The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-01-12
CHATTER XVIII

nome the evening tcT tuc idNOIdUit
change In Viola's condition. and tossed
a letter 70 Ralph on the table, lit
tie contemptuously. He wasn't inter-
ested in the slow-going mails-in fact,
lightning had failed as vet to satisfy
him.
Ralph took up the letter and opened
it; it was from his mother. of course.
But no. He glanced at the bottom and
saw ..Victor Montford.v in Just the
clear. delicately bold hand he should
have expected from him. He ran it
over quickly, his face Frightening to a
pleasant glow as he read. II always
knew he was splendid fellow" he
said, sort of admiring eSultation in his
tone. But he folded the letter and put it
IN his pocket; she must not hear it that
night; il would keep, it was good
enough
The next morning Viola looked so
much brighter, and the doctor spoke so
favorably - and besides he was SO
anxious to have her khow-that he took
the letter and came and sat down by
her. and said. smirngly, and with an
attempt at lightness:
. am very proud of our relations.
the Montfords, dear Vic. I've a letter
here from our cousin Victor-cousin in
a double sense, or will be soon. fancy
but You shall hear it. He wanted L
should read it to you; shall 1 do SO
I1owm
Yes she said. family, the least
tinge of pink coming into her cheeks.
And so he unfolded and read:
| CAPTAIN RALPH ANDERSON: ......t e.
MY Very Dear Fr end :-sYo father has
Iust called on me and told me the story which.
more than anything else regret about it-and
there is enough Ia regret sureiy-is, that
had not known it all i two months ago How
saved my poor wronged cousin ii had only
known it, But this Is no time for regrets.
1 have searched the MontfnId papers and
records faithfully, and have found some let
ters-corresponfence between my father and
Alfred Devries-and all confirm me, especially
the latter. in the belle that Viola is right and
our family are only usIIrpers. L ask but one
thins;-the frail comfort of hoping and believ
ing that his weakness, rather than his wicked
ness. lay at the foundation of this wrong. ask
this because he Is dead-and because, what
ever he may have been, | cannot forget that
he was my rather. that loved him. That he
was q tool in the hands of Devries. ] have
long seen. but never dreamed there was
crime under IL all.
"DeVries is absent just now. He went to
Gafesburg the night after my fathers funeral.
| shall tell him all the moment he returns. and
think he will need no bidding to leave the
country. The Montford properly shall BE- set
tied satisfactorily TO my cousin, for find in a
letter written by DeNTies eleven years ago
two years before we left England-a reference
to Harry's wife and child and the trouble he
had been to, to impress IL upon h r that the
marriage was all a sham l have. therefore,
no doubt that she il the legitimate heir of Harry
Moutford-and even If she wera not, but was
still his child, should saw the same-and a.
such am ready to do all in my power To rein
state her in her rights. Do MT think your
inRiy or unwillingly: my great sorrow and re-
greet is that cannot blot out and atone for the
unhappy past. need not tell non, certainly,
to be very tender and careful of her, and to
use every means to bring her back to health.
and am sure to happiness. should come to
her at once if it was possible for me to leave
home at this time.
VERY sincerely your friend,
VICTOR MONTFoRD.
"P ST. saw your cousin Blanche last night,
dear Ralph. She is q noble girl. She says the
loss Of property MAKES no difference TO her;
and she is going to be my wife in the spring,
Heaven willing Need / say that 4 am hap
pier now, as poor man, than was before
with all my prospective wealth when 1
thought?-ah, well, you know.
yours. V NJ
If, in their secret hearts, either Ralph
or Viola differed with Victor Montford
in his estimate of Blanche, they did not
say so; they were both too pleased with
the denouement.
81 don't care anything about the
Montford property, now" Viola said.
blushing family. ''not-not unless you
do. dear Ralph" !
ZIP You don't think I'd take it from
him. if did want it, hopei I've got
all the Montford property 1 ask for,
here" STOPPING over and kissing the
faintlv-fiushed cheek and the pretty.
tremulous lips, and the dropping lids
that yelled the happy eyes.
You see, this hero of mine was young
and in love, which accounts for con-
tempt of property" If he lives as
long as YOU. dear sensible reader-al-
ways supposing one OF that class reads
this story at all-he will doubtless
learn better, and have a due admira-
ton for ..solid'' charms. -..HF|
Into this charming little scene the
voice of Captain Dick Waite dropped
like clumsy bumblebee into plate
of rose leaves. Fortunately he was out
of eye-shot.
Anderson! Anderson! Come here,
man, the voice was quick and impa-
tient. much as if he was ordering a man
to the masthead.
Ralph obeyed very promptly, and
found the Captain in close. excited con-
versation with a tall dark-haired and
dark-bearded mana very handsome
man. who seemed, in his way, to be as
much excited as he. The stranger
turned his face full toward him as he
came into the room, and he knew in
stantly who he was-the pure olive
skin. the loose-curling. jetty hair. the
great, bewildering, luminous eyes, each
and all were but the counterpart of
hers. and so Captain Waite's informa-
ton was no information at all when he
said:
This is Mr.. Harry Montford. An
derson; Harry Albertson Montford. by
George, knew I'd get him if he was
on the foot-stool. 1t was the merest
chance though after all-confound the
telegraph. it's all n stupendous hum
bug If hadn't been TO the depot and
in the ears, l shouldn't ha' had him
now"
Captain Waite has been telling me
a strange story, SIR" taking Ralph's
hand, cordially. II hardly dare yet to
believe in the great happiness dropped
so suddenly into my life. You think
there is no doubt about it, young sir?''
The voice was rich and fun, with q lit
tie undertone of tremulous eagerness
pulsing through it.
Il saoU that there is no doubt about
it" Ralph replied.
Afterward, an hour, perhaps, and
after a great deal of scientific beating
about the bush by little, sweet-yoiced
Minna Waite, to whom was delegated
the task of making the revelation to
Viola, Mr.. Montford was admitted to
his daughters presence. with a great