The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-29

Every well. sir; how soon shall I
leaveP"
"You have fifteen minutes to catch
it,"
So in fifteen minutes Tom was at the
Erie depot. He obeyed the order as he
would any other order from Mr.. SEQ. :,
but it did not much please him. He
had half an engagement with very
pretty girl for Thomas's Gardens that
night, and he liked strawberries and
roses with city Accomplishments better
than in their native simplicity.
He was in a severely gentlemanly
temper when he stood on the platform
of the lite Jersey depot. There was
the usual gathering of buggies and light
wagons, and he looked round for Mr..
SCOTS; which that gentleman had de-
scribed to him as ga nice little turnout
with pretty team of grays."
The only vehicle answering to this
description was driven by lady-a
very lovely lady, indeed, who peered
among the crowd with a wistful,
anxious face. Tom took heart of grace,
and with his very best bow and smile,
made some inquiry or remark, the only
Ineligible words of which were, "Mr.
Scott"
"Yes, SIR" said the lady, blushing,
and handling the reins rather unneces-
sarily, 81 came to meet papa, and you
say he is not coming. And you have
letter. Will you allow me to drive you
to the house?"
Tom was obliged to allow himself to
be driven. He knew nothing about
horses, and he was exceedingly morti-
fled at his ignorance. But even igno-
rance has compensations. His perfect
idleness gave him leisure to watch
his drivers pretty motions; to note all
the changes of her face, and all the
coaxing intonations with which she flat
tered and encouraged the "pretty team
of grays." He had literally fallen in
love without being at all aware of the
plunge he had taken; for the sensation
was so charming it was hardly likely he
would pause to analyze the feeling.
Mrs. Scott was quite aware of Mr..
Kilroy's antecedents and position, but
women never weigh very handsome men
in the same exact balances as they do
ugly ones. There was very charming
tea, during which Tom got as far in
Mrs. SCOTS favor as he had got with
Mr.. Scott in four years. So far, indeed
that when she retired to the library to
answer her husbands letter, she left
Mr.. Kilroy to be entertained by her
daughter Alice.
Did she remember what dangerous
entertainment wandering through the
scented shrubs in the twilight garden
was? When Alice's fingers touched
Toms among the strawberry vines, did
she calculate the result? Or had she nc
fear of the bewitching summer moon
that saw these two sitting in sweetest
silence beneath the dropping honey
suckles on the piazza?
Perhaps her letter had given her other
material for anxiety. She did not seem
to think of Tom and Alice, and Tom
was glad of it. He wished this night
could last forever. He went back to
town in kind of intoxication. Alice
gave him jasmine spray at parting;
and this young Romeo of the counting
house was Just as foolish about flower
as any lover, either before or since the
flood, has ever been.
He had no plan about Alice, but his
stars planned for him. Mr.. Scott went
to Liverpool by the next steamer, and
for six weeks, on every Saturday after
noon. Mr.. Kilroy went out to Mrs.
SCOTS with a certain sum of money
from the firm, and often certain COM
missions in books and dry goods with
which the firm had no particular con-
Germ. In these six weeks love grew,
both on Toms and Alice's part, to per-
feet stature.
But this delicious dream of youth had
here rapid awakening. In six weeks
Mr.. Scott returned, and the pleasant
necessity for Toms weekly visits ceased.
Mr.. Scott never alluded to them, and it
rather nettled the handsome lover that
his prospective mother-in-law seemed to
have completely forgotten them. There
was, however, some consolation in
Alice's letters, and in her assurances of
unalterable affection, and for short
time these satisfied him.
But at length, after a somewhat in
jured reflection on the matter, he re-
solved to speak to Mr.. Scott. Youth. in
its strength and beauty and boundless
hope, is so apt to consider all things as
its own that some excuse may be made
for the slight tone of self-assertion in
which Tom vetured one evening on his
confession.
Mr.. Scott heard it with perfect gray
ity and politeness. '.You have, of
course, done my daughter the greatest
honor any man is capable of, Mr.. Kill
roy" he said, suavely. as he turned the
paper-cutter over and over on his desk.
MAY ask if you still reside with your
parentS?"
Yes, sir, / do" answered Tom,
feeling momentary flush of shame as
he thought of the plain little two-story
house in downtown street.
"And where or how do you propose
to live when you are married?"
Tom frankly confessed that he had
not thought of that subject; but he evil
cottages.
Mr.. Scott rose with the air of man
finishing discussion. ::Mr. Kilroy, L
am obliged to you for your honesty. 1
will be equally plain with you. Bust
ness affairs have not gone well with me
lately. have been thinking all day of
retrenchment; you and Frank Maybin
will either have to leave your desks or
retain them at very much reduced sala-
ries. am sure you love Alice too we'll
to subject her to poverty. tits true, l
have always intended to give her for
tune, but then no man of honor would
ask her hand. under such circumstances,
unless he was able to count at least dol
lar for dollar with her. Your business
talents are exceptionally good; expect
to see you worth a million, but when
you are worth fifty thousand of it will
chaerfnlly consider ynIr nronOSal W