Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-20
CHAPTER XIV.
MR.. QUESTS DISCOVERIES.

The morrow came, wild and stormy.
much too disagreeable for man welded
to his own comfort, rs Mr.. Killuth was,
To brave the weather. He had glimpses
through the blurred windows of the toss
ing. dull gray sea, of a yacht riding at
anchor in the cove, of draggled-looking
trees and rain-washed cottages, and an
occasional umbrella-covered pedestrian
splashing over the muddy road. He
had yawned over the yesterday papers,
had been bored by the conversational
landlord, and with the clock pointing
to the hour of two, was reduced to the
last resource of staring blankly into the
suffering wood fire which had been
lighted on the hearth as n relief from
staring out at the down-driving rain.
And this was the reward for his sacri-
tice, in tardily keeping his promise to
Launt.
cit wasn't necessary to come all this
distance to pay my respects to the
madame" thought he. "It was nv
interest in the young fellow himself
which brought me down. Much thanks
have for il, too. Five minutes call
and shake-hands last evening will ex-
cuse him from any such duty to-day,
though he must know 1 am shut in by
this confoundedly miserable rain in the
most utterly stupid hole it was ever my
fortune to drop into. He wouldn't run
the risk of being laid up by two week 5
rheumatism if he was to venture out.
l never went out of my way to do a
disinterested act yet that | did not re-
greet it, so it follows in the natural
course that / must regret this"
He got up to walk about the room,
and some moving object on the road
without caught his eye. 1t was a
carriage which drew up before the ho-
tel, the driver on the box presenting a
glistening surface of rubber coat and
cap, the horses stepping uneasily as if
unused TO Drawing such weather. and
Launt Harrington, holding an umbrella.
springing lightly TO the sidewalk, and
turning to assist some second person
from the vehicle. Mr.. Killuth had but
Hitting glimpse of the shrouded fiC-
ure, then both entered, and a moment
after Launts step could be heard on the
stairs, and he burst impetuouSly into
the room.
Down in the doldrums, Killuth:
i felt sure that YOU would be, SO have
not only come myself TO cheer YOU up.
but / have brought you visitor; one
who is treating you with more consid-
Grafton than YOU deserve Mt her hands.
She is waiting below, but with your per-
mission will bring herup. She wants
to speak few words with YOU in pri-
waite. and very important they must be
ff.h s-sr, I.,. Il, IL.
is it Madame Farrington?"
cit is Mrs. Oliphant. She heard me
say something about walking over, and
insisted upon having the carriage out
and coming along. Iwant TO bespeak
Your kindness, my friend, if her mission
has reference to me-"
He was sure that il must. Mr.. Oil.
plant and Madame Harrington had
been won to his side; the date of the
wedding was under discussion; il was
conceded that it should take place in
September. yet Launt felt that Mrs. Oil
plant was far from being reconciled.
cit isn't in nature for n man to love
his mother-in-law, | suppose, and rice
-rcrSd,' he said To himself. But nv
mOther-in-law-elect Outdoes her type. 9
Mr.. Killuth faced the door as il
opened. II was his first meeting with
his old friend daughter, face to face,
and he looked in vain for any resem-
blance TO the slip Of girl whom he
vaguely remembered as roSe-fair.
dark-eyed blonde. The dark eyes were
here, larger. darker, if that might be;
the glitter of the golden hair was the
same, yet time had not dealt lightly
with her. What struck upon him most
was the fixed, pale, wax-like color OF
the handsome face, almost the color OF
n corpse.
IL would have known YOU" she said,
giving him her hand. you have
changed so little. But / hardly think
you would recognize me-"
"What was it made Mr.. Killuth
shrink away from her touch? Horror,
amazement, incredulity, all were de-
picted upon his countenance.
You are-not Mrs. Oliphant-your -
81 am Mrs. Oliphant.
No change in the soft, low tone; no
change in the face turned steadily to his
regard.
"You are like many others who find
IL impossible to reconcile the woman
of to-day with the girl of eighteen OF
twenty years ago. dare say / am
sadly changed. have not come to
talk of that old time, Mr. Killuth, so far
as it concerns me, but to ask" She
hesitated. The great difficulty of her
task seemed to rise before her. over
whelmingly.
Down below Launt Harrington count
ed the minutes. They spun themselves
out TO an hours length before the door
of the upstairs parlOr opened, and Mrs.
Oliphant came out attended by Mr..
Killuth.
Il will send the carriage for you when
the rain stops" she was saving.
Launcelot, do you return with me?''
If you wish il, certainly"
He was burning with impotence to
know what had passed between them,
half-suspicious of some plot to leopard.
ize his happiness. He did not like the
look which Mr.. killuth wore. Nor did
Mrs. Oliphant, though no one would
have known il from her manner of part
ing with him. In the carriage, she
turned to Launt with n sudden bright
smile.
"Ihave carried you away with me, ~
she said. "but shall not keep YOU in
suspense. You have nothing to fear
from my interview with your friend. I
may rs well tell you that it was your
fathers story / went to ask of him.
knowing that 1t must be a painful sub
ject to Madame Harrington and your
self. knew one part of it as published
TO the world many years ago; pardon
my curiosity IL il led me to seek the rest
from Mr.. Killuth."
A shadow, inseparable from that topic.
went over Launt's face.
And it makes no difference with
your he asked.
What l learned to-day makes no diff
ference. The facts / knew before have
weighed against You, / must confess.
The sins of the parents are to be visited
upon the children, you know, unjust
though that may be. ;"
fro BE CONTINUED
An English girl has habit of imi-