The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-08-24

distressing yourself without the slight
est cause. l did try the experiment of
some of those follies, but gambling,
wine or women have no charm for me-
1 think 1 could go through a fiery fur
mace of that sort without the slightest
injury to my morals. In fact, / am sc
thoroughly weary of the course you
deprecate, that Ihaye made up my mind
to an entire change"
You will come back 10 me, Launt?''
81 shall Join an expedition which is
fitting up now for the Polar seas.
There was heart-broken cry, a Sob
bling wall of loss and pain.
ssAs if l had not had trouble enough
in my life. Oh. Launt. oh, my boy!
have you no mercy on me?'
The look on Launt;s face told her
more plainly than words that remon-
STRANGE was useless.
She rose to go. Some of her COM
posture had returned Whatever Nine.
harrington might feel, she had learned
well the lesson of stern self-control.
Her eyes fell upon the note which had
escaped from her thoughts.
AT least" she said, promise me
that you will not 90 to that woman's
house. No good can come of it, and it
is small concession for you TO make
now. Refuse Nine. Florine's invitation
to please me, Launt."
my dear mother, | would do SO
willingly. but have already promised
promised SO faithfully that shall not
break nv word"
What was it, misgiving. dread, that
looked at him out of Nine. Harrington 5
ewes? She seemed for a moment rs il
she would urge her entreaty, but sighed
and turned away without another word.
Plenty of light, plenty of color, in
Madame Florine's handsome rooms.
Madame herself was petite. and blonde
of the blondest type; great turquoise
blue eyes looked at you out of the be-
rouged and enameled face. an abundant
roll of the softest flaXcn hair crowned
the small head. She wore black satin,
a bow of the same i'm the mass of pale
hair. and she looked at least ten years
younger than her actual age. "A
WORKOUT actress" Madame Earring ton
had called her, but Madame Florine
was popular yet. The cleverest men.
writers, artists and others, the hand
soonest actresses i'm the city, were always
to be found at these pleasant, after
theater reunions of hers.
Launt arrived late. barely in time to
offer his arm and lead madame to the
table. glittering with silver and crystal,
adorned with rarest flowers. bearing
pyramids of the costliest fruit, with a
golden flood of light streaming down
from great chandelier. with an array
of wit and talent and beauty assembled
ut the board; but the grace of the occa-
sion was quite thrown away upon him.
He was a favorite with Madame Florine
for some inexplicable reason-it was
through no effort on his part-and.
though he sat like marble guest"
scarcely speaking at all. eating as little,
and that little as unappreciatively as
as if the dainty viands were like ashes
to his taste, she gave him her brightest
smiles and most frequent chances.
Madame had conquered scores or hearts,
turned scores of heads; had young men,
clever men-men of wealth and posi-
ton on the list of her admirers to this
very day; but if she had any thought OF
conquering Launt she must have given
it up long ago. Through the glitter OF
lights, the perfume of flowers, the
laughter and talk going on all about
him, came the vision of pale. haunt
ing face which followed him forever.
sleeping or waking, whether alone OF
in a crowd.
He had tried to forget her. He had
plunged into this gay. enticing, envied-
by-many experience, and found in if
nothing but -weariness most
complete.
"Mon ami. what is this l hear? What
wild scheme is leading YOU to make 3
vOtive offering of yourself? Surely.
science has enough devotees without
you. There are plenty of men who
leave every hope behind them to &C
on those dreadful missions. Are you
irrevocably bent upon that act of mad
ness. my friend?"
81 am decided
"And he saws it rs if fate itself
couldn't shake him hairs breadth, :"
exclaimed madame, smiling her bright
est into Launt's gloomy face. "And
yet would lay him wager that he
does not 90. Will you take me up. my
Launcelot? Ofser me that new bracelet
l want against anything you choose tC
name that you do not change your mind
before morning.
81 am not a betting man, madame"
They had returned to the drawing
room. Madame had kept Launt at hel
side while she disposed of her guests
for their mutual entertainment and
pleasure. Some one was singing; the
rest were talking, or walking or playing
cards. All were flirting. rs a matter OF
course. That was Il characteristic Of
the society in which Madame Florine
delighted. If she found amusement in
cornering the malapropos young man,
who had the exceedingly bad taste &c
carry his broken heart in full view, no
body there was disposed to find fault
with her. In general she was only toe
formidable a rival for even the youngest
and brightest.
"You will not 90, mon ami" she re.
peated, looking up at him with her sac
charine smile. mo, not though YOU
are this moment the most hopeless and
man upon earth. Or if you
do, it will not be because Mignon Al
mont did you such a deadly wrong that
it builds up an impossible barrier be-
tween YOU and her daughter"
Launt started irrepressibly. A dark
flush, an indignant CLEAN, shot athwari
his face.
keep your temper, my Launcelot:
don't be angry with a poor little woman
who is only anxious to do you a good
turn. One wouldn't suppose would
be anxious eithe--one who knew. 1t
does not surprise you that | know your
little romance, that charming summer
idvl with its miserable ending. Every