Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-05-28

inquire TO De tnrOugn Jne
various rooms of the ground floor,
chatting in quite the old-time way, till
a new gallant claimed her.
The mellow strings made on their
merry tune, and at length the Wash
ington Post marched all in flushed
unity Of purpose to the great muslin
walled porch with it's array of tables
grooming under viands ~concocted by
Aunt Daphne for the delectation of
the palateweary.
And then once more the waltz-strain
supervened and in the yellow parlor
Joy was again u%nconfined.
Again Valiant claimed Katharine
and they glided off on THE Beautiful
Danube" Her paleness now had a
tinge Of color, but nevertheless he
thought she dropped. You are tired"
he said, "shan't we sit it out?"
"Oh, do you mind?" she responded
gratefully. ut has been a fairly siren
lou day, hasn't it,"
He guided her to a corridor, where
branches Of rhododendron screened an
alcove Of settees and seductive cush-
ions. Here, her WEAKNESS seemed put
to rout. There was no dropping of
fringed lids, no disconcerting 81
lences; she chartered with ease and
~piquancy.
Il have been listening to paeans all
The evening"" she said. And you de-
serve them. It's a fine big thing you
are attempting-the restoring of this
old estate. And I know you have even
bigger plans, too
He nodded, suddenly serious and
thoughtful. There's a lot I'd like to
do, It's not only the house and
grounds, There are other
things. For instance, back on the
mountain-on my own land-is a set
Element they call Hell's-Half-Acre.
Probably it has we'll earned the
name. It's a wretched collection of
novels and surly men and drabs of
women and unkempt children, the
poorest Of poor-whites. Not n Of
them can read or write, and they live
like animals. If I'm yer able, l mean
to put a Misunderstanding school up
there. And then"
He ended with a half laugh, sudden
ly conscious that he was talking in a
language she would scarcely under.
stand-in fact, in a tongue new to him
self. But there was no smile on her
lips and her extraordinary eyes-cool
gray, shot through with emerald
were looking into his with a frankness
and sympathy he would not have
guessed lay beneath her glacial pla-
cidity.
To Katharine, indeed, it made little
difference what philanthropic fads the
man she had chosen might affect as
regarded his tenantry. Ambitions like
these had a immortal flavor that did
not displease her. And the Fargo mil
lions would bear much harmless ham
mering. A change, subtle and incom-
%municable, passed over her.
81 shall think Of you." she sighed,
las working on in this splendid pro-
gram. For it is splendid. But New
York will miss you, John"
"Ah, no. I've no delusions on that
score. l dare say I'm almost forgotten
there already. Here I have a place."
Her head, leaned back against the
cushion, turned toward him, the pale
orchids trembling on her bosom-she
was so heal that he could feel her
breath on his cheek. A new waltz
had begun to sigh its dangerous meas
ures.
place." she queried. do you think
you had no place there? Is it possible
that you do not understand that your
going has left-a void?"
He looked at her suddenly, and her
eyes fell. Before he answered, how
ever, the big form of Major Bristow
appeared, looking about him.
TT has-left a void" she said, her
eyes still downcast, her voice just low
enough, for me-"
The major pounced upon them at
this juncture, feelingly accusing John
Of the nefarious design Of robbing the
assemblage of its bright and partic-
ular star. When Katharine put her
hand in her cavaliers arm, her eyes
were dewy under their long shading
lashes and her fine lips aver so little
tremulous. 1t had been her best avail
able moment, and she had used it.
AS she moved away, her faint color
slightly heightened, she was glad Of
the interruption. 1t was better as it
was. When John Valiant came to her
again.
But to him, as he stood watching
her move lightly from him, there was
vouchsafed illumination. 1t came to
him suddenly that that placidity and
hauteur which he had SO admired in
the old days were nc mask for fires
within. The exquisite husk was the
real Katharine. Hers was the lowell
ness Of some tall white lily cut In
marble, splendid but chill. And with