The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-06-29
CHAPTER NJ.
nYDppINE A HINr

on are going to marry mat girl!
1t was Mr.. Killuth who said it, Mr.
Killuth who lay back in his chair, and
looked across the breakfast table at hi.
morning visitor with keen, cold, disap.
proving ewes. The visitor was Launt
Harrington, of course. He had come by
late train to New York the previous
evening, had gone to his hotel for the
night, and, at the earliest permissible
hour next morning, dropped in upon
this old friend, who might be excused
for wondering what had become of his
late compagnOn du roydge-for Launt
had left precipitately for the other city
with only the briefest of brief notes to
explain his absence:
DEAR X: Going out of town for a day OF
two. viii see you before go South"
The day or two had heightened its in.
definite term into twice as many weeks
before he returned-returned with this
news at his tongues end, for the condi-
tions attached to the proposed alliance
sat easily upon Launt's conscience. Ii
mattered very little that the pere and
mere had said he was not to bind their
daughter just yet with betrothal ring;
they were not denying him one priv
lege of an accepted lover; they did not
damp his hopes of speedy consent to
speedy marriage, when their uncon-
cealed reluctance should at last give
way. ..
"You are going to marry that girlr'
repeated MIR. Killuth, as much aghast
as if he had said: "You are going to
murder that girlr' GOOD Heavens,
Launt! l had put that fear quite out
of my mind. I thought-you gave me
reason to think-that they did not en-
courage YOU"
"They discouraged me by all posi-
BILE means while they could" explained
Launt. "They only tolerate me as a
sutton on probation now; all the same |
am going to marry my darling, soon.
Mrs. Oliphant-it is Mrs. Oliphant who
opposes me, by-the-by-has given me
that grain of comfort. Surely, you can
afford to be patient now,' she said.
When our consent is once given, you
shall have your own way"
What does she object to-" unused,
rather than asked, Mr.. killuth. "Your
poverty? Three or four thousand a
year is poverty. / suppose, to one reared
in the lap of luxury as Rose Sangerford
was
81 don't think it is that She was
willing to take up that artist, no better
off than myself. She doubts and mis-
trusts me. as it is natural n mother
should-more than is natural, believe.
She credits me with being tickle, I'M
stable, ready to fall out of love as readi-
ly as i fell in. 1t isn't flattering APP
probation. or a true one"
1T may be truec than you think
Look here. Launt, l was your fathers
friend, as am yours, and he was as
madly infatuated, twice in his short life,
as you are to-day. He left your mother
for La June's siren smiles. How are
you to tell that You are better than hep"
A dark red flush went swiftly over
the young mans face. All his life he
had resented the wrong done to his
mother, and laid it, along with his faith
er's last reckless act. to the score of the
siren. whom Madame Harrington had
taught him TO hate.
I'VE will not bring my fathers name
into discussion" he said, coldly. Then,
in a changed tone: ''Killuth. you told
me once that that U0nidn was dead.
DO you know i; beyond doubt?"
'.As well as know anything from
mere report She died of yellow fever,
in Cuba, ! believe"
"What became of her child?"
'.Her WHAT"
Launt told him of that incident of
the library, and Mr.. Quests proposed
search.