The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-07-16

platform there Wero many familiar
ones. she did not find his. How he
would have dashed in among those
gaping idlers with that fiery impetuosi-
fy Of his. It Is not the fashion to con-
slider the average man of business pic
turesque, but to Margaret there came
an idealixed vision Of the Knight Of
Commerce as he laid his lance in ress
for Fortune.
But he did not return till the follow
ing day, when he came to find Margaret
gone. He was not what one would
term sentimental man. The direct
ness, the candor. the educated common
sense of his mind precluded any thing
like morbidity in him; but all the same
he found it . difficult matter in the dayt
that followed to keep his mind upon his
work. He felt deeply chagrined. He
could not perceive how he had made
himself obnoxious to Margaret, but that
he had in some way done SO he could
not doubt. The dull farmhouse, with
its desolate garden, it's commonplace in
terror, grew distasteful to him. His
cousins Hattie and Nora going on about
their domestic round were utterly SAVIOR
less to him. With inherent frugality
they still thought only of saving, and
had not the remOtest realization of the
possibility of their possessions. Seth
was filled with a heavy sort of pride at
his new importance, but it seemed to
weigh upon him and take from him
what little lightness of heart he ever had.
David Scott plainly saw, however I'M
conscious it may have been. that it was
the fascinating hope If seeing Margaret,
though he received no welcome from
her, that had taken him so frequently to
the house in the intervals of his busy
hours. But he would allow himself no
tender day-dreams. "Am man to
waste the best in me on a woman who
can not love me?' he protested with
himself. II am no barbarian that l
should pursue q woman with attentions
that she rcsents.' But the longing for
her grew almost insupportable. He
could not rid himself of haunting.
ghostlike Margaret that seemed to dog
his steps and to vanish whenever he
turned his eyes upon her. Her strong.
active frame, her clear eyes. her taunt-
ing mouth, her musical voice, seemed
to pervade his atmosphere, and he felt
them about him increasingly.
sit is simply because I'm a human
being" he told himself cynically. my
time has come for mating. My scorn-
full cousin Margaret CHANGED to be in
range of my vision-and thereby hangs
this tale.'' After all of this comforting
philosophy it was somewhat humiliat-
ing when, week later, he passed the
farmhouse on his way to the works
and saw Der at the rear window, to
have every drop of blood in his body sud-
denly stop and then race madly through
his veins like the surging waters of a
spring-time flood.
"You are back again!'' he said, stu
pidly.
s.Yes." she answered. Il hope You
are well. SIR" Then, without waiting
for reply, she hurried away. After
this David never ventured beyond the
threshold of the h0use when necessity
took him thither.
"Come in," Seth would saw to him.
Eye wouldn't know tn house. Mar
garet brought hull car load of truck
home with her, besides two fellers to do
tn fixin' fur her. III very walls is
like picturs, an as fur tn cheers, l
swan they'd make a loafer of man in
no time. An carpets, man, an rugs,
an curtains. Well, be busted if she
amt the greatest on curtains l ever
see. Blow me, man, eff they amt up
at TIL doors as well as the windows.
Then tn books. That's what you'd
like, now. Why, the room the girls
KEEP for kumpany bedroom is jist pa
pered with 'um. We set there mostly
now, an mighty pleasant it is" But
these chronicles had only the effect of
keeping David at his naughty distance.
'.She makes sunshine for all but me-"
he complained bitterly to himself. He
saw Nora and Hattie in unaccustomed
splendor, and NOTICED that their place in
the kitchen had been taken by buxom
German girl. ..I'll stay here till Two
made money enough to invest. in some
thing that will give me a comfortable
living, and then get as far away from
here as possible he vowed. That
night, as he was about to hurry home
in the early dreary dusk, Seth met him
with a very anxious face.
Margaret is down with fever" he
announced. I'm goin' fur the doc
tor"
LET me CO." cried David. "You 60
and stay with the girls" In two hours
the doctor was in Margaret's room.
David paced the parlor below, waiting
for his verdict.
..She's bound to have run of ty-
phoid," said the doctor. "But she's
got a good constitution, and I trust
she'll pull through" Then came days
of suspense which made him ashamed
that he had called the sentimental
moodiness of the last few weeks misery.
At length one day Nora rushed across
the cold fields, hatless, and begged him
to come to Margaret.
''She's been calm for you. Dave. for
the last two days, but Hattie and me
thought she would be best pleased when
she got well if we didn't call you. But
can't stand it; really can't. Come
quick" Trembling in every limb, he
reached the room. CHASTITY as the moon
when it breaks through storm-clouds,
the girl lay tossing in the shadOwy
gloom. What did he hear?
david! David! Dear love! You arc
tired. Rest, dear one. Do they tn nix
you never tire? You are growing pale.
/ am watching you. dear one, though
you do not guess it. All, you must
carry me by storm. my knight. l will
not coax your favor. A stanch heart or
none will have. Yet do not look so
grieved. love. o. Nora, what fool
am: I've lost my common sense. See
if yon can fine it for me-" Suddenly
she became wild and raised herself in
the bod foSsino her aims about and