The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-06-08

At the very moment, lady. all il
black from head to foot, was crossin,
the lawn in the direction of the terrace
Rose saw her, wonderingly. 1t was NJ
one she knew, yet some vague memor,
stirred before the stranger spoke.
| "Mrs. France!' she, said. announc
ing herself "Miss Sangerford. l hav,
come to you because my. husband, il
his last message, requested me to dc
SOL
At that name Rose started. Instant
~ her mind went back to that summel
night a year ago, to that scene by The
roadside, when she had looked for al
instant into the bright Southern face o
her fortunate rival, and felt in her hear
that Rodney was not to blame for sue.
cumbing to beauty like hers. But now
how changed! The girl realized. even
then. that her sorrow. was but a passing
| regret to the deep, unquenchable an
guish which this woman bore.
"Sit down. she said. gently, leading
the way to a rustic bench. Tell me
what can do for you?''
"You can take my child. keep her,
and never letsher know what an unhap.
py wretch her mother is.
"Your child! Ir' cried Rose. startled
beyond measure. She began to think
that the other was scarcely responsible
for what she said. grfrf-,,[l a,e
"Wait. Read his note to you. 1t is
his will, not mine-oh, not minei''
Rose was half-terrified and wholly be-
wildered. Mechanically she took the pa
per, mechanically read the strong APP
peal which Rodney France had written
there that she should take upon herself
the guardianship of his posthumous
child.
..But 1 do not understand she said.
"Why did he wish TO take it from you?
And it is impossible, utterly impossi-
bler'
at must be DONE" declared Mignon,
in still. impressive way. MY hus-
bands last wishes shall be carried out,
shall be! at the cost of telling you why
he considered the mother no fit guardian
for her child. Oh, my husband, my
husband"'
There was tempest under all that
marble calm. She locked her transpar-
ent fingers together. in a spasm of tear
less grief which conyulsed her whole
form.
Don't, pray don't" pleaded Rose,
distressed beyond measure '.You are
not strong enough to agitate yourself
like this. | heard that you were sick;
you do not look well now.'f sFC ~
"Sick unto death, and / never knew
of his danger until it was too late
Think of it; if had known could have
saved him. 1t is that thought which is
killing me-let me tell you why"
Down upon her knees in the grass
went Mignon, to relate her story, with
shuddering signs and great. dry sobs
choking her utterance. And Rose
listened, Mortified, aghast. Little Won
der-little wonder-that Rodney France
had thought his wife no proper guard
ian for his child.
The story was told. An apathetic
guietude came over the narrator at its
close. Benumbed. and stricken dumb,
Rose sat. pale and still as the dead.
1t was Mignon who broke the silence at
last.
"Now, will You grant his request?
Will you take the child?"
''Oh, | can not, | can not" broke
from Rose in wild, despairins cry.
You will not keep your promise to
him. because you can not forget am
her mother"
1T is not that. My father would
never consent, and without his consent
l can do nothing. Wait; let me think
if there is any way"
She buried her face in her hands. II
dawned upon her that there was one
way-one possible way-that she could
keep her solemn promise to Rodney
France. The red blood srrged in a hot
current over the hidden face. and she
looked up a moment after with glitter
of excitement in her eyes.
"Wherc can | see YOU tomorrow"
she asked. Il will let you know what
can do then"
Mignon told her, and on the morrow
Rose entered the cottage to which Rod
ney had brought the bride short year
ago, a soft, shy light in her plying
eyes. 81 49,
at is all arranged" she announced.
81 have permission to take her. Please
show ME my baby
The small morsel of humanity lay in
Swiss-covered bassinet, dot of pink
in u mass of tleecy white drapery, and
Mignon lowered over her for a moment
before she gave place to the other.
One look. and the trembling smile
died from Roses lips, which formed.
but scarcely uttered the whisper
''Oh, what is that? what is that?''
Sternly the answer came.
1.-The mark of Cain upon her brow!
The brand of ii parents guilt on her in
nocent life!"
And in very truth, a bright red bar
lay, an indeliblc mark. on the baby fore
head.