The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-08-03

be delivered on your return"
Il did not see him." said Power, toe
bewildered yet to half-realize the truth
II 10 not understand. Why should
you wish to deceive anybody"
The woman drew in her breath with
half-sob. '.Oh, my baby, my babyr
she murmured to herself. Then aloud
'Mr. Oliphant, you do not seem t.
know me as Mignon Almont. Perhap.
you will understand better when you
know that am Mrs. France, and tina,
Dana is my child-mine-and more lost
to me than if she had died. Oh, l know
l gave her up willingly, but it was
harder for me than any one knew.
would not have troubled you if your
wife had lived, but when she died
could not leave my baby to fall into
other hands Her father would never
have asked that. 1t seemed such an
easy way to reclaim her when they made
the mistake of believing me Mrs.
Oliphant. She was dead and buried,
remember, before / knew, and it seemed
no great harm to wear the name for a
little time, after word came of the acci.
dent which was OBTAINING YOU"
There was an indescribable pathos in
her low, broken voice, in the great,
mournful eyes. Power, who had never
seen Mrs. France, had a sudden con-
viction that she had been a much
wronged woman; but over other
thoughts came the sudden, desolating
sense of his own great loss.
He felt dizzy and confused, the shad-
owy room grew DINNER, his head fell
back. and with terrified cry Mignon
rushed to his side. His wound had
burst out bleeding afresh and Mr.. Oil
plant had tainted.
A long season of prostration followed,
and through it Mignon was his unweary-
ing nurse. The summer passed.; the
bright, clear weather of the Southern
winter came, and still he fingered in
the house on Esplanade street, not yet
restored to full health and vigor.
Dana's little feet battered in and out
of his room, her lisping tongue called him
papa, and as Mignon saw how fond he
was of the child bitter pang pierced to
her heart. Some day he would 90
away and want to take her baby with
him; she was as sure of it then as she
would be when the time came. The
mother-nature rebelled. She had given
her up once, she could never, never give
her up again.
Power left them in December for a
trip to Cuba, and while there, simple
tablet marked with the name of Rose
Mignon Almont was replaced by a
marble sbaft-"Sacred to the memory
of Rose. dearly beloved wife of Power
Oliphant, aged nineteen"
He did not seek out any of his former
friends. Those business acquaintance
with whom he was brought into contact
knew nothing whatever of his private
life. His object was to effect transfer
of his services to some other place; to
in Cuba now he felt to be impos-
sible; and after some discussion, he was
appointed by the company he served to
a place in Spain. Pending the final ar
relating to this change, he
went upon a cruise among the smaller
islands. Touching at Kingston on his
return, he was surprised to find himself
accosted by familiar voice, to see
Tredegar Almont before him holding
out friendly hand.
"This world isn't big enough to run
away from ones friends in, l find,"
said the ex-gambler, resignedly. Mig
non might as well haze waited for you
N New Orleans"
'.Is she here?" asked Power, eagerly.
.And little Dana? And running away
from me? That is hardly kind"
Mot kind to whom?" asked Mr.. Al
mont, calmly. 'If you mean to my
self, l agree with you perfectly. 1t
can't make any great difference to
you," with keen glance, land Mignon
mas never been particularly indulgent
to herself. You know her sad history,
[ believe? She is super-sensitive on
hat score, has never allowed that mis-
taken idea of her death in Havana to be
and contemplates burying
herself from the world and living only
for her child's sake. She credits you
with having designs on the little one,
you see."
Il must reassure her as to that" said
Power, and the way he did it was very
much as the sharp-sighted Almont ex-
pected; and to Mignon he said:
Il do want Dana, but want Dana's
mother with her. i must have told you
so. soon, for 1 could not sail without
knowing my fate. / love you, love
you as | never loved woman before"
1t did not seem to him any disloyalty
to the dead to tell her this. His love
Tor Rose had been greater by far than
Roses love for him, yet that love had
been
AS moonlight unto sunlight, as water unto
wine"
in comparison to the all-absorbing pas
sion which held possession of him now.
Mignon trembied before it.
"You love me-me?' she cried, in
"Ah, if you knew all you
would hate me, despise me, pity me,
lnd-leave me-"
Il do know ALL declared Power.
Rose had no secrets
from me. Knowing all, l love you,
owe you'll love You"
She gave him one glance. All, no,
ne did not know all. One part of the
secret known by Rose Sangerford had
never been told him; if it were told to
him now, Mignon knew that he would
urn from her, leave her at any cost to
himself. He must leave her, she said
o herself; and tried to utter firm re-
usal of his suit, but her tongue faltered.
ler eyes fell; her conscious heart
Iuailed before the truth, that her own
ieart had gone out to him against her
,wn will.
Il must refuse HIM must" she
aid, but she did not. She yielded, as q
owing woman always yields, before
mans stronger will.
They were married month later, and
allied for Spain via Panama. Power
lad observed before this a shrinking
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