The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-07-14

thunderbolt upon this hosplS..Oie hearth,
in announcing my visit to the little
manufacturing town of Horton. Wha,
is it-why is it-how is it?'' he asked
looking round with a smile.
"Why," said Sir Lionel, hesitatingly
the truth of the fnar1er-that is-not
to mystify you-in short-you know
they, they've fever at Horton. The
the working classes and the factory
people have got it very badly, and-and
the place is in a manner tabooed. But
of course" added the old man, trying
to look cheerful, "you didn't 60 into
any of the back streets, or amongst the
lower classes. You only rode through
the town, l suppose; so you're safe
enough, my dear Horace"
The county families simultaneously
drew long breath, and the young
lady in pink released her sisters wrist.
81 went, my dear Sir Lionel" said
Horace, with smiling Indifference, :" into
about twenty narrow back streets in an
hour and half, and talked to about
forty different factory hands, for
wanted to find which way the political
current set in the good town of Horton.
They all appeared extremely dirty, and
now, l remember, a good many of them
looked very i'll; but I'm not afraid of
having caught the fever, for all
that" he added, looking round at
the grave faces of his hearers;
"half a dozen cigars, and a
sharp ten miles ride through a bleak,
open country must be thorough dis
infectant. If not" he continued, Bit
terly, lone must die sooner or later,
and why not of fever caught at Hor-
ton?'
The young lady in pink had recourse
to her sisters wrist again, at this
speech.
Horace soon avghed off the idea of
danger from his afternoon rambles, and,
in few minutes. he was singing a
German drinking song accompanying
himself at the piano.
At last the long evening was over,
and Ellinor, who had heard nothing
from her distant workable of the con-
versation about the fever, gladly
welcomed the advent of servant with
tray of glistening candlesticks. As
she lit her candle at the side-table,
Horace Margrave came over and lit his
own.
II have spoken to Sir Lionel" he
said, "a carriage will be ready for us
in an hour. The London mail does not
start till one o'clock, and we shall reach
town in time to catch the day service
for Paris. But, Ellinor, it is not yet too
late; tell me, are you thoroughly deter
mined on this step?"
Thoroughly, she said. 81 shall
be ready in an hour"
Mrs. Dalton's apartments were at
the end of long corridor; the dressing
room opened out of the bedroom, and
the door of communication was aiar as
Ellinor entered her room. Her boxes
stood ready packed. She looked at
them hurriedly, examined the addresses
which her maid had pasted upon them,
and was about to pass into the dressing
room, when she stopped abruptly on
the threshold with an exclamation of
surprise.
Her husband, Henry Dalton, was
seated at the table, with an open port
folio spread before him, writing rapid
ly. On chair by the fire lay his great
coat, railway rug and portmanteau.
He looked up for moment calmly
and gravely, as Ellinor entered, and
then continued writing.
"Mr. Dalton!'
EYES," he said, still writing; 81 came
down by the $50 train. / returned
sooner than 1 expected"
"By the $50 train?" she said, anx-
iously; "by the train which leaves
London at half-past five, l suppose"
ahe added.
ITO BE CONTINUED