The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-12-22

"Never asked her the question: in
terrupted Arnold. hotly. "You are not
fool, Ralph Anderson. and you know
that you have constantly sought her
society. and led her to believe you in
tended making her your wife. until this
girl, of whom gossip speaks none too
fiatteringly, crossed your path; there is
little romantic reserve-pianned,
accident, of course. and your honor, il
you ever had any, satisfies itself with.
never asked the question:!
Tom" broke in Mrs. Anderson. APP
pealingly, "don't be so unreasonable
and hasty. l am sure Ralph intends
marrying b anche, but you must re-
member he has been at home but little
over two months. l do not see the
necessity of such great haste"
"Mother, did l ever say anything to
you about marrying my cousin? You
have all of you forced the issue upon
me, and l have not been blameless, 1
admit. will go further and say that I
have sometimes thought it very proba-
bic that should marry Blanche some
day, if she consented. But, before God,
mother, never tried to win her heart,
meaning to cast it aside. Perhaps it is
ungallant in me to say it. but it is true,
nevertheless; Blanche has used thrice
the arts to bewilder and enthral me
thst / ever did in my .trifling' with
her. They were pretty. and l thought
then, innocent little arts; and rather
liked them. and gave myself up to the
enjoyment of them, wrongly and care
lessly, Isee now, but not Intentionally
So"
Stop commanded Arnold. his
florid face growing white and rigid. Il
do not ask you for excuses, young sir:
my girl shall never marry an unwilling
lover; she would die with shame if she
knew that l was here, listening to
them. l simply ask you if you lore my
daughter-yes or no-and no excuses"
IF you will nave it then. no. do
not" Ralph said, firmly and haughtjly.
Tom Arnold turned and walked alb
ruptly to the door; then, looking back,
he said slowly
"From this day. hence 'orth, never let
me see your face inside my door. fyou
were not her child, | would curse your
The door came to with a clang. and an
instant afterward the fierce thud of
horses hoofs, growing rapidly fainter
and fainter i'm the distance as other in
stants followed gave assurance that the
interview was thus abruptly and angrly
term mated.
Ralph, dear, you will think better of
thisP" bis mother asked. an \iously, lay
ing her cool hand on his throbbing tenn
pies, and smoothing back the silky
chestnut hair, as she had done so many
times when her boy was flushed and
heated with anger "You know how
quick Tom is and YOU are so like
him-and Blanche is the apple of his
eye."
"An apple of discord.' Just now, |
should think" he interrupted. drily.
.'And you know, Ralph. we have all
depended on it, she continued, ear
e,tly. land it is generally understood
all over the neighborhood"
"Confound the neighborhood! 1w'sh
l was fifty leagues from land. and l will
be, if this thing is gong to continue. in
less than ten days. if have to throw up
my commission, and ship again he,ore
the mast"
He was walking the floor now. his
blue eyes darkening and flashing, his
hair tossed from his flushed forehead,
and an expression of resolute defiance
in every look and motion. Mrs. Ander-
son had never braved her boys temper
in all her life, and it was not kelly that
she would do it now, as he stood erect
before her in his stalwart strength and
six feet of manhood.
"Oh Ralph" she cried, "don't! you
will kill me if you 20 away SO. o. my
dear boy,"-and she burst into tears.
There. there. little mother" he
said. conquered instantly, III not do
any such thing. I'll do ANYTHING you
say; I'll even marry Blanche, if You
think I'm bound in honor 10 do it. 1
don't love her, mother, not as ought
TO love the woman marry, but ii |
have been to blanchard | expect i
have-I will make all the amends in my
power. | have not meant to be q
scoundrel, mother"
"A scoundrelr' she cried, indignant
ly; "yOu are the very soul OF honor and
truth, and know Blanche has done her
part in this affair. and more. too. saw
it long before you did. but wanted to
have it so. and thought it would be
for your interest and happiness, nv
dear child. You.see. if Viola had lived
it would have been different. had al
ready began to make plans for you two
-foolishly, l know-to keep you for
each other. But it was ordered other
wise, and next to her. set my heart on
Tom girl, and soon foun Il it pleased
him. But it is Your own business,
Ralph, and though you may have erred.
and been to blame. as Tom SAYS, think
it would be a greater wrong for YOU to
marry her without loving her.
Ralph stopped suddenly over his
mothers chair and kissed her, and went
quickly and softly out He had come
to sudden resolution. He was not
bound to Blanche now. her father had
even forbidden him the house. He
would see p again, tell her all, and
may believe has such faith in its own
she would listen TO him.
All, what would his mother say if he
brought Viola back to her. and as his
he would not wait an hour.
he declared, his pulses quickening at
the possibility of such n denouement
Let.us 90 back an hour and !ook in at
Montford House. Mr.. Gilbert Mont
ford and Mr.. DeVries are in the back
parlor.
ats likely we are to lose Miss Blake,
unders and"
"Lose her! What do you mean?"
asked Montford, starting up he was
very eX liable of late.
"Oh. nothing very unusual; / fer to
her intimacy with young Anderson.
When you e lady goes out and walks
two hours with young man immedi-
ately upon his arrival in town after sew
eral days absence there is but one con-
clusion, viz: that they are greatly in