The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-10-01

I answered. ':But will you not tell
me-"
"The reason of this odd reques te''
she interrupted. speaking in tremulous,
weary tones. 81 cannot relate the
story tonight, its recollection. especial
~ after what has occurred, is so bitter
~ narrowing. Tomorrow morning I
will tell you all. You viii wait until
then, will you not? My brain is so con-
fused now. am so nervous, and weak
and miserable, that
Say no MORE" I broke in. "You
shall sleep here, of course"
An hour later, " hen she was sunk in
a restless. moanful slumber upon my
lounge, l sat watching her pale, pure
face with something like these reiec-
tons at work in my brain:
The man who turned that girl ont
of doors tonight is q brute. A brute.
Sarah Kingsland, and no mistake. She
never committed q wrong action in her
ife-to that will swear. Turned her
out of doors, indeed! It makes my
blood boil to think of such an outrage.
l wonder whether he was drunk when
he did it. If I thought that he wasn't,
l verify believe that I'd go down now
now, Sarah Kingsland, and give the
wretch piece of my mind. As it is, I
think I'll risk his being a drunkard.
Yes, I'm going downstairs to tell him,
whoever, and whatever he may be, just
how regard his behavior. It will be
bold and unwomanly, perhaps, but Pm
goingr'
And 1 went. There was no an
swer for several moments after had
knocked at the door of those down.
stairs lodgings. Presently deep, gruff-
sounding voice issued from the cham
Der within.
"Who's there?'
I did not choose to call out nv
name. What if I boldly entered, and
ran the chances of finding the creature
in bed? Acting on this impulse,
opened the door, and found myself on
the threshold of dimly-lighted cham
Der, where gaunt, white-haired figure
was bending over great caldron or
crucible placed near one of the win
dows. My eyes took in the prominent
features of the room at single glance;
perhaps I should say that my nose also
aided in the inquisitive operation. What
l saw and smelt was, briefly, great
disorder of books and chemical in
struments Uttered about the floor, and
an exceedingly pungent, disagreeable
odor.
The gaunt figure turned toward me a
pale, wrinkled face, lit up with a pair
of dark and singularly brilliant eyes.
''Who are you. and what do you want
here?"
81 am Miss Sarah Kingsland," I an
swered, boldly enough; ''the lady who
occupies the room above this; and
have come, sir ="
But l am not going to relate in erte,-
so what said to the old man. I told
him that his daughter had that evening
sought refuge in my apartment, and
that I had come to inquire whether her
statement about being turned from
home was correct one; her face, her
manner and her language had deeply
interested me, continued, and he
must pardon the curiosity which
prompted my present visit. All this in
q voice that became gradually less
snappish and more respectful as pro-
ceeded; for there was something about
the old mans appearance that i'm
pressed me forcibly, and took away my
boldness as I continued to address
him.
When had finished, he remained
staring at me for several minutes with
out uttering word of reply. At last
his answer came, in slow, measured
tones, and in q voice that was marked
by nothing hasty or passionate:
Il have turned away my daughter,
Esther Dillon. wish never to see her
again. Her conduct toward me has
been Infamous wholly infamous and
shameful. I'cannot forgive her, and l
will not!''
There was certain majesty, if
may so speak, about the old mans way
of pronouncing these words, that made
me feel as if had trespassed rudely
upon the sanctity of some great sor-
row. Curiosity-that womanly trait of
mine-hung its head for q moment,
quite abashed; but only for moment.
My answer followed soon enough, de-
livered in an interrogative form, and
with low-voiced eagerness.
':Do you care, sir, about telling me
in what way your daughter Esther has
offended you? OF course, I have no
right to inquire, but as she has sought
refuge in my apartment upstairs, be-
ing in too agitated condition to afford
me more than the plain statement of
your having turned her FROM these
lodgings, perhaps my question may, on
this account, strike you as less unwar-
ranted than it might otherwise SEEM"
The old mans reply was promptly
and decisive!y uttered:
''She has, Of course, told you moth
ing of the truth. Guilt is seldom will
ing to accuse itself. I do not, how
ever. object to doing so. As long as