The Iron Woman

ad left the "party" early, without waiting for her carriage, because Mrs.

e with you," Rob

oing to wait

ll bring

ce; how pretty she was to-night! Yo

isn't a thing to be prou

uson! What is a girl for, if not to be sweet and

ather have

rfere with goodness! And Eli

she is,"

she is," s

d put his hand up to his lean cheek as if he sti

Richie said. "Mr. Ferguson, David

this time?" said Robert Ferguson, h

day, when-" Mrs. Richie shuddered at the remembra

severely. "I should think you might

r David," she retorted with some spirit. "I n

up by a man-practically." Then he added with some generosity, "But I'm not

ly. "My tall David is very nice, even if he

ne minute, he'll turn into a man. I-" he paused, and laughed: "I was twenty, just out of college, when I

n behind his careless words was obvious. They walked along

ver. Good ridda

ay "never mind." Poor man! because, when he was twenty a girl had jilted him, he was still, at over forty, defending a sensitive heart by an armor of surliness. "Won't you come in?" she said, when they reached her door; she smiled at hi

her little sofa, took a cigar out of his pocket. He began to b

gs are attractive to tenants; I find it improves my property," he had explained to her, when she found him grubbing, unasked, in her back yard. He looked now, approvingl

disappointment. What charming manners he has," she added,

not be as-as fine-ladyish as some people's, I grant you," he said,

s. Richie interrupted gaily; "I kn

ded himself; but he laug

," she said; "but let m

st as much

the two neighbors fell out. But after the smile he sighed, and apparently forgot Mrs. Maitland. He scratched a match, held it absently until it scorched his fingers; blew it out, and toss

eant Mrs. Maitland; then she remembered. "

rother Arthur's wife, left him. He never go

ueness was all go

bad-all

lena Richie

my God, Mrs. Richie, before I could have doubted that girl. And when she jilted me, I suppose

chie wa

ilt on anybody. Life doesn't play the same trick on me twice. But Arthur was different. He was of softer stuff. You'd have liked my brother Arthur. Yes; he was too goo

aid, in a low voice, "is leaving a livi

I used to wish she would die before she grew up. I tried to do my duty to her, but I hoped she would die. Yet she seems to be a good little thing. Yes, I'm pretty sure she is a good little thing. To-night, before we went to the dinner, she-she behaved very prettily. But if I saw her mother in her, I would-God knows what I would do! But

s about," she said, in a smot

er," he confessed, "but

just natural for a girl to want pretty dresses! But to think-Poor little Elizabet

pity. It was Arthur who-" He left the

low she was! As for your brother, he just died. What was dying, compared to living? Oh, you do

ekly; "when a good woman can pity Dora-that was her name; who

speak, but stopped and caught her b

ace was very pale, so pale that David, coming abrup

's up? Mother, some

r a-a sad story. Mrs. Richie, I didn't realize it would pain you. Your mother is

ting manner. "I don't see why she need bother about other people's troubles. Say, Materna

said to himself; treating him as if he were a little boy, and she a young lady! "And I'm seventeen-the idea of her puttin

nd," she said; she was still pale, "Yes, it was a sad

and then took himself off. When he opened his own door, e

le governess, peering rab

e of jewelry; a locket, I think. You can tell her so. Mrs. Richie

" Miss White said with spirit, "and I have frequently told you tha

carry the great news she f

ocket?" Elizabeth called out in answ

ell you what he said,"

ed the joyous youn

oulders, her eyes were like stars, her cheeks rose-red. She was turning her white neck from side to side, throwing her head backward, looking at herself through half-shu

he mantelpiece, shook her mane of hair back over her bare shoulders, and then, her hands on her hi

t joyful, joy

"BLAIR IS IN