The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-03-06
"Then all is clear to you now, my own

"Then all is clear to you now, my Owl
wife?"
mot quite all. but enough. The
truth. the love, the DEVOTIONAL this
my husband. can remember-all this
will repay, if my love can do it
Our wooing may close with these
words-let all the rest be sacred. The
trees around alone know what passed
between us. rs their kindly shade fell
on us where we sat and interchanged
our words of love whilst hour after
hour of our second and real wedding
day slipped by. At last we rose. but
fingered vet awhile. as though 10th to
leave the spot where happiness had
come to us. We looked round once
more and bid farewell to hill and valley
and stream; we gazed long in each 9TH
ers eyes, our lips met in a passionate
kiss: then we went forth togethor to the
world and the new sweet life awaiting us.
We walked as in dream, from, which
we We're only recalled by the sight OF
houses and people.
.Pauline,'' [ whispered. "can You
leave this place tonight? We will go
| to London"
..And afterwart?" she asked, visit
fully.
Can you ask me? To Italy, of
course"
She thanked me with a look and pres
sure of the hand. We were now at her
home. She left me, passing Priscilla,
whose honest eyes were now glowering
at me. Priscilla had called me a fool; 1
must be revenged.
Priscilla. l said. gravely, Il am
going by this evenings coach. l will
write when | get to London
had my revenge in full. The good
old soul almost fell weeping at my feet.
"Oh, Master Gilbert, doa tee. don tee
60, sir! That poor young lady. Miss
Pauline. what will she do? She loves
the very ground you tread upon"
l had bargained for reproaches, not
sentiment of this kind. laid my hand
upon her shoulder.
But Priscilla, Miss Pauline-Mrs.
Vaughan. my wife, goes with me"
Prise Has tears came more copiously
than before. but they were tears of joy.
Ten days later and Pauline stood be-
side her brothers grave. BY her own
wish she visited it alone. | waited at
the gate of the cemetery until she re-
joined me. Her face was very pale. her
eyes showed traces Of many tears, but she
smiled as she met my anxious glance.
Gilbert, my husband" she said.
Il have wept, but now smile. The
past is past. Let its darkness be dis
persed by the brightness of the present
10 tl,, 7
love bore my brother be carried into
the greater love l give my husband.
Let us turn our backs on the dark shad-
owS and begin our lives"
Have more to tell? One thing only.
Years afterward was in Paris. The
great war had been fought out to the
bitter end. Traces of the conflict be-
tween the two races had almost van
ished. but those of the second and inter-
necine contest were visible everywhere.
The Gaul himself had destroyed what
the Teuton spared. The Tuileries. with
sightleSs, empty eyes. gazed sadly to-
ward the Place de Ia Concorde, where
stood the statues of the fair lost prov
inces. The Vendome column lay pros
trate. The fair city was charred and
blackened by the incendiary torches of
her own sons; but the flames had been
some time extinguished and ample re-
venge had been taken. A gay young
officer. friend of mine, took me to see
a military prison. We were chatting
and smoking in the open air when a
small body of soldiers appeared. They
were eScortinG three men, who walked
with fettered hands and bowed heads.
"Who are they?" l asked.
"Blackguard Communists.
Where are they taking them?"
The Frenchman shrugged his Shout
ders. Where they ought all to be
taken-to be shot. the brutesr'
Brutes or not, three men who have
but a minute to live must be objects of
interest if not sympathy. Hooked close
" at them rs they passed lis. One of
them raised his head and stared me in
the face. 1t was Macari!
l started rs his eyes met mine. but I
am not ashamed to say the movement
was caused by no feeling of compassion.
Ceneri. in spite of myself, pitied, and
would have aided had it been possible.
but this ruffian. liar and traitor should
have gone to his doom even if l could
have saved him by lifting a finger. He
had passed long ago out of my life, but
nv blood still boiled when l thought of
him and his crimes. l knew not how
he had lived since l last saw him-knew
not whom OF how many he had be-
trayed; but if Justice had been slow in
claiming him, her sword had at last
reached him and his end was close at
hand.
He knew me-pe-haps he thought
had come there to gloat over his pun
ishment. A look of bitter hate crossed
his face. He stopped and cursed me.
The guard forced him on. He turned
his head and cursed ME until one of the
soldiers smote him in the mouth. The
action may have been cruel. but there
was little mercy shown TO Communists
in those days. The guard and their
prisoners turned round an angle of the
building.
shall we see the end9' said my
friend. Tipping the ash off his cigar.
mo. thank YOU"
But We heard it. In ten minutes the
rattle of rifles sounded. and l knew
that the last and guiltiest of Anthony
March murdcrers had found his de-
SertS. |
remembered my promise to Ceneri.
With great trouble managed to get Il
message sent which believed would
reach him. Six months afterward a
letter stamped with hieroglyphical post
marks, was delivered to me. 1t told |
me tn 1t the prisoner to whom had
written had died two Years after his ar