The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-11-03
ltOpuF
VIOLA
1hdca Lost IN a Struggle for a Hans
CHAPTER yIH.-CoNTISuED.
BY MRS. R. B. EDISON.

CHAPTER yIIL.-CoNrrSuEp.
But Stella BlakeI Like the Mordecs
OF old who sat at the Kings gate--sh
embittered all his happiness, Not tina
the girl opposed him, or was rude, O
forward, er interfered in anything GU
OF the line of her general duties: 0nlu-
and this meant good deal-only sh
went to MIR. Montford for instructions
and deferred to him in everything
which, seeing that he was master of tn,
house wasn't certainly anything so yer,
deserving of blame to an ordinary OBJ
server. But Mr.. DeVries wasn't an or
binary observer, by any means-there
was nothing ordinary about him-yo,
felt that instinctively when he looked a
you with these strange, opal ewes, which
beautiful and smiling as they We're. hat
cruel treacherous CLEAN in them
which seemed to belle the pleasan
voice and the smiling lips.
Ordinarily Mr.. DeVries had no moro
difficulty in seeing through men and
women than he had through bit o.
glass. Some were so very transparent
that he felt a little sentiment of dis
gust toward them; but Stella Blake
went TO the opposite extreme; she dis
gusted him. because she was SO very
Opaque. He couldn't see as much as
hairs breadth past the inscrutable face
and defiant eyes. Very naturally he
didn't like It, and very naturally the de-
sire to penetrate beyond the pretty
mask became the absorbing wish of his
heart. He didn't understand her-he
didn't know what to make of her-but
one thing was certain: it would do no
harm TO keen an eve on her, and this
he fully resolved 10 do.
MIR. DeNries, whenever it suited his
pleasure, or purpose, made love to Al
thea Montford. He had done this more
or less ever sine she was sixteen. He
knew that she would never marry any
other man while he continued to do it.
and though he didn't particularly care
to marry her-at least, unless c:rcum-
stances made it for his intereSt-it was
rather gratifying to his vanity to know
thai he could twist this proud girl round
his finger, and keep ler single, by now
and then a look, a touch of the hand.
and few tender words. 1t would serve
his interest TO have Althea's co-opera-
ton and sympathy, for. if Miss Blake
obtained too much influence over Mr.
Montford, she Codld get her out of the
house in some way. In pursuance of
this idea he Sauntered into the parlor
where Althea was practic NO some new
music. Coming up behind her he
reached over and pushed it away with
one sweep of his white. firm hand.
Pardon me, Allie" his voice was
hn al 81
his breath touched her cheek-"but it
is so seldom that | find YOU alone. that
L am going to be very presumptuous,
and ask favor. namely: That YOU fore
60 the pleasure of practicing for an
hour, and devote it to me. And, first,
want You to sing my old favorite,
Annie Laurie and let me sing it
with you. What do You say. ma
6elte?' looking down into her ewes
with one of those sweet, tremulous
smiles. which made his face so fascinat-
ing?'
For answer she ran her fingers over
the keys, striking out the tune.
"Nor' putting his hand over and
stopping il. Il only want to hear Your
voice. What do care for that insensate
thing? Anybody can play Annie Lau-
RE, but | never care TO hear them. l
only care to hear yoU sing it." All, how
low and tender and thrilling his voice
was.
Need / say the song was sung? Need
L say that brighter color came into
Althea Montford'S cheeks, and that the
pale blue eyes grew soft and starry,
and almost beautiful when his intense.
thr ling voice gave force and mean
ing 10 the pathetic sweetness of the
words?
"There, don't ever ask me to listen
when any of your friends sing thatr' he
said, drawing long breath. II want
to keep this song sacred to you. and this
memory, Allie.'T
A step went through the hall-a Eight,
tripping step, and grew familiar as it
assembled the stairs.
tOur new friend?" he half asked. half
asserted.
Yes, think so.' she said, rousing
herself. Evidently she was more thor
oughly stepped in the delicious trance
which the song had inspired than her
companion, and was not so alert for
outside sounds.
Miss Blake is very pretty he said,
quietly.
a thought you liked fair women.
and Stella is as dark as mulatto, al
most. she replied, sharply.
Il do like fair women-at least
like onc," tender smile lighting up his
face; but, nevertheless, Miss Stella is
very attractive, and it would be well for
US to keep it in mind"
There was a meaning in his look and
words that startled her,
''You do not-you cannot mean that
he-that NY father
might be fascinated?'' he inter-
rupted, smiling oddly. Il think that it
certainly looks like If, my dear Althea,
though, of course l may be Mistaken
hope am"
But he is so old. y
"Just ten years older than i. sup
pose L seem so old TO you, Allie; am
twelve years older than you-is that a
bar between usF'
30, nor she cried. quickly, coloring.
s.But he is SO different from you
..Yes, know; he is rich, and l am
poor
@You know I did not mean that,
Alfred. You know never think about
your circumstances, she cried. hastily. /
He knew that it was true; he knew |
that Althea Montford would marry him
tomorrow Gf he should ask her, which.
as / said before. he wasn't quite pre-
pared to do, under existing circum-
stances), and never think OF it as a
even if be had not dollar In
he world. |