The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-01-26


had only seen Lucy and the new ledger
exchange a few commonplaces as they
passed each other on the staircase or
met on Sundays at the simple family
dinner-well spiced with thorough
going Home Rule politics-which Is
Hinond was invited to share; bat the boz
som Of Teddy the Patriot was ablaxe
with jealousy.
There was certainly something a lit
tie mysterious in the ways of Mr.. Es-
mond. The tailors shop window had
for some time contained, among its
usual indications of the business being
carried on within-buttons patterns OF
cloth, colored plates of the latest fash
ions, etc.-a card with the curt an
nouncement, Furnished Apartments.
Esmond entered the shop, introduced
himself to o. Bryan as having some con-
nection with the press, and that fact
rendered references unnecessary to the
tailorspolitician. The next day Esmond
was established in his ROOM His Ing
gage consisted of q portmanteau and a
box of books, the latter being dispro-
portionately heavy in comparison with
the weight of the former. As it was
cold day in the beginning of January,
Mrs. O'Bryan had blazing fire. in the
room, which combined with the smile
on her round good-natured face to give
him hearty welcome. Esmond liked
his landlady, and Mrs. OBryan's first
announcement to her husband was to
this effect: #.......r ..."s #E
Its fine young man he is, Dan; as
quiet as a mouse. and as easy to deal
with as child" -t
The kindly feelings which the good
woman entertained for her lodger from
the first day of his arrival socn made
him feel perfectly at home; and before
the end of month he seemed to have
know Mr.. and Mrs. O'Bryan for years
rather than weeks. His life was lone
ly one, and the Sunday afternoons
spent with the tailor's family formed
very agreeable episodes in it. Although
Teddy had early taken a dislike to him
or thought he had done so-he only
showed it BY keeping little apart from
him. and only speaking when he had an
opportunity to fatty contradict any as
sertion made by him.
In the fourth member of the family he
soon became interested, and the &C
workmanship promised to ripen into
friendship. Lucy was hard working
girl; she was a dressmaker, and from
Daddy-as she called UBryan-she had
learned enough of tailoring to be of
practical service to him whenever he was
pressed by work. She was fond of read
ing. too, and this soon became known
to Esmond.
There was flush of pleasure on her
face and such bright look in her eyes
when one day he placed small parcel
of new books on the table before her,
that she appeared more beautiful in his
eyes than she had ever done before. For
the first time he became conscious of a
degree of awkwardness in her presence;
and that to wise man, who did not
want to fall in love. should have been a
sufficiently apparent danger-signal-
II thought you would like to see
these, Miss Smith. think there are one
or two among them you will be pleased
with"
81 am sure l shall like them all.
she said gleefully, and beginning at
once to examine the title-pages.
THANK you. Mr.. Esmond." He had
never before thought that there was
SO much music in those two words;
THANK you.
..There'n be fine goings on now"
exclaimed Mrs. o Bryan; yell have
her sitting up all night reading them
books, an going about like ghost ali
day; an may be sewing the wrong
sleeves into somebody's gownd, as she
did once when she got hould of some
thing they called .Penny-Dennis.' Yen
spoil her entirely. Mr.. Esmond"
Il hope not" he answered, laughing
at the distortion of the title of one of the
works of his favorite author. ..
From that time Lucy was well sup
piled with books, and they afforded am
pie subjects of conversation. Books
are mediums, and even dull ones may
serve as tokens of tender thought. Es-
mond was soon conscious that Lucy
had obtained an influence over him
stronger than any woman had yet eNer-
cised. He was at first startled by this
discovery; then, not having reached the
noon of love, in the white glare of
which the eyes and senses are blind and
callous to everything save its own tran
scending brightness, he called halt.
He had no business to fall in love in his
present position: hence he had no alter
native but to leave the place. That was
the plainest and shortest way out of the
difficulty. He should go.
CHAPTER II.
CALLED BACK.
"Come in" said Esmond, in answer
to knock at his door.
Lucy entered, with q letter in one
hand and a book in the other, and he
rose from the table. The day was q fog
gy one, and it seemed to be twilight in
his little room.
d" have brought you these. sir. and l
hope have not kept the book too long"
You have not kept it long enough"
he said. smiling. as he took the letter.
{" l intended you to keep that book al
together, knowing that il was favorite
OF yours. VIII yoa do so?' ,z1zzszazzzzzI
She seemed to hesitate; and then,
quietly: II shall be very pleased to
have it, Mr. Esmond." The answer
was the natural one which a lady might
have given to friend IN accepting any
small gift"T EEEEER Il
= 1 am glad of that" he said. impul-
snely; and then checking himself. re-
membering his good resolutions, he be-
gan awkwardly to tap the fingers of his
left hand with the letter which he had |
Just received II am glad because
because shall probably be going away
soon"
"Going away, We shall all be sorry |
to miss YOU"
The phrase was commonplace enough,
and there was no particular accent on
any of the words. and yet there was a
in her tone and look which
made him half regret his hasty an