Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-01-18
CHAPTER wi,

Nh Inv all I'll
saw only the magnolia tree shaped like
a heart, the terrace edged with low
shrubbery. and beyond the faint CLEAN
that was the river. The unshaded glare
of the lights behind her in the house
was eclipsed by the crescent edge of
the rising moon. Dinner was over. Sid
ney was experiencing the rare treat
Of after-dinner coffee.
lie Moyne, grave and contained, sat
across from her. To give so much
pleasure, and so easily! How young
she was, and radiant! No wonder the
hoy was mad about her. She fairly
held out her arms to life.
An. that was too bad! Another
table was being brought they were not
to be alone. But what reused in him
violent resentment only appealed to
S!dney's curiosity.
Carlotta Harrison came out alone.
Although the tapping of her heels was
du'led by the grass, although she had
exchanged her cap for the black hat,
Sidney knew her at once. A sort of
thrill ran over her. 1t was the pretty
nurse from Doctor Wilson'S Office, Was
it possible-but of course not! The
book OF rules stated explicitly that such
things were forbidden.
Don't turn around" she said swift.
". III Is the Miss Harrison 1 told you
about. She is looking at u.s."
Carlotta's eyes We're blinded for n
moment by the glare of the house
lights. Then she sat up, her eyes on
LIE Moyne's grave profile turned to-
ward the valley. Lucky for her that
Wilson had stopped in the bar, that
sidneys instructive good manners for
hade her staring, that only the edge of
me summer moon shone through the
rec She went white and clutched
the edge of the table, with her eyes
closed. That gave her quick brain a
chance. 1t was madness. June mad
ness. She was always seeing him, even
In her dreams. This mar was older.
much older. She looked again.
She had not been mistaken. Here.
ana after all these months! X. lie
Moyne, quite unconscious of her pres.
ehce, looked down into the valley.
wilson appeared on the wooden
porch above the terrace, and stood. his
eyes searching the half-light for her.
II he came down to her, the man at the
next table might turn, would see her
She rose and went swiftly back to.
ward the hotel. All the gayety was
gone out of the evening for her, but
she forced a lightness she did not feel
1T is so dark and depressing out
there--it makes me sad"
surely you do not want to dine in
the hoilse!"
"Do you mind!"
Your wish is my law-tonight." he
said softly.
After all, the evening was n disan.
poitltmcnt to him. The s%pontaneity had
gone out Of it, for some reason. The
girl who had thrilled to his clancc
those two mornings in his Office, whose
somber eyes had met his, fire for fire
the operating room. was not
playing up. She sat back in her chair.
eating little, starting at every step. Her
eyes, which by every rule Of the game
should have been gazing into his, were
liked on the oilcloth.covered passage
outside the door.
Il think, after all, you are fright.
"Terribly."
"A little danger adds to the xest Of
things. You know what Nietzsche sovs
about that"
Il am not fond Of Nictzsche." Then
with an effort: "What does he snyy
1.-TWO things arc wanted by The
mnn-danger ana play. Therefore
seeketh woman as the most dan.
gerous of toys"
women are dangerous only when
you think Of them as toys. When
man finds that q woman car reason--
10 anything but feeI--he regards her
a menace. But the reasoning won.
Is really less dangerous thnn tho
)ther sort"
This was more like the rcnl thin,
talk careful distractions like this,
beneath each abstraction its con.
ale personal application, to talk Of
and look In her eyes, to discuss ,
PHILOSOPHERS with their frccdom. ,
. discard old creeds und old moral.
ies--thnt was his game. Wilson no. ,
anne content, Interested again. The cir,
Il Undetermined. She challenged
lis philosophy and gave him a chance
0 defend It. With the conviction. M :,
Ieif meal went on. that Lie Moync !.
nd his companion must surely bnvo /. !
one. she gnined ease. D
1t was only by wild driving that sho J,
OF back 70 the hospital by ten O'Clock. v
wilson left her at the corner. we'll
ontcnt with himself. As he drove nm !.
ne street he glanced across NJ ,hs !"
'agc house. Sidney was there On tho
oorstep, talking to a tall man who a
TODD below and looked up At her. " '
Illson settled his tie. IN the dnrkno..
id1cy was o mighty pretty Girl. The
'fie night was In his blood. He wns !.
,rry ne had not kissed Cariotta rood =!
lslt. lie rather thought. now ho y
back. she had expected n. v
AZ he got out Of his cur nc the curb. 2
lpassN- SUhVo i r