Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-07-18
CHAPTER M.-(contInued).

hdltldnQS prOIeBev 1hlS III iOfC Will ACA-
CHAPTER iI.-(continued).
t"And by what right did you take
that one?" haughtily demanded the
outraged young woman, looking at
him beneath level brows while the
color slowly receded from her face.
She had never been kissed by a man
other than a blood relation In her
iife-remember, suspicious reader,
that she was from Philadelphia,-and
she resented this sudden and unau-
thorized caress with every atom and
instinct of her still somewhat conven-
tional being.
But aren't you half way engaged to
me?" he pleaded in justification. see
ing the unwonted seriousness with
which she had received his impudent
advance. Didn't you agree to give
me a CHANGER"
II did say that I liked you very
much" she admitted, mo mar better.
and that l thought that you might"
well, then" he began.
But she would not be interrupted.
II did not mean that you should en-
10Y all the privileges Of, a conquest be-
fore you had won me. I will thank
you not to do that again, sir"
1T seems to have had a very diff
rerent effect upon you than 1t does
upon me-" replied the man coolly. !
loved you before, but now. since !
have kissed you, I worship you"
1T hasn't affected me that way" re
torted the gill promptly, her face still
drowning and indignant. mot at all
and"
Forgive me, Enid" pleaded the
other. II just couldn't help 1t. You
were so beautiful I had to, took the
chance. You are not accustomed t.
our ways"
rs this your habit in your love at
fairs?" asked the girl swiftly and no
without a spice OF feminine malice.
81 v had any love affair be
fore" he replied with a ready mascu
line m%endacity, lat least none WORT
mentioning. But you e this Is tn
west; we have gained what we hav'
by demanding every inch that natur'
offers, and then claiming the al
That's the way we play the game GU
here and that's the way we win"
."But | have not yet learned to pla
the game as you call it. by any sue
rules" returned the young woman d.
termineGy, "and It is not the way t
win me II l am the stake"
What is the way?" asked the ma,
a~nxiously. SHOW me and I'll take
no matter what Its difficulty"
"Ah, for me to point out the wa
would be to play traitor to myself,
she answered, relenting and relaxin
a little before his devoted wooint
"You must find It without assistance
can only tell you n thing"
And what is that?"
"You do not advance toward th
goal by such actions as those OF
moment since"
'LooE here" said the other suddel
iy. %" am not ashamed of what l di,
and I'm not going to pretend that
am, either.
You ought to be-" severely.
well, maybe so, but I'm not:
couldn't help 1t any more than coul
help loving you the minute / saw 20
Put yourself In my place"
But l am not in your place, and
can't put myself there. do not wis
to. II 1t be true, as you say. that yt
have grown to-care SO much for n
and SO Quickly
"If it be true7" came the sharp
terruption as the man bent towal
her, fairly devouring her with his Dol
ardent gaze.
well, since 1t is true" she adm,
ed under the compulsion Of his pr
test. That fact is the only possib
excuse for your action :
"Fou find some justification for m
them" .f
mo, only a possibility, but wheth
It be true or not, l do not feel tn
way-yet."
There was q saving grace in tn
A8BL worn, WAACA saw AAm AS'
heart. He would have spoken. b
she suffered no interruption. sayin
Il have been wooed before, butt
"True, unless the human race b
become suddenly blind" he said soft
under his breath.
"But never In such ungentle way
" suppose you have never run
against a real ~red-blooded man II
me before"
If red-blooded be evidenced MAR
by lacking Of self control. perhaps
have not. Yet there are men that
have met that would not need to ap
ogixe for their qualities even to y,
Mr.. James Armstrong"
"Don't say that. Evidently | ma
but poor progress In my wooil
Never have / met with a woman gu
like you"-and In that indeed
some Of ner charm. and she mif
have replied in exactly the same /
guage and with exactly the sat
meaning to hint am no longer
boy. must be fifteen ycars oil
than YOU are. for ] am t~hirty-ava.'
TRULY A FRIEND IN NE