The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-03-02
CHAPTER vn.-CoSrrsrrrn.


In Honor Bound" "For the King"
Queen Of the Meadow" Etc.
CHAPTER vIL-CoNrrNUEp.
"a dangerous rival for Maurice
Mr.. Calthorpe reflected as he observed
them; and she is gracious to him. r
tainly. A smart-looking fellow, too
not much in him, but fortunate in hi,
tailor. That's something-tailors anC
-dress-makers have more to do with love
than they get credit for. She seems ts
be in particularly good humor tonight
She does not miss MIN. What an lido,
he is not to be herer'
With all his fears that his fine-laid
schemes might turn away, he was obliged
to own that Miss Culhbert appeared
to be only as happy as girl OF her years
ought to be under the circumstances,
and that there was no reason why there
should be any shade cast upon her by
the absence of one who, if he We're q
lover at all, was so lukewarm as to stay
away on such an occasion; still, the old
man hopes, which had been so high
that morning, were set down many pegs
that night. He, however. possessed
that inestimahle blessing-perfect con-
fidence in himself; it had carried him
through so MANY crises. that the proba-
bilities were in favor of its CARRYING him
through this one. which he regarded as
the greatest of them all. He slept well,
and it is marvellous how pale the gloom
lest shadows appear after good sleep.
He made an excellent breakfast, and
was glancing over the Times. meditat-
ing at intervals as to the most effective
mole of quickening Maurice in his love-
making. when that gentleman himself
appeared. .-... .......
why did you not come last night?"
he inquired, casually, as if he laid no
Particular stress on the circumstance.
on missed pleasant evening. and
disappointed Cuthbert"
He II not be sorry when he learns
that it was his business which detained
me in town. We have settled that Chan
Gerry suit; his cousin withdraws. so the
case is closed on the terms proposed by
the Colonel"
MIR. Calthorpe was happy again; fort
une was on his side still.
1T really was business, then? That
will be cap tai news for Cuthbert. for
know he had s;ecial dread of that
acton, as it would have uncovered so
many old scars. He missed YOU last
night. but / suppose you would rather
his daughter hal done sou
''She was doubtless better occupied
than in thinking about me-"
''She was; and, if l am not mistaken.
You will soon have no particular place
IN her thoughts at all ,"
Il suppose you mean that she is likely
to become engaged" said Maurice,
thoughtfully.
"A girl like her is sure to have
many oppol tunities of becoming So
Are You quite indifferent on that
scorer
Maurice was silent for moment, and
although the father scanned his face
eagerly, he was unable to discover any
signs OF anxiety.
mot Indifferent, sir; but / shall
answer you more satisfactorily when l
return from HoIlyford. | am going
there at once, to give the Colonel par
ticulars of yesterdays proceedings.
and | shall of course see Miss Cuth-
bert"
Glad to hear that; don't let me de-
tain you. / had no idea that YOU
were so much interested in the mat
ter. You will ind Cuthbert is YOUR
friend"
Mir. Calthorpe was much more eager
to hasten the departure of Maurice than
the latter was to 90. To the father
this visit meant the decision of a
question of vital importance to them
all; the son knew that in any case the
decision could not be satisfactory one
The glorious sunshine was not in
keeping with the curiouslv disturbed
state or the man. mind as he rode to-
ward Hollyford. He wished to put the
nature of his relationship to Mabel Cuth-
bert to the test, and yet he shrank
from it
The Colonel was at home. and if
Maurice had been stranger he would
have been surprised or amused. or both,
when the servant informed him that he
was to conduct him to 1.-THE wilder
ness. But he knew that this was the
favorite retreat OF the Colonel and his
daughter, and proceeded thither unat-
tended. Passing through what was a
falr representation on a small scale of a
jungle. he entered a green glade, at
one end of which, TO gratify his
daughter, Colonel Cuthbert had ere ted
a duplicate of the bungalow he had oc-
cupied IN India with all the accessories
of punkahs, lounges and hammocks. I
The bungalow stood on green terrace.
and in the semi-circle of shrubbery and
trees which it commanded, spa es had
been cut affording glimpses of varying
landscapes. This was what Miss Cuth- /
bert called her picture gallery, and in
all weathers she was fond of ENJOYING
its beauties, either alone or in the com.
pany of her father. Besides the natural 1
pictures thus always before her, she had /
a large palm house full of tropical
plants, to aid her imagination in realiz-
ing what her fathers home in India had
been like.
Maurice passed out of the shadow of
the jungle into the sunlight, which fell
full upon the bungalow and the green
terrace. As he approached, the
Colonel was assisting Mabel out of a
hammock in which she had been rest
insg. and as he assembled the slope she
was standing on the terrace, holding
out her hand. In, the light her fair
hair shone' like gold. and Something in
she lace dazzled Maurice's eyes, as if