The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-02

PART I.-CoSrryuRp,
1t was dark enough to the moros,
man as he stood by the side of Ii,
maimed child fighting with his soul.
81 could be happier-I know could
be happier. if you and the world were
'differen. to each other-if you did moi
regard it as your enemy. But that will
never be, father, will it's
mo, child, i. will never be. 1 can
not play the hypocrite. and lie to
YOU
Yet you are good and kind to me.
Why should you love me so dearly,
and be bitter with all othersa All men
and women are not bad. See, father,
there Is my angel"
She pointed upward to large gray
cloud, with white heecy wings. which
her Imagination had quantity fashioned
into the Inquire of an angel
Il never saw him SO beautiful be-
fore. He is at his best because it is
-Chri stmas. Say that Christmas is q
ecoN tifhN- anu hC Happf.
christmas is a good time, child, :"
he said, doggedly.
mo, no! not like that! From your
heart want You to say it from your
heart! You are silent If l were to
say that | suffer more, far more than
You can imagine-that my heart is torn
. to pieces with vain yearnings-you
would strive perhaps to bring some
gladness into my days. An. forgive
met" she cried. in an agony of re-
morse, as spasm OF pain escaped
him: 81 am ungrateful, ungrateful.
You are all that is good to me-all that
Is kind. But suffer so, am so truly
unhappy She rocked herself to and
fro. and sobbed. ''Sit by my side.
Father. l must tell you my secret, or
/ shall die,''
In silence he sat upon the doorstep
by her side. with face almost as white
As hers. When she had sobbed herself
inty a quieter mood. she spoke again.
''Father, l am very much deformed,
am l not?''
mot to me, darling"
'.No, not to you, for when you look
at ME. Your ewes are in your heart
But am. in reality, very ugly, very
uninteresting. deformed and cripple
No person in the world, seeing me
once. would care to see me again. l
know from myself do not care to
look for second time upon ugly and
embarrassing things. 1t is very sad
The commissioning tone in which
she spoke of her misfortunes was very
touching to hear.
II am not like any other girl have
ever seen. There is Laura Harrild
now; she is very. very pretty. When
L look at her feel as glad as when
see the early primroses peep out of the
ground, telling me that spring is COM
ing"
Stephens features assumed an anx-
lous expression at the mention Of Laura
Harrild' name.
If you were to ask me my idea of
perfect happiness. l should answer,
Laura Harrild. She is young, beauti-
full and good-and she loves, and is
loved Oh. my hearth
There was such anguish in the poor
girls voice that every nerve in Steph- |
ems oody quivered in sympathy as he
supported her head upon his shoulder.
DO You guess my secret, father?"
she whispered
ITO my sorrow. dear child
Il can not help it. Ihave struggled |
against it vainly. feeling how hopeless
it is. have always loved him. miser-
able girl that | am! l do not know
how it came, except that he is so brave
and strong and handsome, while am
nothing but poor ugly cripple Is
life worth having, 1 wonder. in such a
shape as mine? II were somebody
else, and saw such a creature as my
self, would look down with pity upon
her. and ask whether she would not be
happier if she were dead. have seen
girls, ragged, and without a shoe to
their feet, and have envied them be-
cause they were strong and had straight
limbs. and were free from pain-wh;ch
i seldom am. unless am asleep"
They suffer much" said Stephen,
attempting to draw consolation for her
from the misery of others; ..they are
often without meal OF bed
But they are free, she cried. ssthey
are free, and am slave! Though
they have not shilling in their
pockets, their hearts are sometimes
light. and they smile and enjoy. 1
have seen them-I have seen them.
What happiness there must be in pow
erty! You are rich man. father
Il have money. child. 1t is yours to
spend as you wish"
Money can not buy love. Money
will not make me different from what
am. and it can not bring sunshine
into our house. Are all homes like
ours? There is no light in it; it is des-
olate and deserted. and j: has never
been Otherwise within my remem- {
brance. You and l are like two her $
mits. shut out from the world. In
what way has this come, and must 4 I
be always so? Surely there is some {
thing better in life than nv experience '
has shown me. All, yes: there is s
better in it. There is love 8
IN it. which shall never, never i
aave-' Il
She was speaking to herself now,
while he sat watching her. humbly and I
n silence. Morose and churlish as he Il
vas to all others, here he was a slave: t
md had he possessed the power. he Y
would have laid his heart in her lap. n
'ould it have insured her days hap l
,iness. a
Tonight is Christmas" she re-
umed. land we shall 60 round to Mr.. b
darrild' S house, and see so many young v
people dancing, and laughing. and Il
playing forfeits, while / shall sit in a | q
corner glazing at them. like the envi- a
'us old witch / have read Of in fairy o
tones. l am quite as hideous. know;
N q ,y-aI L. | n