The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-02-05

y
nearer to me than that"
Have you doneP"
"Yes."
at is my turn, then. You seldom
make mistakes in figures. Have you
calculated how much this offer will cost
youP"
at is easily calculated. You are
thirty years of age. Should you live
the full span of a mans life, the an
nuity would cost me two thousand
pounds sterling"
"Will YOU give me that sum down if
l bind myself to the stipulated condi-
tion?"
''You are mad to ask it"
"You will notp"
"No."
"You are not to be moved from your
decision by any consideration"
'.NOthing can move me-"
"Another tack. then. Will you settle
the annuity upon me for forty years, to
dispose of as please in life or dcath?'
''Again say you are mad to ask it. y
"Truly, though So" murmured MIR.
Richard.
"The annuity is yours only for the
term of your natural life. Not for one
day beyond that"
s.You see that l am in bad health!'
"Are you appealing to my pilyP"
''Heaven Forbid l am merely stat
ing fact with which you are well ac-
quainted. A doctor who has a regard
for me assures me that Ihave not long to
live. l haze pressed him upon the point.
'Yearsp' 1 asked him. No,
was his answer. .Months?' asked
him again. No. was his answer; and
he babe me prepare. Mine being a
wasted life, it is my dearest wish to
leave a legacy of love behind me.
know why you have made me the offer.
am in your way. You are afraid
having lofty views in which a position
of public eminence may probably be
yours; contemplating also another mar
riage. You see am well informed:
nowadays the lives of men who court
public favor are public property-you
are afraid, say. that shall disgrace
you; that it may become known to your
disadvantage that you have so degraded
a connection as myself. Your enemies
may use the fact to your hurt. Let us
make a compromise. Take a passage
for me to Australia. in ship that sails
this very week if you wish. and give
me. instead of the annuity, one hundred
pounds, In all human probability l
shall be dead before the cship arrives
at its destination; but shall have the
opportunity. by means of the one hum
dred pounds, of doing good action
and rescuing a person love from al
most certain shame. Atleast, it will be
chance for her."
'.For herr exclaimed Mr.. Eversole.
81 did not need to be told it was a woman
you were pleading for"
''She is a child, growing to woman
hood. can take her from the haunts
in which she is learning bad lessons. In
new land, in purer air, she will
have a chance of living purer life. In
the time to come she may perchance
bless the memory of her dead sisters
husband"
Il will hear no MORE" interrupted
Mr. Eversole. ssYou can not impose
upon me. Not one penny ofmy money
shall be bestowed upon your degraded
associates. If you do not instantly ac-
cept my too generous offer, on the con-
dition l have laid down, and from which
no whining entreaties can move me,
order you to leave my house"
lit was my mothers house." said
Mr.. Richard with a lingering lool
around. ''Such memories as have o.
it would have been sweetenei by what
might have been, instead of being en-
Uttered by what was. Ishall presently
leave it forever. but I have something
to say first. in justice to myself and you
l know you too well not to be convinced
how futile would be any further efforI
to soften your heart. You said few
minutes since that You proposed t.
state how the account between II!
stands. Listen to me. There is an
other side to the shield. You married
my mother ;or her money. You played
skilfully loon her yielding nature, ani
you won her affections. You promised
solemnly to be kind and tender father
to me, her only child, and faithful
loving mate to her. How did you keel
your promises? You obtained so strong
and stern hold upon her that she be
came your slave. You drew all thu
happiness out of her days. She lived il
terror of yON You forced her to viii
her property to you. You would no
allow her to have a friend. You KEEP
so strict a watch upon her that she wa:
fearful of speaking above whisper il
your presence. You stepped between
me and her heart, and persuaded he
that tie slightest loving indulgenc,
from a mother to her child was as 81
much concession to my passionate tenn
permanent. Her life was a living death
and you shut me out from her dyins
bed. You wrote me that she was dead
and yet, as l afterward learned. sh,
was long a-dying, and yearned for /:
sight of my face. As for the kindness ant
tenderness you showed towards me Will,
she lived, q sore and heavy charge lie
at your door. You let me 90 my way
you made no effort to train II,
in the right path. can not recsl
one wotd Of kindly guidance from you
lips. Launched into follies; you tool
advantage of them. Had your selfsl
nature been divinely touched by on,
spark of love for my mother or me, 70,
might have counsclled me, you nigh
have been truly my friend. l do no
seek to excuse myself. Grave fault
and follies are to my account; but
hope to be forgiven for them. | say
humbly, for know that my days ar
numbered. After my mothers dealt
you turned me from your house. VIVA
was my fault? loved and married
girl who had been born low down
! You have reason to remember the in