Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-12-17

Drlscoh must nave some BoOo IN AM
lit stands 70 reason"
Its a pity there wasn't no chill
dren," sighed Miss Hemans, the sis
ter of The butcher. That's what ate
into their hearts like acid. But l
guess tsat if he lives Mary Driscoll
will be so overjoyed that life'l take
ON a happier look for her"
mo chance of his recovering, is
there?Y asked Austin.
IA small one" said the butcher.
The dec says that il he recover
consciou sness he'll most likely get
we'll. 1t seems there's a splinter of
bone pressing on his brain, and they
can't tell how much it's injured him.
If he RECEIVERS consciousness, the
brains all right; if he don't-well, he
won't. that's all"
did lIary Driscoll write that?"
asked another.
Sure. She wrote to Miss Hemans
here"
Jim Driscoll was conscious of min
gled emotions. The first was Of
shame and humiliation. OF all the
neighbors gathered there, not n had
a bad word for him. But the second
was of disgust. Could it be possible
that his wife had gone to the hospital
and actually mistaken another man
for himself?
Or was somebody lying? That was
a more probable explanation. OF
course! 1t was a lie. His impulse
was to run into the room, but he re-
strained himself, and he heard an
other speaker say:
Il tell you, Miss Hemans, when ]
saw Mary Driscoll start off this morn
ing, she looked actually pretty in that
black dress of hers, in spite of her
sorrow. She was crying, and she
couldn't hide it, but she looked like q
girl again. Sorrow seems to bring
back the youth in some people"
"She's had sorrow enough" broke
in the first sneering voice that Dris
coll had heard. Living with a man
like Jim is enough to make any WON
an wish she was dead"
Driscoll knew the speaker. He was
the cashier of the local bank, ant
about the only friend he had In Box
vile. And the sudden realization o.
the fellows treachery almost un
nerved the watcher at the window.
He, Driscoll, had been so wrapped
up in his hatred and moodiness that
he had never been able to tell his true
friends from the false ones. He hat
acted like a fool. An Overwhelming
sense Of remorse came ove him. Il
he could see Mary now, and tell hel
what a fool he had beeni
And, unable longer to restrain him
self, he sprang for the door, opened
1t, and rushed into the parlor.
I'm here, and I've heard every
world" he shouted to the assembly
"You, Mr.. Nevins-" he turned to the
cashier-"were my best friend, ant
you can walk right out of my house
and never come
We'll, Jim Driscoll was a good mar
in his way" said Miss Hemans, wip
ing her eyes.
They had not heard him! Nobod.
had heard or noticed him! And, ever
as he stood there, bewildered, Nevin'
walked straight into him-and through
him!
In an instant Driscoll understood
He was dead! He had died In tn,
collision, and he was in his own hom'
in the spirit, while the mangled fesl
lay-in the hospital, no doubt, wher
his patient wife was watching!
Il agree with you, Miss Hemans,
the butcher answered.
Jim Driscoll turned slowly away
and, with the realization that his las
chance to redeem his life was gone
an agonizing sense OF hopelessnes
crushed him.
: "Jim!"
: Jim Driscoll opened his eyes an
stared into his wife's face.
. 20, thank God, Jim! You are cor
scious. You are going to get wei
Jim, God has answered my prayers
!. l have prayed for you night and de-
. these ten days past, and the docto
. |. said If you knew me again you woul
! recover. Jim. my dear-Jim, 0, m
! dear!"
. And, kneeling at the bedside sh
! flung her arms round the sick man
!. neck.
: "Jim, everyone is talking about it,
/, she said later.
! about whatT whispered Drisco
|, feebly.
! "The little girl in the next bed
!. look at her, Jim! Don't you remen
! Der? You pulled her from beneat
: the car which had fallen on her fl
ther and killed him. Nobody know
. how you freed her, but it fell BAG
on your head and injured you teri
8 bly,. And, Jim"
8 Driscoll could read the hope in HI
9 wife's eyes,
Eyes, my dear" he answered, pa
ting her hand. IL you like, Mary"
you'll adopt her, Jim? he he
nobody in the world"
And that time Mary Driscoll rea
the answer in his.
Copyright, 1914. by W. @. Chapman.)
q lF A ~
Q Certainly Not His Hat.
q The good parson was preaching o,