The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-07-13

brought up by Launt as he drove witt
his relative from the village station.
81 have been made to wait interim
nably, and now it all depends upon :
word from you. Do give it soon
mother mine," he pleaded.
There were decisive lines in Madame
Farrington's old, withered face, anl
they did not soften, though she smiled
back upon him fondly. He was tn,
idol of her heart; he filed to her thu
place of the son she had lost; but mad
ame's rancor was aroused against these
ELEPHANTS, who did not know good
thing when they hadit. 1t offended hel
to think that they had hesitated at all
"You have waited SO long that yor
must have patience to wait a little
longer" she said. s'I shall not deliver
hasty judgment upon the pretty face
which has taken you captive, Launt.
shall know her better in weeks time
than you know her, be very sure, and in
a week You shall have my answer"
The stately old lady, however, took
Dana into her arms and kissed her quite
tenderly. There were faults in her past
which she did not care to repeat. Il
Launt loved this girl and she were
worthy of him, he should marry her
failing to yield that much to her own
SON had brought upon her all the woes
of her life.
Yet when Eaunt presented himself
before her for his answer, when the
week had passed, granite itself was nc
ordoy- thar MoJo MO To ,,-; mr.
lyon await my consent, you say?
Well, my consent can never be given.
We will see now how far your duty will
carry you. 1 demand that you give the
girl up, that you put her out of your
thoughts and your life together"
Launt was simply dumbfounded. He
had not expected this; she had seemed,
during that week, won completely over
to his cause; but there was unmistaka-
BILE fire flashing in the keen old eyes,
unmistakable passion quivering in her
voice. He had been absent all that
day, he had come to her Immediately
upon his return, and he felt intuitively
that something had occurred in that in
terval to prejudice her against his suit.
Somebody has been telling you the
story of her adoption" he said. 1T
was Miss Alicia Power, of course, since
it is evident that the worst side of the
matter has been given you, and you
have taken her insinuations as gospel
truth"
at was the girl herself. She knew,
it appears, that you held it as Sc
cret too sacred TO impart to me. VIVA.
Miss Alicia had to say only goes to show
how perfectly preposterous is the story
she tells"
"Miss Alicia be hangedr' cried Launt,
wrathfully. LAS if l have not borne
without having her to mix in
the muddle-a painted, made-up Great
ure, as deceitful within as she is false
"You are hard on Miss Power" said
Harrington. dryly. "How, then,
DO you justify Mrs. Oliphant in dyeing
her hair?"
Launt opened his eyes. This seemed
10 him leap to the ludicrous. 1t struck
upon his humorous sensibilities and he
burst out laughing
''Has it really come to that? And is
hat the mole-hill out of which you have
made a mountain? beg your pardon,
,ut if Mrs. Oliphant dyes she does it so
that 1 have never suspected
he fact" z..#as--z-=
1T is no laughing NATTER" said Mad
lme harrington, gravely. 1.-The wom-
ms hair is snow-white-much whittier
han mine"
"You have Miss Powers word for it?"
,sked Launt, incredulously.
81 have, but she mentioned it before
Dana, who tried to make some excuse.
Mammals one weakness is her lovely
lair.' she said, and she is so young to
wear such a silvery crown. l don't
know how you ever found it out,
Cousin Alicia. Nobody ever suspected
t before.
s.And what of it," asked Launt, with
growing Impotence. ..What possible
bearing can that fact have upon the
subject of my marriage? You don't
expect me to give up Dana because her
mother uses little art in keeping her
youthful looks?' And Launt laughed
again at the tremendous absurdity of
such supposition.
Madame Farrington's gravity re-
NAMED unaltered.
Rather, because of the secret which
has produced such an effect. -
81 think, Launcelot ''-Launt braced
it was a sign of something
coming when his grand
mother addressed him as Launcelot-
l think, infatuated as you are, you
AN hardly have failed to see that some
leep and dark mystery attaches to Mrs.
)liphant. No woman ever bore the
igns of an unquiet conscience more
plainly than she does. 1t is evident to
ne that she has some mental strain
lpon her which is fast breaking her
town."
"She is in ill-health."
81 should say she was in agonies of
ear or remorse, or both. You can see
when her eyes are fiXedupOn her hus-
,and or Dana, when she believes her
elf unobserved. You would think she
vas taking the last look she could have
# them upon earth"
"Mrs. Oliphant is the tenderest of
the most devoted of wives"
1.-The tenderest of mothers, - Madame
harrington repeated, meaningly. .'Well,
he may be that. Launt, does nothing
ell you what this secret of hers must
'e? The resemblance they bear each
ther, the utter improbability that so
Dung bride would adopt an unknown
hild-can you not see that they are
eally mother and daughter? No, do
lot grow angry; hear me out. am
oming to Miss Alicia's part of the
tory. She attended her cousin we'd
ing, and she tells me that she was
ware then that Miss Sangerferd had
ONE inexplicable interest in an infant
fhich was lodged in a cottage near her
ather'S home She discovered that she