Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-10-23

the door In Eugene's face.
Then, not moving away, he stood
just inside the door, and noted that
the misty silhouette remained upon
the frosted glass for several moments,
as if the forbidden gentleman debated
in his mind what curse to pursue.
"Let him ring again" George thought
grimly. "Or try the side door-or the
kitchen"
But Eugene made no further at
tempt; the silhouette disappeared;
footsteps could be heard Withdrawing
across the floor of the veranda; and
George, returning to the window in
the reception room," was rewarded
by the sight of an automobile manu-
facturer in baffleG retreat, with all
his wooing furs and fineries hooking
him. Observing the heaviness of his
movements as he climbed into the tom
neau, George INDUCED in a sickish
throat rumble which bore a distant
cousinship to mirth.
He went to the library, and, seat
ing himself beside the table wherein
he had placed the photograph of his
father, picked up a book, and pretend
ed to be engaged in reading 1t.
Presently Isabel's buoyant step was
heard descending the stairs. She came
into the library, a fur coat over her
arm, ready to put on, and two wells
round her small black hat, her right
hand engaged in buttoning the glove
upon her left; and, as the large room
contained too many pieces Of heavy
furniture, and the inside shutters ex-
| cluded most of the light of day, she
did mot at once perceive Georges
presence. Instead, she went to the bay
window at the end of the room, which
afforded q view of the street, and
glanced out expectantly; then bent
her attention upon her glove; after
that, looked out toward the street
again, and turned toward the interior
of the room.
"Why, George"
She came, leaned over from behind
him, and there was a faint, exquisite
odor as from distant apple blossoms
as she kissed his cheek. "Dear,
waited lunch almost an hour for you,
but you didn't come! Did you lunch
out somewhere"
EYES," He did not look up from the
book.
"Did you have plenty to eat2"
eyes"
A tinkling bell was audible, and she
moved to the doorway into the hall.
"Im going out driving, dear. L"
She interrupted herself to address the
housemaid, who was passing through
the hall: 81 think it's Mr.. Morgan,
Mary. Tell him I'll be there at once"
Eyes, ma'am."
Mary returned. "'Twas a peddler,
ma'am."
"Another one?" Isabel said, sur.
prised. ST thought you said it was q
peddler when the bell rang a little
while ago."
"Mister George said it was, ma'am
he went to the door," Mary informed
her, disappearing.
"There seem to be a great many Of
Them" Isabel unused. "What die
yours want to sell, GeorgeT
HE didn't say"
"You must have cut him off short 7
she laughed; and then, still standing
in the doorway, she noticed the biz
silver frame upon the table beside
him" Gracious, George" she exclaim
ed. "You have been investingp ant
as she came across the room for {
closer view, "Is it's 1t LucyT sh'
asked half timidly, half archly. Blu
the next instant she saw whose like
ness was thus set forth in elegia'
splendor-and she was silent, excep
for a long, just-audible "Oh|
He neither looked up nor moved.
"That was nice of you, George
she said, in a low voice presently. "
ought to have had it framed, myself
when I gave it to you"
He said nothing, and, standing be
side him, she put her hand gently UP
on his shoulder, then as gently with
drew it, and went out of the room
But she did not 60 upstairs; he hear
the faint rustic Of her dress in tn
hall, and then the sound Of her foo
steps in the reception ROOM" Afte
a time, silence succeeded even thes
slight tokens Of her presence; where
upon George rose and went warily IL
to the hall, taking care to make n
noise, and he obtained an oblique vie
of her through the open double door
of the reception ROOM" She was ST
ting in the chair which he had occl
pied so long; and she was lookin
out Of the window expectantly-a Ii
tie troubled.
He went back to the library, waite
an interminable half hour, then r.
2 turned noiselessly to the same positio
in the hall, where he could see he
U She was still sitting patiently by Il
y window.
Waiting for that man, was sh'
Well, 1t might be quite a long wait
o And the grim George silently ascendt
IS the stairs to his own room, and begs
I to pace his suffering floor.
No loft hia door onan however. M