The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-07-20

me to introduce myself as Mr.. OH
plants man Of business. Quest, and if
you can accommodate me with seat
with the accent of interrogation wind
ing up the sentence.
He was accommodated, and those
two arriving together gave shock to
Mrs. Oliphant. She was sanding by 3
window looking through glass out
over the blue sea which lay dimpling
and sparkling under the morning sun.
Tiny pleasure-boats, with sails all set,
were skimming over it: coasting-
schooner was crawling across the dis
tant horizon, but the yacht, which had
been driven in by the rough weather,
still lay at anchor within the cove.
There was stir on deck, workmen
seemed to be repairing some damage
sustained, and a young man in sailor
costume stood by overlooking their
movements. 1t was upon the young
man that Mrs. Oliphant concentrated
her wandering glances. and little flush
of actual pleasure sprang into her pale
cheeks.
"Surely it is-yes it is Gordon Mar
quis. she murmured, and was turning
to impart that news when the carriage
drew up on the drive, and the two men
whom she feared alighted together.
Mr.. Oliphant, approaching across the
lawn to welcome his guest, started a lit
tie at seeing the lawyer. Manlike, he
wanted to face the crisis and have it
over. 1t is only women who can endure
the torture of suspense, whose nerves
may be stretched upon the rack, but
who viii cover their agony and bear it
unfortunately rather than risk a final
blow.
Back again. Harmon" he greeted
him, rather stiffiy. Just in time; am
most anxious TO see You. Go to my
study and l will join YOU as soon as L
am at liberty. You can pay your re-
spects to the ladies afterward. if you
like seeing MIR. Quests glances wan
dering toward the group visible in the
open window.
Mrs. Oliphant overheard the words.
Her welcome to Mr.. killuth was only
mechanical. She knew that in few
minutes more her husband would ex-
cuse himself and withdraw from the
room. His eyes rested upon her fond
ly, encouragingly. Would'he ever look
at her like that again. she wondered.
1t seemed to her that she must scream,
must break the horrible quiet in some
way: but she sat perfectly, unnaturally
still, drawing one hard breath when
Power passed out.
But he did not go directly to the
study. The gardener had appeared 70.
instructions, and he went out with him
upon the lawn. He stood there bare
headed. the sun shining down upon him.
tall. vigorous and erect. picture in her
eyes of brave and kindly gentleman;
the noblest. the truest. the most dearly
beloved being the whole wide earth
held. The look which Madame Far
rington had detected in her eyes was
there now. Would she ever see him
like that again? She would give her
very life if it would save him from the
blow which she felt was about to fall.
To save him-oh, if she could-if she
could.
Mr.. Killuth was in animated CONVEX
sation with Madame Harrington. the
young people were still grouped by the
opposite window. Miss Power was no
where to be seen. No one would miss
her for five minutes. no one noticed
when she rose suddenly and glided from
the room.
Another moment and she was facing
Harmon Quest in the study.
Have YOU come TO betray meS'
He started, he had not heard her
enter, and looked up to see her standing
before him. white. desperate. with SOM
Der. haunting eyes looking him through.
Mrs. Oliphant.
a ask. have YOU come to betray me?
There is no need of masking your pur-
pose if you have. l have known for
two months that yoU held the secret
which ruins me- What inducement can
/ offer you to keep it from my husband?
1t would kill him to know it. kill him, l
believe, outright. l don't expect that
consideration to weigh with you. Tell
me what will
q fail to understand, he was begin
ming. but she cut him short.
'.You do not. Shall l acknowledge
myself to be"
Hush he interrupted her peremp-
torily. You are anxious to betray
yourself, / should say, by these open
windows. Acknowledge nothing while
there is an opportunity for eavesdrop-
pers at hand" He shut it out as he
spoke. THE value of secret is al
ways diminished by telling it. my dear
lady, and L am not ready at a mo-
ment's notice to put valuation on
yours"
"Then you mean to betray me!'
She said it quietly, but with unalter-
BILE conviction. unutterable despair.
Mrs. Oliphant, do mean TO besray
you. Not to-day, however. Not even
tomorrow, perhaps, or for many to-
morrows. That depends
The whole aspect of the man changed
as he spoke. The consciousness of
power, of triumph, broke into his look
All his life he had found it hard
struggle to keep even with the world.
He had his ambition, and he had been
thwarted so often that he had lost faith
in himself, and now the hour of his tri-
umph had come.
That depend" he repeated. Every
man has his weakness, and have mine
1t is the weakness of wanting to be, once
in way. hand-in-glove with the upper
crust 1 will probably never have q
better opportunity than this. Your
husband once offered me 3 position in
his household, Mrs. Oliphant, 1 believe
at your instigation. Let him Offer it
again with this difference, that l shall
stay, not rs employee, but as guest
There was no time for her to answer.
The door opened and her husband en-
tered, starting a little to find her there.
"Rose, is this wiSes Had You not
better retire while / settle with the