The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-11-17
better pu. our fervor that vexed Ralph in spite of his

: "
guest to bed, WIFE," he said; 81 am
afraid she has sat up too long already"
Mrs. Anderson had slipped out when
they first rose from the supper table.
and kndled fire in her ".spare cham
her," so that it might be comfortable
and pleasant for her guest. She would
have put her in her own bedroom. but
she knew intuitively that, stranger as
she was, she would feel more at ease by
herself
1--WE have family prayers. dear; but
you need not stop, for YOU do look tired,
and really ILL.," Mrs. Anderson said. ris-
ing and taking down lamp from the
mantel behind the stove.
PLEASE let me stay: l am not i'll, !"
Stella cried, eagerly, and as if to SUBJ
stantiato her assertion. soft crimson
glow famed Suddenly in her cheeks.
Ill haven't heard any one pray for
SO long, with little desolate soand,
like wall. in her voice.
Certainly, we would like to have
you. if you are not too tired" and Mrs.
Anderson put down the lamp and came
and sat down while her husband read
the beautiful parable of the prodigal son.
and then put up plain, simple prayer,
in which. with rude eloquencc, he be-
sought Heaven to bless each heart ac-
cording to its needs; to keep very ten
derby through all the future years the
young life which it had pleased Him to
save that night; to lead it through all
pain, or sorrow, or temptation. to Him.
self And then he asked that over her
grave the SHOWS of Heaven and the
blossoms of earth might fall with equal
sweetness and grace; and when for them
the silver cord was loosed, He might,
out of His own infinite good pleasure,
unite them all in Heaven once more.
There was a little moment of hushed
silence. and then Myra Anderson took
down the little lamp again and lighted
it. Ralph sprang suddenly to his feet
and lifted Stella in his arms as if she had
been baby, and started for the stairs.
She struggled little. but he said, inn
peratively:
"Lie still! Do you think I am going
to see such face as this going up
stairs, and a strong fellow like me look
ing on?"
As he said this he touched his hand
/ am not sure whether by accident or
design-against her cheek; it was wet
with tears! Ralph Anderson felt his
heart glow as he had never done in all
his life before. He felt strong impulse
to hold her close--so close to his heart,
that she could feel its strong, wagsn
throbbings, and feel never sad or alone
any more while that heart beat He did
not stop to ask himself if this was alto
gether loyal to Blanche, but he did real
lie, vaguely. that all the fascinating arts
of his beautiful cousin had never woke
such a deep tender glow in his heart, as
did this small, pale, tear-wet face lying
against his bosom.
He put her down in chair. said
"good night softly and lingeringly,
and went out.
1t was pleasant little room, with a
summary warmth that contras! ed charm
ingly with the cold and stormy outside.
A soft, bright carpet covered the floor.
but the bed was the special pride of
Mvra Anderson's heart. 1t YVES the
lightest and livest thing Imaginable.
Getting into it was literally true-you
did get into it, all over, and something
on each side would come up with a sud-
den puff" and shut you in almost as
etfectually as the spring lock- did
poor Inflated "Genevra" Over this
clever trap Just now was spread an
"album quilt whereon was written a
score and half of names. each name
surrounded with halo of pink and
green calico. This quilt was very dear
to Myra Anderson. II had been a sur
prise from her friends when she left the
old home the home of her heart, still,
nignly on the new. than it ever had
on it.
Just outside this room door was a
broad, low shelf. and on this shelf a
small. black, hair trunk, studded with
brass nails. The door was open, and
the light shone out. and directly across
it. The dull glare fell on the nail-heads,
and this attracted her attention, aided,
perhaps, by Miss Blake,,s glance in that
direction.
"If You felt like stepping here" she
said, hesitatingly, going toward the
door; " that is the trunk, she stepped
along and lifted the lid-Miss Blake was
at her side" those were our little
girl S clothes. keep them all here to-
gether; like to come and look at them
sometimes"-and STOPPING over she
touched one of the dresses, softly and
caressingly, as if it had been the dead
face of her lost darling.
1t was perhaps an hour afterwards,
when the house was wrapped in dark
ness and silence, and only the soft light
fingers OF the snow tapped monotonous-
" at the windows, that door opened
noiselessly, and light, white-robed
figure glided to the side of the little
trunk, and sank down before it, sobbing
in passionate abandon of grief.
Poor little Viola! dead! yes, dead
in her innocence and truth-happy
Violan' she said, brokenly, between lit
tie gaSping sObs.
BY and by the white figure glided
back again, the door opened and closed.
and all was silence and darkness. What
was it?-a wrath?
CHAPTER NJ.
The sun rose majestically out of his
crimson draperied couch, and looked on
as fair realm as the most fastidious
monarch could wish to reign over. Pure,
glittering, spotless snow drifted seas of
lilies breaking against skies of dusky
sapphire and amber; beautiful shroud
covering the face of Nature tenderly
from sight. How hushed and still it
was. How, like pillar of illuminated
mist the smoke rose straight to the sky
from scores OF cottage roofs-the fire.
god incense to the newborn Day.
But bark! A fierce, sharp Iclang of
bells breaks through the silence. Near