The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-04-11
THE DAY OF THE MONTH.

HE DAI We HE IuONlhs
Mr.. marlborough had not been al
ways old. it may be needless to say, al
though, to look at him, it would seem
widest folly to imagine he could ever
have been young. 1t was inn
po ssible, indeed, TO conjure up the
bloom of youth and the flush of rapid
blood in that corrugated ivory of his
face, or the fame of hope and spirit in
the sunken eye that glittered now only
like star in well. How should one
picture dark lock falling once across
that brow VIII CHI now extended to the
back of his neck over the top of a head
as smooth as billiard all? Could one
see, either, in that cavity beneath the
nose, VIII Oh fallen muscles had pulled
from shapeliness, mouth that might
ever have warmed to kisses? And
what con auering manliness was there in
the bent ana sbriveled form that only
tottered along by canes help? No;
MIR. marlborough was old; and it was
simply absurd-at least SO Rose thought
that he should so far forget hims If as
to be indignant that Rose should evince
an inclination to leave him Tor the sake
OF the handsome young Englishman,
whose only occupation was some sort of
indefinite attachment to legation with
the diplomatic sanct!ty about it. Yes,
Mr.. marlborough was old; but, as
Rose found out too late, there was some
portion o. his nature st II that had all
the fire and strength of youth in it.
Years and years ago, however, in that
mythical me when Mr.. marlborough
was young, ne had himself expected 10
marry another Rose than this. He was
a man of deep emotions and hearty eX-
preston; where he loved. he loved for
ever, except in the instance of the two
women who betrayed him; where he
hated, he never forgave. And this love
had grown into h being from boyhood
he could not definitely recall a period
when it had MT been the measure of
his horizon: he had not hope or
thought in VIII ch it was not present: he
never went to bed at ght without I'M
co ng across b lips that long curl of
her hair his hose had given him; his
first glance in the morning was at her
picture; his unwavering thought was of
the future where she was to reign, queen
of h mouse and heart and hand. He
worked beyond other mems hours, by
day, to lay by money for that home; he
slept at night only to dream of it; and
he held h s I. oSe in his thoughts and in
h dreams as reverently as saint is
held in a shrine.
You can Judge what wreck came
over him, tn n, on the m rning that he
woke to discover that this Rose of his
had taken herself off with young ad-
venturer who had ealipsed him in her
tickle fancy. He was like world
without center. crystal without
polarity. He felt himself dissipated
teyond recovery. There was nothing
to live for; there was No possibility OF
life, indie d. Neither home, happiness,
hope. nor health was OF any conse-
quenee; for him such things were
non-eX stent. He was like water poured
out upon the ground.
Years had passed before he had any
other than AZ automatic condi! o.. He
already felt himsel. an old man. He
had no object, no wishes. no place in
life. But the business was SIT Their.
proSpered itself, went along by It's own
momentum. and he was bee aming rich
without caring if he were poor. Money
is like the bali the boy rolls along in the
damp snow; it gathers mo and more
to itself, and becomes a thing OF size
almost W thout effort. One day Mr..
marlborough founi himself mil
lionaire But he had nothing else to
do. and he kept on adj Ing other mill
lions to the first, and life seemed a
WEAKNESS only when he was not alb.
sorbed in the WORK.
Che night. staying later in the coun-
ting-r ON than usual. as he wended
h 5 way homeward, he stumbled over
a child crying on me steps; he had
thought it WAS a cat. He bent, more
in c. r.oS t. than pity, for his heart had
hardened, and asked the child hel
name, She looked up in his face, hel
own streaming with her tears, and an,
swerej. "9oSe"
MIR. marlborough could not have
told YOU whether he had received 8
blow or a caress. Her namei Co Sc.
quently, by one Of the wild intutions
of inconsequence her child. Nothing
was more improbable. hose might be
in the antipodes for all he knew, and
her chill should be almos woman hy
this. Well. if MOI the elder. n the
yourger child; that. in his mind. he in
sisted on. hose had come TO grief, t.
the erie she deserved, with the wretcf
who had beguiled her facile love- Bu
this cnild-it mi hit have been h 8 own
wv II you come witt me-" he said
And the h Id looked up in his 1act
where the lamp-light fell. anu her OWL
broke MO smiles, and she rose ant
slipped her Lit lie hand in his, and ht
took her in his arms, and wrapped biz
cloak alb ut her, and she had fal er
asleep on his shoulder psfore he reached
his rooms.
MIR. marlborough made no effort tt
find any parents for the new Rose; hi
was far too much aft aid that they NIGH
find him. He avoided advertisements
and posted notices, and criers, and gen
eral conversation for months; the chile
was too small to give any account O
herself If he had no wife, he had :
daughter now; and his heart gloweG
with warmth it had not known fo
yeArs.
The coming of the child changed
much of the custom of Mr.. Vancebor
-ough's life. His daughter must have
home; he purchased stately house