Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-08-21
Agatha held Mrs. stoddsr1t ha.As
-Ah. you have bean god y

-
closely. -Ah. you have bean god y
usi" ~.
There Is none good but one"
quoted Mrs. Stoddard; nevertheless
her eyes were moist with feeling.
You'll stay on In the old red houseG's
Il don't know; probably not for
long. But l almost wish I could
I've learned a sight by you. Aga
tina. I want you to know that" said
Susan, struggling with her ~reticence
and her impulse toward confession.
oh, don't say that to me, Mrs
Stoddard. | a only remember how
good you've been to US ALL
But Susan would not be denied. I
thought you were proud and vain and
-and worldly, Agatha. And l treat
ed you harsh, l know"
mo. no. Whatever you thought. it's
all past now, and you are my friend.
You'll help me to take care of this
dear old place-yes?"
The Lord will establish the work
of your hands. my child" She sud
denly turned with one of her prac-
tical ideas. Il wouldn't let that new
city man in to see Mr.. Hambleton Just
yet, II l were you"
Us Mr.. Straker trying to get in 10
see Mr.. Hambleton?"
Knocked at the door twsea this
morning, and | told him b couldn't
come in. Why not?' said he. Danger
Of fever said !. Then Mr.. HANDLE
ton asked me who was there, and I
said, I don't exactly know, but It's
either Miss Redmond's maids beau
or a press agent and then Mr.. Ham
bleton called out, as quick and strong
as anybody, Go way! l think I've
got smallpox And he went of,
quicker'n a wink, and hasn't been
back since" Mrs. Stoddard's grim old
face wrinkled in a humorous smile.
Il guess hen get over his smallpox
scare, but Mr.. Hambleton don't want
to see him. not yet. He wants to see
you"
I'm going in to see him soon, any
way" said Agatha.
But still she waited a little before
going in for her morning visit with
James. It meant so much to her! It
wasn't to be taken lightly and casu-
ally, but with a little pomp and cere-
mony. Each day since the night OF
the crisis she had paid her morning
call, and each day she had seen new
lights in Jimmy's eyes. In vain had
she been m~atter-of-fact and practical,
treating him as al invalid whose
vagaries should be INDUCED even
though they were of no Importance.
He would not accept her on those
terms. Back Of his weakness had
been a strength, more and more per-
ceptible each day, touching her with
the sweetest fiattery woman ever re-
ceives. 1t was the strength Of a
lovers spirit, looking out at her from
his eyes and speaking to her in every
infection of his voice. Moreover, while
he stoutly and continuously denied
his fever-sickness he took no trouble
to conceal this other malady. AS O o
as he could speak distinctly he pro-
claimed his spiritual madness, though
nobody but Agatha, and possibly Mrs
Stoddard, quite understood.
I'm not sick; don't be an idiot,
Hand. And give mi a shave, for
Heavens sake. Anybody can get
knocked on the head-that's all the
matter with me. Give me some
clothes and you'll see." Even Hand
had to give in quickly. Jimmy's
residence passed all expectations. He
came up like a rubber ball; and now.
on a fine September morning, he was
getting shaved and clothed In one of
Alexis suits. Finally he was propped
tup in an easy chair by a window over
looking the towering elm tree and the
white church.
"Er-Andy-couldn't you get me
some kind of a tie? This soft shirt
business doesn't look very fit, loci
it, without a tie?" coaxed Jim.
."If you ask me, l say you look fine"
"Where'd you get all your good
clothes, I'd like to known inquired
Jim sternly, looking at Hands inn
maculate linen.
Miss SaIlie washes 'em after go
to bed in the morning" confessed
Hand.
"Oh, she does, does shell" jeered
Jimmy. Well, you'll have to go to
bed at night, like other folks, now.
And then what'll you dor
at ,c,a,o Mice OoI1ioiII hauo A. IA
up nights" modestly suggested Hand.
when a slipper struck him in the back.
Good shot! What d'you want now
an opera hat?" he inquired derisiyely.
"Andy!" calculated Jim, dismay set
thing on his features. i've just
thought! Do you s'pose I'm paying
hotel bills all this time at The
Larue?"
Hand grinned unsympathetically.
IF you engaged a room, sir, and didn't
give it up, I believe it's the custom"
"Thatn do for now, Handy Andy, IL
you can't get up any better answer
than that. Lord, what's that" Jim
suddenly exclaimed, as IL he hadn't
been. waiting, all ears, for that very
step in the passage.
81 guess likely thatTl be Miss Red
mond," replied the respectful Hand.
And SO it was.
Agatha, fresh as the morning, stood
in the doorway for a contemplative
moment. before coming forward to
take Jim's outstretched hand.
CrO BE CONTINUED.)
He who boasts of his descent
praises the deeds of another,-Seneca.