Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-05-22
.1.n tl,nS n an or.r.

"
Auntie dear"
Madame Reyn.sr followed Melani
inso her sitting-room. bringing tn
precious orchids in her two hands
fearful lest the fragile vase shout
fall. Melanie regarded them a me
ment, and then said she thought the,
would do better in the drawingsroom.
I sometimes think the little gardeI
pink quite as pretty as an orchid"
They aren't SO much In MI. Lloyd
Jones' style as these" replied Madam,
Reynier. She had a faculty Of com
menting pleasantly without the leas
hint Of criticism. This remark de
lighted Meianie.
No; I should never picture MI
Loyd-Jones az q garden pink. Blu
then. Auntie. you remember how clio
quent he was about the hills and thu
stars. That speech did not at all In
dictate a dollhouse nature"
Nevertheless. l think his senti
ments have been cultivated, like his
orchids"
mot a bad achievement" said Me
LAME.
There was an interval Of silence
while the younger woman stood look
ing out of the window and Madame
Reynier cut the leaves of a French
journal. She did not read, however
and presently she broke the silence
I don't remember that Mr.. Var
Camp eve sent orchids to YOU"
Mr.. Van Camp never gave me any
kind of flower. He thinks flowers are
the most intimate of all gifts, and
should only be exchanged between
s~weethearts, At least, l heard him ex
pound some such theory years ago
when we first knew him"
Madame smiled-a significant smile
If any n had been looking. Nothing
further was said until Melanie uaex.
pectedly shot straight to the mark
with:
How do you think he would do
Auntie, in place of Count Lorenzo?"
Madame Reynier showed no sur
prise. HE is a sterling man; but your
cousin would never consent to it,"
And II / should not consult my
cousin?"
My dear Melanie, that would en-
tall many embarrassing consequences;
and embarrassments are worse than
crimes"
Melanie could laugh at that, and
did. 1--WE already answered a note
from Mr.. Van Camp this morning,
Auntie. No, don't worry" she play
fully answered a sudden anxious look
that came upon her aunt's counte-
nance, I've not said yes to him. But
he's coming to see me at twelve. If I
don't give him a chance to say what
he has to say, he'll take n anywhere.
He's capable Of proposing on the
street-cars. Besides, I have something
also to say to him"
We'll, my dear, you know best; GER
tainly l think you know best" was
Madame Reynier's last word.
Mr.. Van Camp arrived on the stroke
of twelve, an expression of happiness
on his lean, quizzical face.
I'm supposed to be starting on a
cruise" he told Melanie, but luck
Is with me. My cousin hasn't turned
up-or rather he turned up only to
disappear instantly. Otherwise he
would have dragged me off to catch
the first ebb-tide, with me hanging
back like an anchor-chain."
us your cousin, then, such a ty-
"Oh, yes; he's a masterful man. is
Jimmy"
"And how did he disappear instant
ly? It sounds mysterious"
ut is mysterious, but Jim can take
care of himself; at least, I hope he
can. The message said he had sailed
on the Jeanne Dare, whatever that
is, and that l was to look after our
hired yacht, the Sea Gull"
Melanie looked up. startled. "The
Jeanne D'Arc, was it?" she cried.
Are you sure? But, of course-there
must be many boats by that name, are
there not? But did he say nothing
more-where he was going, and why
he changed his plans?"
mo, not a word more than that.
Why? Do you know of a boat named
the Jeanne D'Arc?"
Eyes. very we'll; but 1t can not mat
ter. 1t must be another vessel, sure
Iy. Meanwhile, what are you going
70 do without your companion?"
Aleck rose from the slender gilt
chair where. as usual, he had perched
walked to the window and
thrust his hands into his pockets for
a contemplative moment, then he
turned and came to a stand squarely
before Melanie, looking down on her
his quizzical, honest eyes.
"That depends, Melanie," he said
upon whether you are going
to marry me or not"
For a second or two Melanie's eyes
refused to lift; but Alexis firm-plant-
ed figure, his steady gaze, above all,
his dominating will, forced her to look
up. There he was, smiling, strong,
big, kindly. Melanie started to smile,
but for the second time that morning
her eyes Unexpectedly filled with
II can't talk to you towering over
like that" she said at last softly,
her smile winning against the tears.
Aleck did not move. II don't want
you to talk to- mt about 1t; all | want
is for you to say YES"
But I'm not going to say 'yes:' at
least, I don't think I am. Do sit
Present From Grateful Convert.