Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-03-26

guished. Then Mrs. Clifford asked sud
denly; Who do you suppose she
could have been?-the girl behind that
old Valiant affair"
Mrs. Mason shook her head. mo
n knows for certain-unless, Of
course, the major or the doctor, and l
wouldn't question either of them for
worlds. You see, people had stopped
gossiping about it before l was out of
school. There's Major Bristow at the
gate now. And the doctors Just com
ing out again"
The major wore a suit of white
linen, with a broad-brimmed straw
hat, and a pink was in his button
hole, but to the observing, his step
might have seemed to lack an ccu
toned jauntiness. AS he came up the
path the doctor opened his office.
How do you feel this morning, Ma
| jor."
"Feel?" rumbled the major; the
way any gentleman ought to feel this
time of the morning, sab. Like hell,
sah.'
The doctor bent his gaze on the
hilarious blossom in the others lapel.
IF l were you, Bristow," he said
! scathingly, Il reckon I'd quit galivant.
ing around to bridge-fights with per-
fumery on my handkerchief every
evening. It's the devil of an example
to the young"
The rocking-chairs behind the
screening vines became m~otionless,
and the ladies exchanged surreptitious
smiles. If the two gentlemen were
aware of each others sterling quail
ties, their mutual appreciation was in
inverse ratio to it's expression, and,
as the Elucinian mysteries, cloaked
before the world. In public the doctor
was wont to remark that the major
talked like a Caesar, looked like a
piano-tuner and was the only man he
had ever seen who could strut sit
ting down. Never we're his gibes so
barbed as when launched against the
majors white-waistcoated and patri-
clan calm, and conversely, never did
the majors bland suavity so nearly
approach an undignifed irritation as
when receiving the enYenomed darts
of that accomplished cynic.
The major settled his black tie. "A
little wholesome exercise wouldn't be
a bad thing for you, Doctor" he said
succinctly. You're looking a shade
pasty today"
"Exercise!" snapped the other
viciously, as he pounded down the
steps. "Ha, ha! l suppose you exer-
cise-lazying out to the Dandridges
once a week for a julep, and the rest
Of the time wearing out good cane-bot-
toms and palm-leaf fans and c~ussing
at the heat. You'll go off with apo
plexy n of these days"
II shall If they're scared enough to
call you" the major shot after him
nettled. But the doctor did not pause
He went on down the street without
turning his head.
The major lifted his hat CALAMITY
to the ladies', whose presence he hac
just observed.
do sit down, Major" said Mrs. Gift.
ford. There's a question I'm just
dying to ask you. We've had such an
interesting conversation. You've
heard the news, Of course, that young
MI. Valiant is coming to Damory
Court?"
The major sat down heavily. In the
bright light his face seemed suddenly
pale and old.
mop" the lady's tone was arch
Have all the rest of us really goI
ahead of you for once? Yes, it's true
There's some one there getting it tt
rights. Now here's the question
There wa a woman, of course, at the
bottom of the Valiant duel. I'd nevel
dream of asking you who she was
But which was it she loved, Valian
:. or Sassoon?"