Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-01-03
E. PHILLIPS OPPENEEIM

the faint beating Of q motor engine
in the distance. John Get down his
glass. There was q strange look in
his eyes.
there IRE more cars passing along
the road now than In the old days"
he muttered; but that's . queer
sound. 1t reminds one-good heavens.
how It reminds one"
There was a look Of agony in his
face for q moment. Then once more
he raised his glass to his lips.
ats passed out of hearing" Stephen
said. tits someone on the way to the
castle. maybe"
Still their glasses remained suspend
ed In midair. The little garden gate
had opened and closed with a click !;
there were footsteps upon the fiinty
walk.
TITS someone coming here ~. John
cried hoarsely. "Why can't they keep
awayf It's two years ago this week
since I brought her up the drive and
you me us at the front door. Two
years ago, Stephen! Who can It be-"
They heard the front door open.
they heard jennings voice raised in
unusual und indignant protest. Then
their W door was suddenly flung
wide, and a miracle happened. Johns
glass slipped from his fingers, and the
wine streamed out across the carpet.
He shrank back, gripping at the table
cloth. Stephen turned his head, and
sat as IL turned to stone.
"John," she faltered, at isn't the car
this time-it is l who have broken
down. l cannot so on. l have no
pride left. have come to you. VIII
you help me"
He found himself upon his feet. Ste
phen, too, had arisen. She stood be-
tween the two men, and glanced from
one to the other. Then she looked
more closely into Johns face, peering
forward with a little start of pain, and
her eyes were filled with tears.
John" she cried, forgive me! You
were SO cruel that morning, and you
seemed to understand so little. Don't
you really understand, ever now
Have you ever known the truth, l Won
deri" .#..
1.-THE TRUTH" he echoed hoarsely
Don't we all know that? Don't We al
know that he is to give you your rights
that you are coming"
stop" she ordered him.
He obeyed, and for n moment there
was silence-a tense, strained silence
"John," she continued at last, ="
have no rights to receive from tn
prince of Seyre. He owes me nothing
Listen! Always we have seen life diff
ferently, you and /. To me there l.
only one great thing, and that Is love
and beyond that nothing counts.
tried to love the prince before 20,
came, and I thought I did. and l prom
Used him at last, because l believed
that he loved me and that l loved him
and that If so 1t was his right. Lool
down the road, John! On that nigh
l was on my way to the castle; but
broke down, and in the morning TIL
world was all different, and l wen
back to London. II has been differen
ever since, aud there has never beef
any question of anything between tn
prince and me, because I knew that i
was not love-"
John was shaking In every limb. Eli
eyes were filed with fierce question
ing. Stephen sat there, and there wa
wonder in his face, too.
"When you came to me that morn
Ing" she went on, "you spoke to m
In a strange tongue. I couldn't under
stand you. you seemed SO far away
l wanted to tell You the whole truth
but ! didn't. Perhaps I wasn't sure
perhaps 1t seemed to inc that 1t wa
best for me to forget, II ever l hal
cared, for the ways Of our lives SCENE