Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-12-02

Into his eyes came that troubled look
which nowadays they sometimes wore.
y reckon It wouldn't hardly be hon
est for me to come. I've told ye /
don't think the thing win do no good"
He was looking at her and his hands
slowly clenched. Her beauty, with the
enthusiasm lighting her eyes. made
him feel like a man whose thirst vas
killing him and who gazed At a clear
spring beyond his reach-or. like the
caravan driver whose sight Is tortured
by a mirage. He drew a long breath,
then added:
I've got another reason an a
stronger one for not comm over there
very often. Amy time ye wants me for
anything I reckon ye knows I'll come"
What Is your reason?" she demand
ed.
II amt never been much Interested
In any woman He held her eyes so
directly that a warm color suddenly
flooded her cheeks, then he went on
with naked honesty and an uncon-
cealed bitterness Of heart: when |
puts myself in the way of havin' to
love one. I'll pick a woman that won't
have to be ashamed of me-some
mountain woman"
For an instant she stared at him In
establishment, then she exclaimed:
Ashamed of you! don't think any
woman would be ashamed Of you, Mr..
Hayey." but, recognizing that her voice
had been overserious, she laughed, and
once more her eyes danced with gay
mischief.
Don't be afraid Of me-. I'll promise
not to make love to you"
I'm o~bleeged," he said slowly.
THAT amt what I'm skeered of. I'm
afraid We couldn't hardly stop MI from
maxim love to you"
He paused, and the badinage left
her eyes.
mr.. Hayey," she said with great
seriousness, "Im glad you said that.
It gives US a chance to start honestly,
as all true friendship should start. In
some things any woman is wiser than
any man. You won't fall in love with
me. You thought you were going to
hate me, but you don't"
God knows / don't" he lercely in
terrupted her.
Neither will you fall in love with
me. You told me once OF your superior
age and wisdom, but in some things
you are still a boy. You are a very
lonely boy, too-a boy with q heart
hungry for companionship. You have
had friends only in books-comrade-
ship only In dreams. You have lived
down there in that old prison Of a
house with q sword Of Damocles hang
ing always over your head. Because
we have been in a way ~congenial, you
are mistaking our friendship for dan
ger Of love-"
Danger of love! He knew that it
had gone past a mere danger, and his
eyes for a moment must have shown
that he realized its hopelessness, but
Juanita shook her head and went n
Don't do 1t. 1t would be a pity. I'm
rather hungry, too, for a friend; ]
don't mean for a friend In my work,
but a friend in my life. Can't we be
friends like that?"
She stood looking into his eyes, and
slowly the drawn look Of gravity left
his face.
He had always thought quickly and
dared to face realities. He was now
facing his hardest reality. He loved
her with utter hopelessness. Her eyes
told him that 1t must always be Just
that way, and vet she had appealed to
him-she had said she needed his
friendship. To call 1t love would make
1t necessary for her to decline 1t.
Henceforth life for Anse Havey was
to mean a heartache, but If she want.
ed his allegiance she might call it
what she would. 1t was hers.
Swiftly he vowed in his heart to set
a seal on his lips and play the part she
had assigned to him.
I'm right glad We said that" he an
sured her. Il reckon we're right. !
reckon we can go on fightin' and bein'
friends. Ye see, as / said, I didn't know
much about womenfolks, an because
liked We ! was worried"
She nodded Understandings.
Suddenly he bent forward and his
words broke i%mpetuously from his
lips.
do ye low to marry that man NAL
colm?" He came a step toward her,
then raising his hand swiftly, he add
ed: "No-don't answer that question!
That's your business. ! didn't have no
license to ask. Besides, I don't want
We to answer it."
tits a bargain, isn't it?" she smiled.
whenever you get lonely over there
by yourself and find that Hamlet isn't
as lively a companion as you want,
or that Alexander the Great is a little
too fond of himself, or Napoleon is
overmoody, come over here and Wen
try to cheer each other up"
II reckon" he said with an answer
ing smile, I'm liable to feel that way
tonight, but I amt comm to learn civil
lization. I'm just comm to see you
CTO BE CoNTINUED.)
/ -HHN| MN lW 54a