The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-06-23

knife, and said:
.You are SO long in giving me can
did and straightforward answer, my
dear girl, that begin to think this hero
is of rather a mythic order. and that
your heart is, after all, perhaps, free.
Tell me, Ellinor. is tnot so? You have
met SO few people-haye passed so
much of your time in the utter seclu-
sion of a Partisan convent-and when
away from the convent you have been
so protected by the Argus-like guar
dianship of your respected aunt that
really cannot see how you can have lost
that dear, generous heart of yours. l
suspect that you are only trying to mys-
tify me. Once for all, then, my ward,
is there any one whom you love?"
He looked at her as he asked this de-
cis;ve question, with shrinking up
ward glance under his dark eyelashes-
something like the glance of man who
looks up, expecting blow, and knows
that he must SILVER and close his eyes
when that blow falls.
The crimson flush passed away from
her face, and left Ar deadly pale, as she
said, with firm voice:
"No."
"No one?'
"No one"
Horace Margrave sighed sigh of
deep relief, and proceeded in his former
tone-entirely the tone of q man of bust
ness.
Every well, then, my dear Ellinor,
seeing that you have formed no prior
attachment, that it is your uncle's earn
est request, nay, solemn prayer, that
this marriage should take place; seeing
also, that Henry Dalton is very good
young mani
81 hate good young men, she said,
impatiently. "Dreadfully perfect be-
ings, with light hair and fresh-colored
cheeks; dressed in pepper-and-salt
suits, and double-soled boots! l detcst
them!''
"My dear Ellinor! My dear Ellinor!
Life is neither stage play nor a three
volume novel; and, rely upon it, the
happiness of a wife depends very little
on the color of her husbands hair, or
the cut of his coat. If he neglects you,
will you be happier, lonely and desert
ed at home, in remembering the dark
waving curls clustering round his head.
at that very moment, perhaps, droop-
ing over the green cloth of hazard
table in st. James street? If he wrings
your heart with the racking fortunes of
jealousy, will it console you to recall the
flashing glances of his hazel eyes, whose
gaze no longer meets your own? No,
no. Ellinor! dispOssess yourself of the
schoolgirls notion Of Byronic heroes,
with rundown collars, and deficient
moral region. Marry Henry Dalton; he
is so good, honored and sensible, that
you must ultimately learn to esteem
him. Out of that esteem will grow, bye
and-bye, love; and, believe me, paradox
ical as it may sound, you will love him
better from not loving him too much. ;"
"As you will, my dear guardian"
she said. "Henry Dalton, by all means.
then, and the fortune. should be very
sorry not to follow your excellent, SEN
sible and business-like advice"
She tries to say this with his own in
difference; but she says it with sheer
inc emphasis. and, in spite of herself,
she betrays considerable agitation.
IF we are to dine at six.'' interposed
the faded lady by the fireplace, who
had been looking over the top of the
newspaper every three minutes, hope
lessly awaiting break in the converse
ton.
1--WE must 60 home directly" said
Ellinor '.You are right, my dear Mrs.
Morrison; l am most inattentive to you.
PRAY forgive me; remember the happi-
ness of life," she looked not at Mrs.
Morrison, but at Mr.. Margrave, who
had risen and stood lounging-tall,
graceful and indiflerent-against the
mantelpiece, ''the happiness of life,
perhaps, trembled on the interview OF
to-day. have made my decision, at
the advice of my kind guardian. A de-
cision must, no doubt, result in the hap
piness of every one concerned. l am
quite at your service, Mrs. Morrison"
Horace Margrave laid his hand on the
bell by his side.
"Your carriage will be at the en-
trance to the Inn in three minutes, Kill
nor. will see you to it. Believe me,
you have acted wisely; how wisely, you
may never know
He himself conducted them down the
broad paneled staircase, and putting or
his hat, led his ward through the quiet
Inn gardens to her carriage. She was
grave and silent. and he did not speak
to her till she was seated with her elder.
ly companion and chaperone in hel
roomy clarence, when he leaned hi:
hand on the carriage door, and said:
81 snail bring Henry Dalton to Hert
ford street this evening, to introduce
him to his future wife,"
"Pray do So" she said. "Adieur'
"Only till eight O clock
He lifted his hat, and stood watching
the carriage as it drove away, theI
walking slowly back to his chambers
flung himself into a luxurious easy
chair, took cigar from a costly little
Venetian casket, standing on tiny ia.
BILE at his side, lit it, wheeled his chail
close to the fire, stretched his feet out
against the polished steel of the low
CRATE, and prepared for lazy half houl
before dinner.
As he smoked the cigar. he looked
gloomily into the blaze at his feet ant
said:
Horace Lionel Welmorden Mar
grave. if you had only been an homes
MANI