The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-03-09

remarkably clever. and she is devoted
.Av, am sure of that. No father
ever had more loving child. 1t is be-
cause I prize her so much that / dread
everything which might cause her the
least unhappiness.
"You say that as sadly as if you knew
of something which was likely to do it.
Is there any thing?"
Two figures crossed the lawn, and as
his ewes rested upon them the Colonel
smiled. Then he rose and went to the
window. to get another glimpse OF his
daughter and Maurice.
II told you she is not WELL" he said,
turning to his friend, land to-day L
have become satisfied that it is hot mere
fancy on my part. have watched her
closely during the last two years. and
although she has shown herself most
eager to do everything that would make
me happy, and has appeared to be hap
py and contented herself. there have
been times when the idea has been
for ed upon me that there is something
on her mind about which she will not
speak to me-"
"Have YOU told her SOP"
mot yet" he replied. as if speak
ing to himself, while he owly paced
the for. head bowed and hands clasped
| behind him. "What occurred to me is
this: that in striving to do what l be-
lieve to be best for her. have done her
an injury in making the change in her
lire so sudden and complete
1.-The change was necessary, and you
have not deprived her of any friends.
mo, have not deprived her OF her
friends, but l have separated her from
them"
"But only for time, and she knows
/ that you would not put any needless re-
strictiop upon her seeing them"
"Yes, any of the friends | know; hut
there may be somebody about whom l
know nothing vet. and whose introduce
| ton she may lear would not be pleas
| inc to me- Do you understand"
Mr. Calthorpe did understand, and
was startled into new tran of retiec-
ton. Deeply as he had considered the
probabilities of the young heireSs being
speedily captured by some knight OF
more daring heart than his son, it had
never be ore occurred to him that she
might be already captive. Now that
the idea was suggested, it appeared to
him only toonrobable: itwould account,
as nothing else in her early training
would, for the ease with which she bore
and repealed the assaults OF many wooers,
"What has made You think of this?h
"Her vehemencc in assuring ME to-
day that she would never marry; her
strange fits of depression. followed by
wild moods of excitement, such rs she
was in this evenn NO. You thought her
mirth was the natural result or good
health and easy mind. To me it was
all forced-so plainly forced that lam
surprised you did not observe it."
=" thought we formed a very pleas
ant family party, and was delighted
with her humorous way of challenging
Maurice to dare the evening dews by
accompanying her to the bungalow in
search of something she had left there.
| can not imagine what reason she
could have for attempting to deceive
you regarding her state OF health or
mind"
because you do not feel rs l do
what YOU said yourself Just now-that
she is devoted 10 me. She is SO glad to be
with me, she thinks that have done so
much for her, and that there he's been
so much sorrow in my life already, that
she must sacrifice every inclination OF
her own if it should cause me the least
uneasiness. Poor child. it was her
mothers way, md unfortunately l did
not understand it Until too Late
..But you NAV be mistaken" sug
gestcd Mr.. Calthorpe, feebly, for he
could not find much assurance in the
suggestion himself.
.sPo: sibly-I hope so; but am dis
turbed by old memories. Every look
and every laugh or smile makes me
t ink of her mother on the last day we
were together. She was ike what
Mabel was tonight. perfectly free from
care apparently. was blindly happy,
and had no suspicion that she was max
ing it a merry day because it was to e
our last enc together. So it pro- ed;
but if she had lived! Well, there is no
use specializing upon what might have
been, except when it helps US to direct
what may be-"
..If it should happen that yoir sur
mise is correct, and that Mabel has
lover of whom she thinks you would
not approve, what will you do?"
MI Sdltuoip pc put INC tuoS IOu Cdu-
tiously; but notwithstanding his own
sel6sh interest in the answer, there was
a kindly element OF interest on his
friends account also.
Try to find out what the man was,
and, if he were an honest fellow. give
her to him with my blessing
.'What! without consideration as to
his acknowledgements"
Without considering anything be-
yond the question whether or not he
would make her happy"
"But, my dear Cuthbert, thiswould not
be lust even to her. She does not"
''There' interrupted the Colonel,
smiling at his friend leok OF astonish-
ment and alarm: 81 know all the wise
counsel you would give me. and thank
you for it the more heartily that it is
still unspoken. l shall use all neces-
sarv prudence to secure my obie"t-that
is, shall be careful that she does not
fall into the hands OF a scamp. But
must not forget that before my retGrn !
which may be more tender even than
those which bind her to me. l own 4
weak sense OF regret in thinking that it
can be so. but must teach myself to
think of it Is one OF The unag oidable re- !
suits of the unfortunate events which I
kept us SO long apart. and to become |
res gned to it. / should like to hold the ,
first place in her heart, but that is i'm
possible
Still, her duty to you will enable her
to feel that whatever you decide is for
her benefit"
Il shall accept nothing from her
sense of duty" This was said very
quietly. hut very firmly. The man