The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-10-05

the dark I sat and watched my passive
keeper, and turned from her 10 glance round
the room for the means Of escape. could,
perhaps, let myself down from the window.
If could get rid Of her. III! All, that if
The riddle was to be solved in . different
way. .-sas
About nine O'Clock heard the swing door
fall to with bang quite unlike the stealthy
way in which my cousin came and went
then hurried footsteps along the passage;
for the door-handle in the dark. sprang
up, wild with excitement it was
with fear. My immovable companion even
looked alarmed. We stared into one an.
lambert Miss McMichael, are you
o joy, It was Ainslie's voicei Ny heart
! leaped high with the sudden revulsion.
! How the fear and dread that were over.
whelming me passed away at the sound |!
He knew our sit alton; for without losing
| time he warned me to stand back from the
! door, and, throwing himself against it, at
the second attempt burst it in. In mo.
ment he was inside and his arm around
me.
take me to him, Ainslie; take me tc
! him." cried.
He knew to whom meant, vet he paused
my face: -,,,,,..,, .. . ,..o,. :, 81,
| dear! Will you be very brave? 1t is good
news, my darling; better than you can i'm,
agine. There is some one with Sir Martin
who has at present better right to you
| even than l have"
nodded anxiously, not comprehending
what he was saying, but only eager to be
by my grandfather's side. We fastened
through several passages, all deserted, and
| indicating the confusion into which the
house was thrown. In the corridor outside
Sir Martins room all the servants were
collected. They. made room for US, but
seemed in no degree surprised at our sud.
den appearance together. Ainslie opened
the door and led me softly in.
The old mans sight was failing, and to
suit it the spacious dark.paneled room
was lit with numerous candles, which yet
failed to dispel the gloom. My grand
father was greatly changed. His face was
wan and drawn; but the shadow of death
seemed to be held at bay by the painful
look of anxiety and doubt that Possessed
his features. There was some one stand
| took to be the nurse. At the foot of the
bed was my treacherous cousin, in an at
titude, as we entered, of indignant denial.
He did not see us or the servants who,
over our shoulders, peeped in with looks
of scared wonder. As we entered he took
IL
the other two.
81 have told you, sir, my cousin has
promised to marry me. In few hours
she will be here and tell you so, sir. Let
the will wait until then. Can you not trust
me, grandfather"
Eyes, yes" said the old man, with diff
Guilty; "but let me see her, Why isn't
Amber here?"
"She is at Ludford, Sir Martin. She has
been sent for, and in q few hours will be
here" answered James, pretending to look
at his watch.
"You lie, James McMichael! She is not
at Ludford. She is here, in your power"
The speaker advanced out of the shadow
of She curtain; at the same time that James
splang back with astonishment, as much
at the voice, so wonderfully resembling Sir
Martins as at the sudden attack.
"Who are your" he cried.
"Your uncle, your uncle, come back from
the grave to cOnfound your villainy. Where
is my daughter:"
1t was the stranger whom I had met in
the railway carriage. Only as one in
dream had gathered the meaning of what
was said. felt Ainslie push me forward;
l heard rising murmur of surprise among
the servants; l saw James blanched and
beaten face and my grandfather's eyes
turned painfully toward me. The room
seemed to turn round, and rs my father
clasped me in his arms tainted.
Left for dead by the mutineers, my father
had been found still breathing by an old
servant, who concealed him in a little low
caste village of the Rajpoot country. There,
it is as wonderful as true, he regained his
health of body; but his memory was gone.
For seventeen years he ivSd, harmless, in
deed, and venerated by the Hindoos of the
village as q sacred person, and jealously
guarded and supported by them as the
source of their prosperity. At the end of
those long. dark wears. army Doctor fell
in with him, became interested in what he
heard from the villagers about him, and by
an operation restored him truly as from
death to life. The seventeen years was a
blank; but all that went before, down to
the flight at Kolapore, was as the events of
yesterday. He made himself known and
was recognized by many at Bombay; funds
he might regain his position. You know
how opportunity he returned.
My grandfather died a few days later
with my hand in his, and his head on his
sons shoulder. OF course his will was al
teredi but James, though left dependent
upon my fathers generosity, has had no
cause to complain. We have never seen
him since. 1t was Ainslie who, driving
over to make inquiries fell in with my
father, as he was trying to ascertain how
things were at the Park. They compared
notes, and knowing that l had arrived at
the station, guessed pretty nearly the truth
of the matter.
A few months later Ainslie and were
married, and if my life before was happy
one what shall say of it now that l have
gained both a father and a husband, whose
only object seems to be to give me fresh
cause for gratitude? / have two homes now,
Ludford and the Park, and really it would
be hard to say at which am most happy.
So will not try.-LOndOn Society.