The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-11-10

and will try to make you happy. II
grieves me to see you insulted by him.
as you were Just now. You do not
think believe his cruel insinuations,
dear Ste,laP' he took a step toward her
and would have taken her hand, hut
something in her face forbade it. Il
am not paining you by this. Stellar" he
cried, his sunny eyes clouding.
"No, and yes" she answered, smil-
ing family. the angry color all gone out
of her face. 81 am glad You love me
it is pleasant to have the love of one
so thoroughly good as 1 believe you are
and l am glad you believe in me
rather than this Mr.. DeVries-heavens!
how l hate that MANI she cried with
sudden, passionate vehemence.
He shall not stay here if he troubles
you," he answered. the boyish face
growing suddenly firm.
"Waitn' she cried, putting out her
hand with little sharp, quick gesture.
swat and let me tell YOU. You dc
not lore mel mean you do not love
me as you have, and do remember, still
do, Blanche Arnold-you simply like
me-"
"Stella. IL
"Waitr' she cried. impatiently.
"Do you believe that l have eyes for
nothing? / have heard the story. Miss
Arnold is to marry her cousin, your
heart is thrown back upon itself, and
you fancy YOU are in love with me.
Now. tell me truly; if both of Ms were
equally free, and you could have either
for the asking, which should YOU ask?'
Il should ask Blanche" he said,
looking up fearlessly. 81 will never
tell lie to win any woman's favor"
take carei You will make me fall in
love with you, in spite of myself" she
cried, laughing, Sand want to keep
you for friend 1 have need enough
of one, Heaven knows! since am not a
friend even to MYSELF"
The bright young face took on look
of ineffable sadness. and the great, lus-
trous eyes dropped under weight of
sharp. fierce pain.
stella. listen to me-" he said, COM
ING close to her and taking her hand.
This time she did not repel him. 81
want to tell YOU that 1 love you very
much, dear little girl, and she can never
be anything to me. now. am willing
she should marry him if he can make
her happier than /. | do not feel
angry with him. l like him; and l
know he is more attractive to woman's
fancy than l can ever be-"
Victor" she cried, with sudden, in
tense passion flaming in her eyes and
cheeks. III could not say that. l
should hate the persons who came be.
tween me and my love. l should late
them SO that shouldnever want to look
in their faces. or hear even their names. if
1 could help it. l could never. never.
never forgive them so long as
liyed-no, not if it were thousand
years.
She paused, painting and breathless,
while the fire died slowly out of her
face, leaving it white, almost, as though
she was dead. He passed his hand caress-
ingly over the little limp fingers that
lay in his.
You see we are not ut all alike, "
she said, smiling family. '1wish l was
more like YOU. because You are so much
the better But one doesn't make one s
self, so who is to blame? But about this
other matter: No, l don't think it
would be best for you or me. | think
we had much better be friends than
lovers. Perhaps the day will come
when Won cannot be even that to me-
l don't know, but L hope not. 1 am
not like other young girls-l am not as
good.
A stop sounded in the hall below; he
drew = into his arms and kissed her
forehead, lightly and tenderly.
My dear Stella, will be your friend
as long as l live" he said, gently; then
released her quietly and went out,
meeting his father on the stairs, VINO,
for some reason he could not divine.
looked at him suspiciously as they
passed.
Stella's sweeping seemed destined to
Interruptions that morning. She had
but just taken her brush in hand when
MIR. Montford came into the room, look.
inc little uneasy and excited. He
walked across the room and then came
back.
..Stella-Miss Blake, are you and
Victor lovers?n he asked, abruptly.
s.No sir. we are not; what made you
think 500" =.
ID think so? / didn' think so. told
him l didn't believe it," he cried, ex.
ultingly. his good humor restored.
.sBut DeVries always knows deuced
sight more than anybody else"
Your son and l are very good
friends, but we are not, nor never shall
be. lovers. You can ask him, if YOU
doubt my word" she replied, quietly
struggling to overcome the intense feel
ing of hatred growing every moment
more and more bitter toward this De
Vries.
doubt your word! l should like tt
catch myself doing that. You see Vic
tor is only boy yet, Mss Stella-no
old enough TO think OF marrying yet
mean of course for man; girls can mar
~ as early as they get chance min.
don't seem 10 get any," he laughed, q:
he turned to go down stairs again.
1t was two or three days after this
and after sort of fictitious peace haC
! been restored between Stella and Mis-:
Montford and DeVries, whom she no
ticed always worked in harmony, thai
Miss Montford asked her to 60 down t.
Mr.. Arnold's for some embroidery pat
terms which Blanche had promised II
send down, but had neglected. Sht
wanted them that night and her father
and DeVries were away with the horses
and were not expected home till even
ing. Victor was out hunting grouse
with three or four other young men
and there really seemed no one to %
who was liberty, save Stella Tit
girl did not answer readily when Mis-
Montford proposed it, but she made NJ
objection, and presently came down
equipped for the walk.
Take my boa, Stella. the wind j.
sharp across the prairie" Fannie said