The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-07-25
HIS STORY.

l have been in at the death of many a
fox. shot many an innocent bird and
beast as a young man, and have said
many cruel words in my time, but l
never felt such barbarian before that
day. Aud yet it was not my fault. l
was obliged to do il. Truth and honor
demanded it. .tn ...
Poor little Marion Morley! | had
often noticed her sad face, and longed
to be of use to her, and had even tr ed
to make her think would befriend her
if she needed it. had often preached
at her the hard lesson, in whatsoever
state she was, Herewith to be content.
But had never dreamed of love, had
never tried to win her affection. As |
told her, marriage lay very far in the
dim future with me. as far, in fact, as
the living that hoped would ultimately
fall to my lot. 1t never crossed nv
widest fancy that she'would have taken
more than a friendly interest in me:
therefore my utter astonishment can be
imagined when received her poor lit
tie innocent letter promising to be the
wife ! had not desired. How hard II
was to tell her that had never penned
the letter she had received!
returned home humbled and grieyed
-srieved to have wounded her sensi
tive feelings, grieSed that she shoulc
have given her love unsought.
prayed that night that she might forge
me. felt very guilty: and yet coult
find nothing of which to &C use myself
Nv chief feeling, however. was indig
nation against the person, whoever III
| or she might be, whose wicked lest hac
caused ali this. l had my suspicious
Caroline Thomson was never favorit,
of mine. thought her forward, sly
girl. precocious and assuming; and
| imagined her quite capable of playing
such trick.
One day met Miss Thomson walk
ing IN the village and joined her. Pur
posely l led the conversation round Il
practical jokes. -
Il do not know anything more COW
ardly than to play practical joke"
said, ION a person whom circumstance
place to a certain extent in one power
A practical joke of any magnitude j
insulting. cruel. stupid, and disgrace
to one person only-the perpetrator.
The girl S face got very red, and sh
Uttered nervously. .. .-..f
'.Have you ever played such
ioke?n went on. Il am pretty sur
YOU have, and on Miss Morley; hav
you mott" l demanded, sternly.
"What do you mean" she STAN
mered.
"please answerme straightforwardly
Miss Thomson, / said, .'oi must. a
your clergyman, apply to your mother
You will know what l mean if you
. conscience accuses YOU. Did you nc
lately play practical joke on Mis-
Morley?' ,- .-..
The girl burst into tears and grad
ually told me all-how she and Am
| had written the letter in fun. and neve
meant any harm, how. when she imag
ined Miss Morley had answered it, sh
was too frightened to confess, how SD
, was very sorry, end so on.
, You have done. an unmaidenly
, cruel action" said; IAN action which
but for Miss Morley's good sense an
, ladylike mind, might have caused gres
mischief. hope this will be lesso
{ to YOU, and that in the future yo
will be more considerate for other
r feelings"
( Inow hoped that all trouble risin
, from the unfortunate letter would
ended; but it grieved me to see no
: Miss Morley dropped. She seemed a
most afraid to look at me, though
t strove hard to put her at her ease.
4 Several months passed by, and
E found myself taking more and more il
i terest in her, though we rarely e.
changed words now. One day W:
much concerned to hear from Mir
Thomson that she was leaving them.
: ..Miss Morley leavingr l exelaime
v s.You surprise me. Why is she going:
81 cannot discover" said MI
e Thompson. ''She has no complaints
v make. have always been kind to nc
but shs says she must 60; and she do