The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-04-10

he would before long have to think o.
growing old. He tried to pay atten
tions-to 90 counting" they called il
there; but it was perfectly evident that
the girl had not the least suspicion OF
his meaning. And. meanwhile, time
was passing; every month he was a
month older. while she seemed month
younger; and it was very plain that il
he ever meant to live he must begin
and as married man; the last thing
that had ever entered his mind.
1t would take long to tell how he tried
to fight himself out of the desire to
throw himself and his money-bags and
his plans at the feet of a not particular
ly pretty child fresh from school, who
knew nothing, it seemed, except how to
laugh and how to spend. 1t would take
longer to tell how, having been at last
driven to conclude that love is fate, he
took his policy from the spider, and,
mesh by mesh, got that big fly, Legs
Croft. first into his web and then be-
tween his claws. And then, by just five
minutes, to have lost the game, and to a
boy whose very existence he had we'll
night forgothn-it was crully hard.
Ninety-nine men out of hundred would
have broken the web and given up the
game. EnOch Marrish was the hun
dredth man; and, whether visiting his
fields or feeding himself with cruel, he
had but one thought-how to weave the
web anew, and a stronger one this
time.
Not that Enoch Marrish had become
so much passions slave that he would
really have paid away Legs Croft, the
best farm in the country, as the price
even for Patience Blackthorn. Mammon
is not to be conquered by Cupid quite so
far as that would go. HIS old web had
been a scheme to gain both by one
stroke; his new one also must gain both,
and a good bit of revenge besides. But
what, in the name of vengeance. was
that plan to be? He could not see it for
all his thinking; he only knew that it
had to be done.
He had Just swallowed his last mouth
full of scalding cruel. and was scraping
the saucepan, for the sake less of appe-
lite than of principle. when quick step
came up the graveled path, and a radiant
face came TO the kitchen window.
"Marrish!" Stephen Harlow hailed
him. Are you very busy there? want
word with YOU"
Enoch's impulse was to throw the
saucepan at the fellows head: but that
would only have damaged a good sauce
pan. and done no good in any way.
He never forgot anything; so he held
his hand.
Here | am. What's your word?'
"Why, that I'm to be married as soon
as there's been time for the banns! You
were the first to wish me joy. you know.
| know your times precious; but will
you spare morning for once, and be
best man?"
ZIP" He was really taken aback by
such a request, considering what his
thoughts had been.
IF you wouldn't mind. | can send
for one to Millport; and. if | could,
you've been so old friend of my Pa
tience that 1 d sooner have you than any
man anywhere. Say yes"
My Patience! Had the young lover
taken and stabbed him, his heart could
not have felt the dagger more sharply
than such a word. However. he must
not let even so much as a look hinder
any scheme that he might form-must,
form-within three weeks at the utmost;
for what he had heard, was both sud
den and terrible news.
Yes, then! willr' said he.
THANK you, with all my heart. Mar
IRISH. | knew you would: and when YOU
want it yourself. I'll do as much by you.
L hns hn
bachelor. Why don't you do as l do,
and get a Patience of your own?"
Wont you come in? l have just
had breakfast, or I'd offer you some
thing. So YOU are getting a rich man,
eh?r
1--WE got my foot on the ladder.
Fancy my coming Just in the nick of
time as did-it looks like Providence,
Marrish; it makes one see things clear
that one never saw before! | wonder
who the scoundrel was that wanted to
buy my Patience. You know, of course
of course, l shan't ask, but should
like you to tell him, when you see him.
before he tries to buy girl at market
again. to ask her if she wants to be
sold. The scoundrel-the cold-blooded
brute-it makes my blood boil. hope
l shan't ever know; for don't want to
be bothered with having to leather
cur. But never mind him. No. thank
you'll can't come in now. I'm off to
Manchester, and rs I'm on Shanks'
mare. | mustn't play by the way"
ITO Hunchester? Law business?
Lucky you can afford it. I'm my own
LAWYER"
Not this time" said Stephen, with
laugh, which raised in Enoch the devil
of murder. I'm going to buy ring"
A ring?" asked Enoch-rather STU
pidly. it must be owned.
.'Ihe ring
He nodded good-day, and went off
whistling tune. There had not been
happier man in England last night;
there was none so happy this bright
in the world. He had paid
back his beuefaclor tenfold; he was
young and strong; his employers had
such faith in him that they would make
sacrifices to keep him; he was well up
on the ladder of fortune; he had not, so
far as he knew, single foe; he was in
good-fellowship with all the world; he
had won the girl of his heart-no Won d,
der that his soul sang within him as he
marched along Manchester road. 1.-The
ring, and what shall the poSy be? |
There must be a posy; though it S not |
the mode in Millport-but hang the
mode! Patience must keep 10 her sweet |
ways. i wonder what she'll !
think of that big town-how she will /
open her blue eyes. What wonderful ;
th;nyS | thOupht the tall chimneyS were /