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

e0reQ the shop ,Wn0f0 he had asked h0k
name. He had seem her there many
times since. The same dapper assistant
was arranging gloves in box, and the
| whole scene was 80 exactly the same
that Pond paused in bewilderment, half
inclined to think the past few months
had been dream. Advancing to the
counter he stammered out:
Have you seen her lately? The lady!
What are you staring at? You know
who mean"
''Seen hertz exclaimed the assistant,
with q flash of remembrance. 1.-The
lady! Oh! ali! that's good joke" He
ended with most Objectionable laugh.
"A good joke!' said Bond absently.
81 don't understand YOU"
"You read the papers, suppose,
SIR"
"Idon't. Speak plainly. man."
1.-THE iady"-he grinned as he spoke
-''has just been tried for obtaining
goods ON false pretenses.
Quick as lightning his clinched fist shot
across the counter and flattened the
astonished youth against the shelves
behind.
A crowd collected in a moment.
Drunk" said one; MAD said
another; and those behind began to
press forward. and those in front to
sheer away. In truth, this gaunt crea-
ture with the flaming eyes looked viO-
lent enough for anything. Amid a
general clamOr for the police. the pro-
prietor of the shop fortunately appeared
upon the scene. He was not going to
have fuss made there, he said; so
Bond was hustled into the street. He
turned when he got clear of the crowd
''Tried, poor thing!' he shouted back.
''But she was acquitted. Iswear she
was acquitted"
'.She was guilty. though" cried the
assistant. viciously shaking his fist from
the doorway.
''Pure and sweet and beautiful"
equity, or I'll eat my hat
'.Shut up, you IDIOT" cried the pro-
prietOr. And shaking the youth by the
shoulders, he pushed him back into the
shop.
Bond scarcely knew how he got back
to his rooms. His pile of manuscripts
lay on the table; the cat sat purring be-
fore the fire, every thing was precisely
as he had left it. But oh! how differently
it all seemed! He dropped into chair,
and the veins stood out in his pale fore
head, and his hands worked convul-
sively. Eulalie in afelon's dock! Could
men be SO mad, SO cruel, SO unjust? 1t
was impossible.
One solitary idea now took possession
of him-tO find Eulalie, though with
what object he did not determine. BY
a strange chance he met her in the
street next day; met and scarcely recOg-
nized her. Moving swiftly and stealth
lily along. as if she feared to be seen.
with her hair IN disorder, her face no
longer touched by the art to which it
had largely owed its beauty, and her
dress old and slovenly. she was indeed
dreadfully changed. Bond started back
when he saw her, his face deadly white:
he pressed his hands 10 his heart. it gave
such painful throb; he could scarcely
believe his own eyes.
His earnest gaze seemed to discom-
pose her. for she dropped a faded old
umbrella in the mud, whereupon he
rushed forward, picked it up, and hand
ed it to her. She took it without a
word of thanks, scowl being all she
gave him. Then she hurried away,
leaving him in panied bewilderment.
He could only repeat over and over
again: Her smile was very sweet"
"A bad un, Sir" said a policeman
who had been watching his little
hoI Il
winked in the direction of the retreating
woman.
But Bond was already out of earshOt,
hurrying after her in obedience to an
irresistible impulse to offer her all he
had, yearning to tell his love, and ac-
quire the right to protect her. Though
his ideal was little more than men,
DRY, the woman remained and, in his
eyes. she was still beautiful. With her
by his side, he cared not what the world
said. Never had his love been stronger
than it was at this moment.
But though he dived down one OBJ
scure street aft r another. he could not
find her. And at length. murmuring
to himself. ''Ah. yes, her smile was very
sweet" he warily dragged himself back
to his lodgings.
Once again, and for the last time. he
saw her. TWAS on the following after
noon. He was sitting at the open win
dow. absently caressing the cat upon
his lap. when she happened to pass by
on the opposite side of the street. Look
ing up at the window, she suddenly
stopped and stared. Before he had re-
oovoroI from, hic c,rprico cbo ctrotchod
out her arms and cried:
''Oh, my pussie! Nell, Nell, won't
yOu come to me?"
The cat sprang through the window
and crossed the street in less time than
it takes to write the words. There
could scarcely be doubt about the
ownership. The animal. with arched
back and Strengthened tail. was delight
eddy rubbing itself against her shabby
dress, and she was bending down talk
ing to it as if it were her child.
Bond was not slow to grasp the situa-
ton. He rose hastily to explain the
circumstances under which he had
bought the cat from lad whom he had
believed to be the rightful owner. He
was trembling in every limb, for had
not his opportunity come at last, as
some one has said it always will come
to the man who waits? laundering
down the stairs he whispered to him
self: ''Even the cat loves her and she
loves it. / knew she was good and
pure and lovely"
II must apologize" he began, ad-
vancing awkwardly. ''Miss- Miss
L q