The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-04-13


as you say. il was natural that should
desire to see my son and your daughter
united. Of course. the fact that she
hasa fortune and he had none was pres
ent to me. but you were as well aware
of the fact as myself. and you also had
thought of the possibility of such q
match. We are both disappointed. and
1t would be best for us to say as little as
we can about it. We must, however,
Immediately consider the arrangement
OF other natters--that is, about the
mortgages"
81 wish you would not trouble about
them just now. There is plenty of time
before u.s.
1--WE need not have much talk over
the disagreeable business; our lawyers
will do all that for US. But what has
happened renders it imperatively nee
essary that you should understand that
no renewal of the bonds will be sought.
The Colonel scanned b face search
ingly, and became conscious that there
was something to settle on their own ac-
count Briskly then
lam to congratulate you upon hav-
ing become possessed of the means to
clear them off P"
unfortunately, no, you can not con-
graduate me upon such good fortune /;
the mortgages, however. are to be dis
posed of by this simple process-at the
proper time your agent will foreclose,
and Calthorpe will thenceforth become
your property"
Mr.. Calthorpe said this with all the
calm dignity OF man who is making a
noble self-sacrifice, rather than with the
air of one who is making the unpleasant
admission that he is unable to pay his
debts. He really felt at the moment as
if he were by this master stroke not only
wiping out all obligation, but transfer
ring it to the shoulders of his creditor.
"You know that shall do nothing OF
the kind
"Your agent will do it for you"
"He can not if forbid him."
"Then l must beg of you not to do
so, for Maurice's sake as well as mine
Nothing else can satisfy YOUR daughter
that she has made a mistake
"Look here, Calthorpe, such a step is
unnecessary. and at any rate can not be
decided upon without due consideration
| took up the mortgages to prevent what
you are asking me to do. The thing
can not be done"
Mr.. Calthorpe smiled sadly, as he
might have done at some rash resolution
of an impetuous youth.
al see YOU are the old careless Frank
still. Believe me, Cuthbert, am CRATE
full for this new proof of friendship.
But | can not take advantage of it, for
as we stand now we must act more
strictly on business; principles than we
need have done had our wishes been
realized. l shall not leave You any
choice in the matter so far rs l am con-
cerned. At the proper time | shall go
through all the necessary formalities of
surrendering the estate, and then YOU
can act as you please with it. My
spendthrift habits have done Maurice
some injury. but they shall not cast a
slur upon his honor On that score, at
least, he shall fee that his father was as
sensitive as himself"
A cynic standing by might have been
indi 3erent to the old gentleman s
display of magnanimity aud beautiful
self-abnegat.on; the supplemented
Colonel was disturbed by it, As the
case was presented to him now it re-
vealed the utter ruin of his old friend.
and the destruction of the happiness of
a spirited young man for whom he had
much favor, all the direct result, ap-
parently, of the mistake made by his
daughter. The fact that she was paw
ing in herself a bitter penalty for the
error only rendered the position the
more vexatious when he found Mr.. Ca,-
thorpe seemingly like the others, so I'M
reasonable and unreconcilable.
81 came to you expecting to get
some help out of an unhappy difficulty,
and instead of that YOU make matters
worse than ever b. this QuiXot;c reso-
hItion.''
Mr.. Calthorpe made that graceful
deprecatory movement with his hands
which was ALWAYS so effective, and in
dicative that he was well pleased
with the successful progress of his di-
plomacy.
Call it QuiNotic or anything else you
like, but you can not satisfy me that
any other honorable course is open to
me. Say that it is the mere graliiica-
Il
tent. know that Maurice will thank
me for it, and that he would hold me in
contempt were / to act otherwise. 1t
is the only way in which l can retain
his respect"
Il never knew you to act so like a
fool before. You know what you are
throwing up; you know that l do not
believe this ABSURD charge which the
poor girl made When she was mad with
pain herself. tell you that she does
not believe it; then why should YOU do
this. and spoil the friendship of SO many
years?'
..My dear Cuihbert," exclaimed Mr..
Calthorpe, warmly, taking both his
hands, nothing can and nothing shall
spoil our friendship, that must continue
to be the same rs ever; and / look on
our agreement on this important sub
ject as the strongest proof OF our regard
for ea.h other. We have only to agree
to disagree, as the saving is. and our
mutual esteem remains undiminished.
But even you can not foretell what in
sidious effect might be produced on
your mind were | for purely selfish
reasons to leave my sons motives open
to the possibility OF misinterpretation."
at is useless TO speak further on the
subject, l see. You make me feel as if
l had been pleading for my daughter.
That was not my intention, although in
my anxiety to discover what was best
to do for all part 'es 1 have said much
more than she would be pleased to
know had been said. At the same time
my opinion is that you are all laying up
for yourselves store of remorse. say
no more"
1t was not Mr.. Calthorpe's intention
that he should '-say no more;" and he
was aware that he had reached the point