The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-03-31

shaftO found IL was time to 90 home.
Edgar, who had already promis dtolend Lady
Adeia book ON carnations, could depart " tn
an air OF pleasant uncencern. When he was
alone with his aunt the artful Young man went
into no raptures, but began ccolly talking of
his Own Affairs. Miss Shafto naturally impa-
tient woman; who wished to be the soulof pru-
dence, but could not always manage It, coon
curst out into questions. ibid he admire Lady
"She seems nice little thing" said Edgar.
Innocent; fond of plants and auimals.''
but 80 pretty! Don't you think soi' eX-
claimed Kiss Shafto, in amazement.
Yes; pretty little face" said the provok-
Ing Edgar. "What makes her live down
'She has no. been very strong, and this place
akrees with her particularly well I know Mrs.
Sackville is very anxious about her."
"She looks well enough"
"Well, Edgar,n said Miss ShaftO after .
pause" l am glad you are 50 sensible. think
her lovely, and that was what made me so
nervous when You arrived. was afraid you
might fall in love with her, to tell you the
truth, and that would be such q misfortune -
Edgar laughed slightly. 81 am getting to
old for that sort Of thing" he said.
That Is nonsense, of course. But Mrs.
Sackville and her friends mean her to make .
great marriage-very rightly and naturally,
too-and If my dear, penniless nephew-Ohi it
would seem too dishonorable, somehow! Mrs.
Sackyille would never believe that had not
asked you down ON purpose"
well, we all think, you know. Nothing
positive yet. Mrs. Sackville limited the other
be nothing more suitable; in fact, he is the
only man In the county worthy of her"
That little brute!" said Edgar, forgetting
himself.
WHY, what do you know about himl'
Nothing, he said, rather shortly. "H
knew him to be scamp and ruffian, what
would be the use Of telling youl You and Mrs.
Sackville would think alike, no doubr. Lord
Elton! What can his little faults slgnifyl"
Don't talk in that disagreeable way" said
Miss Shafto laughing. "Yes, we should think
alike; and Lady Adela would agree with US.
She Is very sensible girl, with no absurd ro-
nance about her. She will never throw herself
1T would be pity If she did, said Edgar.
Then he began to whistle, and then to talk
about something else, with such IN interested
air that his aunt smiled at her own anxieties.
He stayed on from day to day, and saw
Ia LADY "a Adela many times keeping up success
. new thing to exert himself like this; to be
strong in holding BACK and hiding from other
peoples quick eyes the H7zs real passion that
ne had ever known. Only the k:sowledge that
discovery would mean Punishment, .suld have
given such resolute power to the idle, :e,f-
always bringing him and Adela together dur
ing the fortnight that he stayed at South Ha-
gel. Every dar she became more attractive.
She had the high, wild spirits of child. yet
with such dignity that no one could treat her
as a child. Edgar saw her look naughty and
scOrnful once or twice, and that was enough
for him; it added q sort Of bitterness to his
love for her; If she knew, would not she turn
her little head away, with curl of the lip
that was enough to plunge one into purgatOry!
He called himself a fool and lost all hope, il
he ever had any; but then next morning he
would meet her riding her black pony, sunny
and smiling as the day; or would find her
walking with the dogs, or gathering flowers;
or would see her sweet, grave face in church,
listening to the rectOr's long sermon. He
himself, in his effort to commit himself, ap-
peared to be more languid, lazy and indiffer-
ent than ever before. He seemed to care less,
as he grew every day to care more, and was
thoroughly, sharply and comfortable misera-
BILE. The touch OF her hand made him turn
pale, and when she passed him It was only by
. violent struggle that he could prevent him
self from kissing the fringe of her dress. All
this time he managed to deceive his aunt and
Mrs. Sackville. Whether Lady Adela herself
was equally blind may, perhaps, be doubted;
for the most resolute person cannot always
command his eyes. But she was a very sensi-
BILE girl, rs Miss Shafto said, and also, in those
days, . little hard-hearted. 1t would have
been unnatural If the man had not admired
her, and she did not find 1t necessary to deny
him her smiles.
Miss Shafto liked having her nephew with
her, and was only too glad that he should stay,
as long a. his behavior was so perfectly salts
factory. For anything she knew or cared, this
state OF things might have gone on through
the autumn; but fortnight of 1t was enough
for Edgar. He soon found that there were
limits to his endurance of this kind of life, in
which joy and pain were mingled in such .
maddening way.
One morning he went out about ten, with
out telling his aunt where he was going. As
he came near Hazel House he saw figure
moving far away in the garden. He dashed
no one; for be would have found it difficult to
give an account of himself
Lady Adela was on her favorite sunny ter:
race at the end of the gardens high walk
sheltered by evergreen hedges, and divided
from the field beyond by low stone wall quite
c 'vered with ivy, with red pots full Of flowers
herself with q cat and kitten, which
were racing each other and playing up and
down. She met Edgar with her usual sweet
ness, laughing at her own childishness, for
the cat and kitten had most eager playfellow.
SIS Miss Shafto herei Are you come to
came, and drove her smiles away.
Edgar had come to the end Of his restraints
and his subterfuges.
81 am going away" he said. ut is all very
well for yOu-of course you don't care and you
have never thought Of me-but shall 20 mad
II stay here any longer"
Lady Adela blushed violently. She looked
at him for moment, with some expression in
her blue eyes that he could not understand,
but he soon found out that IL was only sur
prise and annoyance.
.'Then you had better co. she said, in . low
voice.
"Don't be so awfully cruel" said Edgar,
ibid you think that man could
see you every day for fortnight, and not wor-
ship youl Some fellows might have gone
away and said nothing, but could not do that
Are you 80 very angry with met"
"Yes. You ought to have gone away. Il
Is not right"
As the stern little lady said this, turning
half away from Edgar, her kitten made .
spring and chung to her dress. She took It up |
and fondled it in her hands; the little thing |
purred, and rejoiced in her kindness, while |
poor Edgar looked on with dark gloomy eyes.
"Why isn't it right, If love you better |
than lifel" he said. "Why shouldn't tell |
vou SOL Now forget everything else, and tell |
ne the truth. II you were girl with nothing,
would you find It impossible to marry met Do |
Tou hate me - much - thaEi'
There was long silence. II seemed that |
Lady Adela could not, or would not, answer. |
Edgar gaxed 1t her, and she at the kitten, |
which went on purring, while the cat rushed |
lb0ut In the bushes and the wind rustled the |