Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-07-18


Ever since Arthur DENLY and L.
Gle Bard had taken away the stiena
Of 'unlseky thirteen" from their cia0
By becoming one. they had planned
to hold Q class reunion at their home;
and one GUNNER. I've years after
their graduation. they succeeded In
bringing It about. They were all
there. the original thirteen. together
with the wives and husbands Of the
six married ones. 60
On the outskirts Of the merry group
sat Ethel Claxton. somehow she was
usually the odd girl In every gather.
ing. She felt herself 50 now. al.
though there was an even number Of
men and girls at the Denbys' house
party. She knew that On the present
occasion their hostess had paired her
OF with Ted Foster. Nevertheless
both he and Brian Hedrick Wed with
each other In their attentions to
pretty. frivolous Sibyl Landon.
The same state Of affairs continued
next day when the entire party. packed
In various c~onveyances, started to
Rainbow falls for q beefsteak fry.
"It's really tragic" she thought.
"This will-o'.the-wisp, endless-chain
business'--my caring for Ted and his
infatuation for Sibyl, who doesn't care
q straw for him.
The day dragged and after the pic
mic dinner, while the others were
grouped about the camp fire, Ethel
stole away unobserved.
1t was not until a couple of hours
later, when Mrs. DENLY was round
ing up her party preparatory to going
home, that they actually missed her.
Then the cry went up: "Where's
Ethel"
I'VE must look for her" declared
Arthur DENLY. "She may have wan
dered much farther than she realized
and lost her way"
They separated, little groups going
in different directions. All felt a
sense of guilt for neglect toward The
girl whom they had known SO long,
yet none knew well.
II counted on you, Ted, to help
make things pleasant for Ethel" re-
proved Mrs. DENLY In an aside.
"I'm afraid I've been a bit remiss,'
= Foster answered contritcly. And In
: that mood started off alone. deter
:. mined to find her. 1T seemed to him
] that the green, rushing water Of the
:. rapid mountain stream Knocked him,
When he reached a point that com
y manded a view Of the falls he sud
denly caught sight Of her quietly sit
t ting on IN overhanging rock watch
ing the changing play Of waters.
"Hello." he called, patent relief II
his voice. you've given us the scare
Of our lives"
d "Why, what's the matterT
t "We've been hunting you for til
last hour. Thought YOU were los
u sure enough"
us 1t lateT she asked.
"Yes-you know darkness comes
a hurry up here in the mountain
u We'd better hurry back-the other
% are ready to start home" Now tina
y she was found and was safe, he wa
8. ready to relegate her to the back
~ ground once more.
y For q moment she was silent, the
L. said: I'm not ready to 60 yet" Sh
spoke quietly, but there was
strange gleam in her gray eyes.
y "Not ready? Why, they're all wal
= ing" he returned in surprise.
u "Let them walt! I must have
. few minutes-you know when IN!
l. thing first comes out Of its shell it
IL a bit wabbly-and-needs a llttl
time to recover itself"
"What do you mean" In she'
surprise he dropped down on the roc
~ beside her.
She laughed. "Just what I've sal
I've done n lot Of thinking in the tV
hours I've been sitting here. II
been facing facts, in other words, al
81 am determined to be a different SO
M of person than the n you've know
before"
"a He still stared half.comprehen
80 ingly. and she hurried on: Il see tn
the neglect and Indifference I've
ways met with have been largely 7
own fault. l didn't impress othe
I've decided to throw overheard {
erything I've cared for before q
" start life on a different basis
lighter vein as 1t were."
"What do you mean BY thin
you've cared for before"
"Well-you, for instance. ! adr
I used to care tremendously. But y