The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-05-25
CHAPTER H.-CosTISuED.

"He saws a thousand times worse,''
broke, with painful Indignation, from
the elder man. s'But no need to repeat
what he says; you know it all, unless it
is that she broke her plighted troth to a
man as bad as herself, when some in
comprehensive within impelled her to
turn Your infatuatiOn to such account.
Ii is a fact so well known, killuth says.
that sporting men there are laving bets
two to one that Varick will have her
back within year. God grant that he
may, say |. from the depth of nv
heart. Surely, Rodney. your own self
respect will demand that YOU put that
woman away and procure a divorce
from her at once.
Rodney had listened sullenlv, with
downcast eyes. He had expected some
whispers to follow to his far Northern
home, but not the whole. barren truth
more than the truth, he believed.
Mr.. Sangerford," he cried. hotly,
''you insult me bv making me listen to
such unfOunded tales believe in my
wife as thoroughly as if she had been
brought up in Fifth avenue palace.
and was ignorant. as I'll swear she is
innocent, of every faint of voluntary
wrong. | did not come here to-day to
argue this matter. or to justify the step
| have taken. but to transact the bust
ness which remains between us
This was mere matter of form con-
nected with the rendering of Rodney $
accounts into his own hands. 1t was
soon over. Then. as the Young man
rose to go, an embarrassed flush came
into his cheeks.
Mrs. and Miss Sangerfori are well?''
he asked. 81 NAV have forfeited all
claim upon their Kindness. but-but nv
interest and gratitude must remain
They are not in the city," said the
merchant, curly. If that is all, good
morning.
And Rodney went out, feeling as he
had not felt before, that he, too, had
severed all links between past and pres
ent.
This was Mignon's first day alone
since her marriage 1t had seemed to
her that it would be long. long day.
but the morning slipped away as she
sat at the piano, playing soft melodies
that were in accord with her dreamy
thoughts. The long windows were wide
open; only the filmy lace draperies
waved between her and the sunny slope
that stretched down to the river
And they wonder that I should
choose d5iS, she said to herself. as her
hands fell away from the keys, and
some contrast between this simple cot
tage and her late luxurious home struck
her
Very pastoral. very charming! A
rustic Eden, complete, now, since tie
trail of the serpent is over it all
She whitened as she turned slowly to
confront the intruder. A tiny sail-boat
that had been skimming the river since
early dawn had been anchored below at
at the wharf. Just outside thSwindow
was tall man, with silky black hair
curling about his swarthy, handsome
face, with black eyes sweeping the
small parlor. settling in a look. half
masterful. half ferociouS, upon her re-
sisting face. He sat down on the low
windOw-Sill, easily reached from with
out, and dropped his hat to the floor.
"Varick!+
"Sweet welcome in that tone" said
Varick, throwing his head back with
laugh. Come over here to me. nv
Princess holding out his hands.
Quiyering from head to foot, she
arose. but not to obey.
The time has gone by when YOU
could command me-, she said. calmly.
in spite of the agitation that was shak-
ing her. Your power over me, such
rs it was, is broken. You can do Your
self no good by coming here; me no
harm
''And she is quakIng ike frightened
bird while she SAWS it, cried Farick.
with another laugh. Are you coming.
La June9 What, YOU will not? Then.
sweetest Migron, let me tell you that |
have backed myself for fifty thousand
dollars TO bring you again TO my feet
= am not afraid of YOU"
MOI burst from him in savage
tone lyon and your precious father
think You have trickei me good. Well.
we shall see. Mrs. Varick-that-was-to
have-been, Mrs NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
How dare you. cried Mignon. with
an ominous flash in her eye: how
dare you bring that promise back to
mess''
You can't deny that you gave it. you
know"
Glance met glance now, with steely
CLEANS
when / was mere child of sixteen:
when.-in nv book-fed folly, fancied
because you were handsome and auda-
c;ous and wicked that YOU were 4 hero
"a Monte Christie whose wrongs justi-
fed YOU in wrong-doing-when You
promised reform and all things good and
noble for my sake And you used TINT
promise to drag. me down to your
level"
aYou hadn't far to fall" he sneered
" Your Esther"
MY father never thought OF putting
me TO such vile use until YOU put the
idea into his head And YOU deceived
me with Your stories of righteous re
venge. All the city was ringing with
the brazenry of the decoy, La june
while she thought she was only play
ing the part of Haidee to your Monte
Christo.n
TEL that to your husband, for in
stance, and see how much he wl, be
Ieye of II -