The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-05-25
servant in plain livery, who lifted his

servant in plain livery. who lifted his
hat to Rodney. with grave air.
"a package, sir; with Miss Sanger
ford compliments.
"Oh. Dennis. it Is you,' cried Rod
ney, more discomposed than he liked to
show. $50 the Sangerford family real
ly are in the neighborhood?"
1--WE took possession of our new coun-
try seat the latter part of May. SIR re-
sponded Dennis. stiffiy. with q wave of
the hand indicating villa which over
looked the cottage grounds. mo an
swer, sir, my young lady said"
what has she sent you. Rodney"
asked Mignon, as the man turned away.
Letters
at looks like it. / must saw she
might have chosen a more suitable
time"
"Rodnevr' she exclaimed, accusing
". "You have been in love with her.
and you never told me. You may as
well confess at once"
1T will make you despise me, Mig
non"
''Oh. no, think not But it makes
me sorry for her."
most startling intensity. ''Is that wom-
ans love? Why. Mignon. if l were YOU
if l thought you had ever cared for
another man, should hate him with all
my heart"
There was look on his face which
sent thrill, akin to fear, through her
veins.
.1Jealousr' she thought. and it flashed
over her that here was the chance for
Varick's revenge, if he only knew.
but | never did care she said to her
self: never. in the way he means
Rodney burned the package of letters
unopened.
..She meant them to make mischief
between us, Mignon." he said land
she has failed in her purpose, thank
Heayen,'
But he was doing Rose Sangerford in
justice by the thought. She had known
from the day they came into the cot
tage who her near neighbors were. She
was proud, and her pride had received
a cruel blow; she was miserable. too.
and felt outraged and Inundated that
they should come to tiaunt their happi-
ness under her very eyes. How often
her heart had been torn by seeing them
together before she yielded to the angry
impulse which prompted that one act of
retaliation, Rodney France would never
know.
The cottage changed tenants at mid
summer. Mignon proposed giving an
informal dinner to a very few acquaint-
ances when they were fairly established
in their new home at RivertOn.
ITO YOUR acquaintance. Rodney. |
have none as vet. We owe something
of the kind to your partner. suppose
.'Tendyke has said more than once
that he would like the pleasure of meet
ing my wife, Rodney acquiesced. 1t
did not appear that the social ostracism
which would have attended them in
New York need follow here. At the
last moment. when the day arrived. a
note came with TeEdyke's regrets.
Sorry wrote ROdney's partner
chow sorry, my dear fellow. You will
never know. / hear there is a rise in
c. V. bonds. and We must dispose of
ours. Business before pleasure. but |
hope to reverse the rule next time | am
favored etc. etc, on to the end.
The dinner was success. The two
or three gentlemen. who listened to
Mrs. Frances singing afterward. who
knew Rodney already as a genial ac-
quaintance. went away charmed.
iii send my married sister to call
upon her." said one. "I've heard that
she was a variety actress. concert sing
er. or something of that sort: but I'll
only tell Lucy that she is the wife of
our rising young banker. That will be
for her.
Mrs. France had grown really radiant
over her small triumph. Looking at
her. a sharp pang pierced her husband :
heart. Could it be that she delighted
in this sort of thing? Would she ever
be quite a. much his own if she had
even this small world to please? She
grew little pale as she comprehended
the struggle which was going on in his
mind.
1T was for your sake tried to please
them" she said. IF it gives you one
uneaSiness to see me in COM
pany with these men. we will not have
them here again"
..Oh. Mignon; fairly hate myself for
being such dog in the manger, but"
But he did not disclaim her sacrifice
How could he help remembering that
her bright chances and sweet tones had
been used to befool men once. and fear
with a desperate. quaking tear-that
the wish to conquer might wake in her
again. 1t was not that he doubted her:
only that in his selfish, idolatrous love.
he would have her his. without
thought or look for any other in the
world.
MignOn was willing enough to humor
him. In this retirement she found
peace and safety. Not even John Ten
dyke came TO disturb their quiet life.
She had almost forgotten him when.
one day. months later, after a fore
moons shopping. she found herself in
the vicinity of the bank, and yielded to
an impulse to rim in for 4 moment and |
see her husband.
"Mr. France imp I'll see.' said the |
clerk. not knowing that this was Mr.. |
Frances wife. He will be very soon. |
holding open the door of the !
private office. but here is Mr.. Ten |
dyke who can attend to your business !
at once"
Mignon vert smilingly forward to
explain. The attentive clerk shat the |
door behind her, and in the DINNER
light of the inner office familiar form |
arose, hated voice struck upon her |
ears.
MY dear Mrs. France, this is a long
deferred pleasure. Allow me to intro |
iuce mysef-Tendyke, your husbands |
partner"
She grasped n the back of chair |
s, 81.