learned the truth
first. Wasn't her face a study? And
how shall I ever explain to Arthur so
that he will understand? I'm sure |
have got the worst of 1t. oh, Captain
Wayne, is my hair all RULED up? |
know / look like a fright. You must
come in now. and we will explain to
Mrs. Brennan the whole matter. She
cannot help believing US both, while
! know she would be SO cold and
proud to me alone"
| shook my head decisively. Per
haps 1t was better ended So: at least
l possessed no courage Just then to
face her indignation. She might but
deem we had concocted our explana-
ton. and would very likely receive It
with all the scorn she felt 1t deserved.
Besides, 1t was clear there was moth
ing | could do to aid them. | should
be now merely an unweloome intru-
der. An escort was to be there short
ly to convoy them northward, and for
me to be found in their company by
Brennan would only inf1ame him and
add greatly to the embarrassment OF
his wife's position. Much as | might
long for immediate vindication in her
sight, the plain duty of true love was
to depart at once. and permit time to
straighten out the tangle.
You must pardon me-" hastened
to say, standing hat in hand before
her, 'but 1t would not be best for
me to intrude upon Mrs. Brennan aft
er her late reception. | merely halt
ed here in order to assure myself OF
your presence and safety, My men
are even now waiting for me a few
hundred yards away"
But | wish you to meet Arthur"
"Oh, l think not, Mas Minor. feel
warm friendship for Lieutenant Cation.
but we wear different uniforms. serve
under different flags, and a meeting
here, both with armed forces behind
us, would naturally have to be a hos
tile one. However the Lieutenant and
| might consent to a temporary truce.
his superior officer, Major Brennan,
would not likely prove of the same
mind"
Then you really must got"
UNLESS you specially desire to wit
ness a cavalry skirmish in your front
d%ooryard, l certainly consider it best
and held out my hand. Surely we
part as friends, and | may hope that
you will intercede in my behalf with
Mrs. Brennan?"
She rose up impulsively.
How ridiculous; how supremacy RI
d~iculous! Why, of course will,
though | don't suppose Edith really
cares very much, but she believed ii
would be highly proper to be shocked
l don't think she likes you SO very
we'll anyway, Captain Wayne, for she
never will talk about YOU"
With these cheering words ringing
in my ears, and feeling thoroughly de
feated In every cherished hope.
strobe savagely down the long hill and
mounted my horse. How roughly for
tune had buffeted me, to be sure, ant
how extremely small the inspiration
left. Well, perhaps l deserved 1t fol-
ever permitting myself to love one
whom | knew to be the wife OF an
other. Doubtless she had seized upor
this slight pretext to be rid Of me
and was already rejoicing over it!
easy accomplishment.
In my agitation l forgot entirely the
presence Of Maria Rungay at the
house, and ordering my men into sad
die prepared for departure withou
giving b IuOu6uL " Iuc AlliO Civ"
and his domestic troubles. | chose
the road leading toward the north
west, for although / had not asked thu
question | conceived it highly probable
that Brennan and his party would rid,
from the Federal calvary quarters a
Golfers Church, and l had no desir'
to meet them. They were upon al
errand Of mercy Of far greater impor
lance than my revenge.
AS we swung along through tn
heavily timbered land ~fringing GU
road, Bungay pressed his mule into
trot and finally succeeded in rangtnI
up at my side. Even in my disturbeI
mental condition l vas amused at hi
unique style of riding, although
would not wound him by laughing.
: ITO BE CoNTINUED)
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