The Iola register., 1884-02-15

strangely-worded introduction, marvel.
ing what it meant. She had never
known Dan to be SO cold or SO satir.cal
in his manner.
20. beg pardon; but people call her
your daughter. They make such mis-.
takes, you know"
People do make mistakes, some
t'mes," replied Dan. Happily. they
are also easily corrected. sometimes.
Mrs. Norton.
The lady co,ored deeply beneath the
faint touch of rouge on her still rounded
cheek, and then grew pale. She turned
to Elinor and said, in a voice she vainly
strove to make quite steady:
II hope you will let me have the
pleasure of improving our acquaintance.
my dear? Thanks will call to-mor-
row."
"Was that an old friend?" Elinor
asked in a whisper, as Mrs. Norton
passed out of hearing.
"About forty" Dan answered. pro.
vokingly. "though she doesn't look it.
But those blonde women wear so we'll
they have no feelings l suppose. Now
that lady lost husband, who adored
her, before she had been his wife quite
two years; yet see how well she must
have borne it. Not even q wrinkle
To be sure he left her nearly million
to console her."
"And she hasn't married aga'n? All;
her heart was with some other man, "
said Ell nor, shrewdly: and she cast one
keen. swift, jealous look at her compan.
ions face.
When Dan Woodford reached home
that night he went into his study and
took from drawer in a writ;ng-desk a
small packet wrapped in silver paper.
1t contained q few letters, some with
cred flowers. and a tress of yellow hair:
but he didn't examine the contents;
and he didn't even waste q glance on
them, but carelesSly tossed them into
the CRATE, and with smile watched
them turn to white ashes on the glow
ing Goals.
Mrs. Norton called the next day, and
was shown into Elinor's drawing-room.
She exerted all the witchery she pos.
sessed in pleasing and fascinating the
young girl, and she was in great de.
gree successful. Elinor thought heI
charming as well as beautiful, and only
differed with her on one subject.
II am sorry not to meet your papa.
Mrs. Norton said when she rose to lake
leave, after she had apologized for max
ing "a very long visit for a first call"
"He is not my papa" Flinor an
swered, color ne, she knew not why.
"Rut supposed of course that you
called him 50, said Mrs. Norton with a
smile.
Il never called him 'rapa' in my
life," said Elinor, resehting the smile.
...Nursc tried to teach me to call him
'daddie' when began to speak. But !
called him Dan instead, and l shall
always call him So"
"Dear me!" interrupted Mrs. Norton.
"But there is such disparity OF age; he
is Old enough to lie your :ather."
IL never think so!' Elinor returned
Indignantly. Mrs. Norton smiled, and
left the younger woman feeling very
uncomfortable.
From that hour her manner toward
Mr.. Woodford was changed. Instinct
lively she seemed to know that he and
tie beautiful Mrs. Norton had once
been lovers; and clover. once, lovers
forever" was FL nor's creed She re-
membered how his arm b trembled
and how h 8 face had changed that
night when he saw her, after long years.
There had been lovers quarrel, she
felt certain; but he loves her still and
she loves him." And her heart a.hed
at the thought. How often she gazed
with envy on Mrs. >orton's violet eyes
and radiant crown of golden hair.
And all this pent up hopeless passion
made it rather hard for poor 10 d Stan
hope. Not tlxit Elinor ever meant tc
encourage him. But he cama 20 con-
stantly, he was so good, so sympathetic,
and she SO unhappy. He quite - isun-
derstood her faltering tones, her chang
ing color; and when he ked her to
marry him she refused with su:h evi
dent d;smay, and so much regr for his
d 'sa ,pointment, that he knew no.
which to think-whether to think him.
sci a iool, or TO believe her heartless
coquette. But he was gentleman,
and took his dis nissal gravely aud sor-
rowfully, and so, at least, won her re-
spect.
"WEat does this mean?' Dan asked,
dav or two alterward. as it true
that you have rejected Lord stanhope.
elinor?"
"Yes, it is true" Mss Carey an
swered She W IS turned half from him
as she spoke, bit she wheeled suddenly
round and locked him in the face, and
something in the great. fond eyes s.:
yearningly bent on her wa revelation
to her ,oung heart. She went toward
him. blushng and with d~oop n mead.
and she spoke in the softest whisper,
but lie heard it.
land why d you ask what it means:
You ought to knoW Oh. Dan, have
you not always said that was your 1t
tie Valentine?''
"But 1 an old enough to be your ia,
ther. darling"
"That's what Mrs. Norton says
laughed Elinor, W tn her lovely face
resting against his check. .She has said
it so o:tgn tnat quite forgot to answer
that you We're not Yet old enough to be
her husband"
"No-she prefers octogenarians."
II think her taste has changed
dear" laughed Elinor. misch evously.
But too late. my darling Dan an.
swered, as he kissed his valentine
DE ron Free Press.
Somebody has been unearthing b
lot of old dispositions IN kentucky
clerks office, AMI taking notes of the