The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-06-29


known it then.
"Good little Schoenberger!" said
Launt. with laugh. II wonder if he
suspected that only went there because
l picked up word about you? If he
were not married man with a rising
family, 1 should think him madly in
love with your cousin, he sang her
praises so Professionally
"Poor Lex!" and Dana echoed the
laugh. She imagined Lexis chagrin
when she should learn the truth,
not suspecting that Lex had arrived at
it already. The next moment the door
opened and Mrs. Oliphant entered. One
glance was enough to tell her how far
matters had gone; if it had not, Launt
was ready enough, now that he knew
Dana's mind.
'::And with your permission. dear
Mrs. Oliphant," he finished his appeal
to her, Il will go to your husband at
| once. l want to set myself right in
your sight and his; l hope to prove that
| am not altogether unworthy of your
daughter.
IF it has come to that, will go to
him." said Mrs. Oliphant, slowly.
Dana, you will make no promises;
MIR. Harrington, you will bind her to
none, until her father and L talk this
matter over. ask it,
'.Ah. Mrs. Oliphant, it is too late for
that. Promise or no promise, we are
pledged to each other" said Launt.
seeking his confirmation in Dana 5
eyes.
A stranger was leaving the library as
Mrs. Oliphant entered it, a man of the
shabby genteel' order, who bowed
and held open the door. darling keen,
searching look into the lady face as
she passed.
"Who was that, Power?" she asked.
"Only Harmon Quest-Alexia's Mr..
Quest, you know, Rose. l might call
him mine, now. as APPLY. He is very
tolerable lawyer. and has been making
himself useful in these rcal-estate nego-
tiations of mine. He's the cleverest of
fellows at getting hold of secret
points
Rose did not give the lawyer second
thought.
Power" she said. 81 may as well tell
has come
THAT time was bound to come sooner
or later" Mr.. Oliphant remarked, when
he had heard all she had to tell '.And
really, dear, l don't share your an
tipathy to that young man. | am in no
hurry to lose our girl. and did what i
could to discourage him-and felt guilty
every time l looked into the child's
dropping face. If Dana likes him. and
they have made it up together, you and
| must put away our scruples and stand
aside"
'.If it were any one else" cried Rose,
passionately. eff it were Gordon Mar
quis l could trust him. But that man!
Power, feel that he has only won her
from us TO break her heart"
Mr.. Oliphant took his wife's hand in
4 loving clasp. These two were fond
lovers in their middle age.
Il understand your prejudice against
his Southern origin, and that is his
chief objection in my eyes. He will be
wanting to take Dana away from us,
but | can never consent to that. We
must make it Il condition that he shall
settle here. For the rest, the secret will
be as safe when Dana marries as it is
now. The one fact that he need ever
know-that she is an adopted child
will not have feathers weight with
him if he is the true stuff. 80
IF he is the true stuff!n repeated
Mrs. Oliphant to herself. almost with a
groan. And he is. in the way Power
means. He would marry her if she
We're n beggar's daughter. But how
would it be if he knew wkoSe child she
is?''
1t was Mrs. Oliphant who carried the
result of their conference to Dana, and
Launt was summoned to the library be-
fore he departed. to give full account
of himself, his family, and his prospects.
to the father of his love. 1t was sat
iSfactory account in the main, though
the element which would have weighed
with many fathers. money, had little
part in it. But the Farringtons, once a
wealthy family, were influential still.
Launt himself held the lease of sugar
which. under his judiciOus
rendered an assured in
come sufficient to the wants of a young
pair who were not ambitious of great
display. He was not presumptuous.
then, in aspiring to the hand of Dana
Oliphant, prospective heiress though
she might be.
"You may consider the inequality as
existing on the other side" said the
older man, not without slight tremor.
you come of the old creole stock. who
have their pride of birth as strong as
any ariStocracy on earth. Dear as she
is to me, she is not really my daughter,
but nameless waif adopted in her ear
lest infancy. Does that fact make any
difference with you?"
None, not the slightest" Pride of
birth was certainly not Launt Earring
tons weakness.
Then" said Mr.. Oliphant, more
Il shall not throw any insur-
obstacles in the way ofyour
suit
There were sundry conditions to be
imposed, nevertheless, first among them
that no formal engagement should be
entered into just yet.
THAT is your decree, mamma" cried
Dana, when she heard it. 1T is you
who have been opposed to Launt
Papa liked him at first,
likes him still. Why are you SO set
against him."
1t was question which Mrs. Oliphant
parried.
"You hardly know him Yet, my
child" she said, tenderly. .'Ionly ask
youto take time before binding yourself
this fancy may wear itself
out if you will but wait and contrast
him with others"
1T will never wear out until die"