The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-10-19

"There is letter here" she replied.
"For whom?"
"For Mr.. James HILL"
SLOW much to pay?n
Postage not stated" was the faint
reply.
They all laughed loudly and looked
at me, for that was my name. The
blood rushed in crimson floods to my
face. l got on to my feet somehow,
and with my heart torn between wild
desire to go into that hall and wish to
sink utterly away from human kind, 1
stumbled out of the room.
The door was closed Behind me and
found myself almost in darkness, as
the hall was but dimly lighted. |
paused moment and then heard the
faint sound of quick breathing: another
heart was beating as violently as my
own. For once in my life | knew what
10 do with my arms. caught hold of
her. / scarcely know how. The dark
ness gave me courage and I held her in
a close clasp. and pressed my lips to
her check in three or four rapid, half
frightened kisses, before she could free
herself from my embrace.
There, there Mr.. HILL" she said,
with faint, merry laugh, "don't be so
bashful again. I'm sure you are bold
enough now"
"Have l paid my POSTAGE 1 stam-
mered.
Indeed, yes; enough and to spare
Come, let us 60 back to the parlor.'
She led me in, willing prisoner, and
the rest of the evening was her bond
slave; her partner in all games, her
companion in the dance (wherein | ex-
celled the country boys, and gloried in
my accomplishment, and, at last,
browning delight of the evening, her es-
cort home.
This was all. The next day 1 returned
to my home in the city, aud Mabel
Byrne became only memory; strong
at first, fainter as time went on, but
sweet always. When saw other girls
1 compared them mentally with the
picture my Imagination painted of
Mabel, and they never seemed half so
fair and sweet as she.
But then | did not see many other
diminishing, seemed rather to increase
upon me as the years went by. l
avoided society, and was so much of a
recluse from ladies that my mother was
quite worried lest l should become a
confirmed old bachelor. Perhaps one
reason why l retained my diffidence
was that my pursuits were among books,
and not among people. l had made
the science of geology my study, and at
twenty-seven found myself in COM
Portable position as assistant professor
in one of our best colleges, the salary of
which. with my own income added,
making me so far at ease that l resolved
TO devote my summervacation to tour
in Europe.
Equipped with bag and hammer,
August found me making pedestrian
tour of Switzerland, with special view
to the study of its glacial system and
lithology. l avoided the well-traveled
ways. thus escaping the society of all
other tourists, and l was therefore ut
terly amazed when one evening, as l
drew near the little house which was
my temporary abiding place, n tall
form strobe toward me out of the dark
ness and hearty voice cried out.
'.Jim! Jim Hillr'
"What is it," L replied, with a half
nervous start.
''Ah! l thought it was my old friend.
Have you forgotten Tom Byrnep"
Of course not, for l had met him oc-
casionally since we were boys, and l
was heartily glad to see my former
comrade, always one OF the best of COM
panions.
Il saw your name on the book at the
inn," he exclaimed; '.was sure it must
be you. AT any rate thought would
start out to meet you"
"But how came you here?' 1 in
quired, Sin this out of the way corner
of the world?"
Because it is out of the way. Mabel
and l are making trip in search of the
p picturesque. You know she is quite an
art;str'
So Mabel was with him. NV heart
gave curious thump, and for a mo-
ment could hardly make sensible
reply.
''Yes he went on; ''she is so devoted
to her art that it seems TO quite absorb
her life. She has not thought of mar
rage, and does not care in the least for
the ordinary run of society. She will
be glad to see you, though" he added.
consolingly, ''as you are man of
science"
We walked back together to the little
inn, and presently was shaking hands
with a beautiful and stately woman.
whose bright, dark eyes flashed with the
strange intensity and fire that 1 had
never seen in any other eyes hut those