The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-07-06
CHAPTER XII.

"NoTHISG SHALL PART Us"
Through the brassy splendor of the
afternoon sunshine, through dust and
heat, over a grassy common, into the
green GOODNESS of overshadOwing trees,
Mr.. Quest made his way from the vii
lage station, straight almost as the crow
flies, to the pleasant abode where he had
been summoned to attend.
1t was roomy cottage, quite lost in
q tangle of green, through which one
caught glimpse of the gold and GRIM
son FLASHES of rioting roses. the shim-
mer of fountain playing in the sun,
the white CLEAN of the graveled drive
way, and perhaps the waving of sum-
mer drapery at the open windows or
in the low porches which surrounded
the house.
"a deadly quiet, dull place" was
Mr.. Quests inward comment as he
turned in at the gate. 1t may suit
Mrs. Oliphant for reasons she best
knows, and anything that pleases her
will please her husband; it don't mat
ter to her daughter, who is in love, and
has her lover with her; but / doubt if
it is the sort of life the fair Alexia is
signing for"
The fair Alcxia'' was lettering dis
contentedly in the grounds when he
came out, two hours afterward, from
his interview with Mr.. Oliphant.
She was dressed in some wonderful
of Swiss rufiieS and en-
broidery; the abundant mass of black
hair was disposed in the latest approved
style of waves and braids; the milk-and-
rose face held lis brightest color, and.
in short, Miss Braxton made vivid
picture of well-dressed young lady
hood, who should have been dazzling
some gas-lit scene instead of wasting
her sweetness in the shadowy recesses
of lonely garden, with no one to see
her but fourth-rate lawyer of uncer-
tain years.
She took step forward, neverthe-
less, frightening visibly.
lit is good to see even you," she de-
clared, frankly, if not fatteringly.
"Why don't you make the best of your
opportunity and stay with Uncle Power
as his secretary or agent or whatever
he wants, instead of starting off on such
wild-gOOse chase as that you were
speaking OFF,
"Stay, to let you practice flirting
with me when nobody better offers? Is
that the idea you have in your mind,
Miss Braxton?"
"What a sharp little fellow he is to
find it out" said Lex, composedly.
"That's it, exactly, Harmon. A little
Irritation won't do you any harm and
it would amuse me. 1t was bad enough
in Philadelphia, but it's worse here.
Uncle and Aunt Oliphant exist in each
other, Dana lives in the light of Mr..
harrington smiles, and l am left out in
the cold-driven so desperate that you
would be relief. Eve set my hopes
on YOU ever since l heard Uncle Power
say he thought of getting you to fetch
and carry between this and town.
What's the use of having pretty dresses
and wearing them if no one ever comes
to admire me in them?'
Something like CLEAN of inspiration
flashed swiftly into Harmon Quests
eyes.
"You are mistaken in one thing" he
said, in a low tone. Il would be liable
10 infinite harm. | would admire you
too much for my own good if We're to
see you often. Your. amusement would
be my madness. And vet. Alexia--''
A peal of laughter from Alexia cut
short his words.
"Oh, my goodness she gasped.
'.Do stop! Harmon. didn't think you
would take me quite so literally at my
word. You do it capitally, but l really
couldn't stand it to be bored by love-
making, from you. came out here in a
bad temper, as dull as death, envying
Dana her Launcelot, but you have re-
stored me to my naturally amiable con-
dition."
Yet YOU object to my playing
Launcelot to your Dana?" said Mr..
Quest. plaintively. "You might have
your own Launcelot if You were she, l
suppose. If you were the heiress,
your charms would not be lost in OBJ
security. What would you give to be the
heiress, Miss Braxton?''
'.You are talking nonsense now"
said Miss Braxton, shortly.
Il am talking the deepest sense, as
you may live to see. What would You
give if were to make you an heiress?
Would you marry me out of gratitude
if l could put you in possession of a
fortune?"
Lex laughed again. The idea of
Harmon Quest making love TO her was
irresistible. Had he attempted it with
Dana, it would have been quite in keep
ing with her appreciation of his illiEit-
able ''cheek." Lex rather liked him
for that quality. She was cheeky
herself; but not ungrateful, withal.
"rd do good deal for money!" she
said. IF you had the fortune and were
to ask me TO marry You. l might
But no, Harmon, / wouldn't; not if you
were to Law it at my feet l won't raise
your expectations only to disappoint you
when the time comes. Do you expect
to make it out of this detective expert
ence of yours? Do you expect to prove
me the missing heir of the man who was
hung? / don't think l would like that
at all. If my father ever murdered any
body I'd rather not know it, and he
died in his bed, poor man! so it couldn't
have been he"
Nevertheless, if you should come
into possession of fortune some day,
through my agency, will you give me
the half for bringing it about?" persist
ed Mr.. Quest.
"Oh, I'm willing enough to promise
that" said Lex, fiippantly, provided
it don't include any legacy Uncle Power
may be leaving me in his will. l sup
pose he is leaving me one?" with sus-
picious glance at him. lis that what
sent you SO suddenly to play the devot-
ed to me?'