The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-03-07
MATS LUCK.
"It's just my luck!" said Mat. "Cor
found iti,

mA4' . 0OOASi
"It's Just my luck!" said Mat. "Con
found it,"
He walked gloomily to the window
and looked out-on the vivid green o
the croquet lawn, on white and red rose!
clustering about the porch; on the ole
rector, tending his favorite geraniuml
in the distance, amid blaze OF sunshine
and glow of color. Mat longed to b'
with him-the sOmber room seemed x
be as oppressive as q cage.
He threw open the French windows
drew long breath and thrust his fin
gers into the pockets of his shooting
coat, falling naturally into q careless
lounging attitude peculiar to him. Tn.
fingers came in contact with note ant
idly brought it to light. It was ad
dressed, in a woman's handwriting, II
"Matthew Curtis, Esq, NJ. D." A
grim smile played about that gentle
mans lips rs he reflected how unsuitet
was that formal superscription to the 10
vial, reckless good-for-naught, known
to rich and poor for miles around q!
young Mat Curtis. " '..-
With listless air he drew forth The
brief Enclosure. His face darkcned a!
he perused it. ~
"Miss Agnes Bellue would be glad te
have q few minutes conversation with
Mr.. Curtis.'' ...r.,.
"Lover-like-Yeryi" commented Mat
with sarcastic emphasis. @
Another glance at the delicate paper
and the firm square handwriting, the
dark look hardening the while, until the
character of the face seemed completely
altered.
"Look at it," quoth Mat. Hel
hand never trembled; there is not 8
wavering stroke! Why, most girls
would cry their eyes out while writing
such note as that to their lovers!"
He crushed the offending missive into
a crumpled ball as he spoke, and ad'
dressed a few more unapostolic exple'
tives to the fair neutrality-suspicious.
peculiarly unbefitting clergyman's
study, or the hearing of the young lady
who noiselessly entered in time indis.
tinctly to catch them.
Young-not more than twenty, per,
haps-but with a serene and queenly
grace of movement, grsvely beautiful
face-an air just now Of naughty dis.
gust.
Pardon me-" she says, icily, $50
interesting q conversation with your
self is probably of confidential ma
ture." E
Mat turns with q flaming face, q quick,
deprecating gesture, a courteous, apollo
getic bow and speech that somehow in
their confused humility. stamp him as a
gentleman.
"I trust, indeed, you did not hear it.
I earnestly crave forgiveness if you
did,"
She contemptuously dismisses the
matter with the slightest wave of little
jeweled hand. Cold, hard, proud, she
looks, and her words have clear-cut
articulation suggestive of newly clipped
coins.
81 sent for you"
4" Yes," answers Mat, de6antly. His
penitence is dying away-the dark,
hard expression is returning. "Just
my 1uck!" it seems to repeat.
"To beg an answer to three ques.
tions," continues Miss Bellue.
Mat bows, thrusSs his hands into the
deep shooting-pockets once more, and
the careless, Longing attitude.
Shave you entered your name, not
withstanding my protest, as a gentle
man-rider for the autumn steeple-
chases?''
eyes"
"Have you, in truth, gone back to
the old habit of dropping into the
Barleycorn' two or three mig hts in the
week to" chow superb was the ring of
scorn in her voiceD "drink ale and
smoke in company with the Doors
.here?"
"Yes," repeats Mat, sturdily.
"Is it, indeed, true that, on leaving
hat inn last night, you involved your
'ef in poaching ARRAY, actually knock
Dg down a keeper and helping one of
he poachers to escaped" -
Yes" said Mat, with a kind of sui
en- despair. 1855.
Miss Bellue draws something from
Ter white fingers, and holds it out.
Mats hand comes out of
he shooting-pocket and grasps it. 1t is
J woman 8 engagement ring.
They look at each other, a curious
ontrast in the two faces. Hers COM
'osed, calm, haughtily Indifferent. His |
lankly astonished, angry, agitated, by
urns.
"Not-not that, Agnes!" he pleads,
uskily.
The serene beauty, the quiet dctermi-
alton of her face answer him.
"Can you not make allowances?" he
ried. "Can you not understand that
lad young blood like mine must find
ome excitement greater than mixing
ills, and powders, and lotions, or Creep
g through sick rooms all day?"
1t is pitiful to see how he watches her
lille he speaks, and notes the same fix
], mute, changeless answer:
cat least, let me explain. l can do
, to your satisfaction, think, I hope!"
. says, obviously.
"Return it to your finger, and re-
rive judgment till you hear the de-
nse!" And he holds the ring towards
sr, with a great, clumsy hand that
embles somewhat.
Still no audible reply. A faint shake
the head, look of polite increduli-
that is all.
"Do you not care?" he asks.
His appealing eyes search her face.
does not change. Beautiful, imper-
rbable, the sentence written there never |.
'ries. His unsteady fingers drop the
lg, but he let it lie, half buried in a ;
ecy rug. Then, with a set, stern
Ok, he sets his foot upon it, bows
Chilly and walks from the room.
He leaves the house, passing the win
W to gain the road, and looked 5
ither to the right nor to the left.
His head is erect, his hands are out of g