The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-09-29

ever SO rich or fair, could be to him
what this bleak New England coast was.
| There was little said about the pro-
posed change before Ralph or Viola,
but Ralph knew that it was being seri-
ously considered by his father, and he
told Viola, privately, that he chopped
they should 90. for he was sure his
cousin Blanche was the most beautiful,
and the incest girl in the world. and he
guessed she knew great deal by the
way she wrote; and she was so anxious
he should come, tool"
II don't want to go; and 1 don't want
to see her, and don't like herr' broke
in Viola, impetuously.
swell, what now, WildfreT' he
asked, opening wide his eyes in sur
prise. "Mother says Blanche will be
an accomplished lady by and by. and
she is rich. and pretty, and l should like
to know why you should say such spite
full things of her when you never saw
her," he said, in an injured tone. looking
down very severely at the little flushed
face and quivering lips.
g. don't never want to see her, and
I'm going back to Madame! I'm not
rich, nor nice, nor beautiful and don't
know a great deal either, and you won't
love me any at all when you see her"
and the passionate voice grew suddenly
tremulous. and the little bosom rose and
fell with dry, suppressed sobs.
go, that's it,. is it?" he laughed. a
little pleased glow flashing into the boy
ish face. 1t was rather nice to have two
girls like him! But with true masculine
tact he saw that it would never do to
let her know that he thought so. So,
with nonchalance that would have
done credit to much older head, he
exclaimed:
Nonsense! why she's my cousin.
and fellow is expected to think a good
deal of his cousin. especially if she is
nice and pretty, like Blanche. But !
shall love you all the same for that, lit
tie Wildfire. don't believe she is any
prettier than you; and anyway shall
love you best"
always, Ralph-always, so long as
you live?" she cried, eagerly, looking
up into his face with shining eyes.
always, as long as 1 live" he re-
peated, smiling.
| But she did not smile; the small face
was preternaturally grave, and the great
black eyes had dreamy. far away look
in them, as if some picture in the far-off
future shone vaguely and dimly through
the long vista of years picture shaded
and lined with some impalpable pain
fixing and holding her gaze. Possibly
the Angel of Futurity left for moment
the gate ajar, and the young eyes caught
vision of the struggle and pain beyond.
That night, after Ben Anderson had
prayed as usual for all classes and con-
ditions of men, that He would send His
| Spirit out after them, and snatch as
many as possible from destruction and
eternal perdition." he added the follow
ing petition:
would st 90 with us and bless us in the
new, as Thou hast in the old, home.
Keep our hearts pure before Thee, and
let no worldly gain or desire usurp Thy
place. but let the Spirit which kept our
! fathers as they emerged from their
homes 60 with us to the fair land of our
adoption, and keep us there, as it did
| them here"
Then Ralph knew for the first time
that his father had decided to 90. The
next day it was very generally noised
about that "Ben Anderson was going
to sell out and 60 West" Everybody
talked about it, and some prophesied
he "would be back within year, if he
wasn't too poor to get back" and 9th
ers again said that they wished they
were going, and applauded his resolu-
ton. Among the latter was Ned Brad
lee, who "always thought he should
like to see the big pastures they Dragged
so much Of"
"Why not go with us, Mr.. Bradlee?"
said Ralph.
wall, now. Squire, you've just hit
ie! why not? You are bright boy to
think of it, for I'll be hanged if l ever
should"
Il wish you would 60 Bradlee," said
Anderson, earnestly.
Eyes, do, Ned; should be so glad to
have you,' Mrs. Anderson added,
warmly.
You would9 Lord! then I'll 90. A
man O. my gallantry could never stand
out against woman's wishes, no mat
ter what they asked" he said, with a
jolly laugh.
mot if they wished to marry you?"
asked Ralph.
wall, perhaps not, Squire, if they
wrote me fine, wonderful letters on yal-
ler-edged paper" he said, with conf
cal gravity. Il think that would fetch
most any Teller that had any feelin'
about him, don your
Ralph .colored to the temples with
shame and annoyance. Everybody who
has been young knows with what a halo
of sacredness these {" first" letters are
invested, and how it hurts and shocks
the young heart to have some rude hand
swoop down through the beautiful aure-
ole, and hold up to laughter and ridi-
cule the precious treasure. To this day
l feel stir of indignation whenever
remember q certain afternoon, when,
coming home from school, heard peal
after peal of ringing laughter issuing
from my bed-chamber, and upon COM
ing upon the scene discovered my two
grown sisters, sitting on the floor
before an open bureau drawer-my
drawer, it was-one of them holding in
her hand, and reading, between her
bursts of abominable merriment, little
note somebody had written me, and over
which l had had some of the most deli
cious little attacks of "palpitation of