The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-05-28

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ask his fathers pardon for fault COM
mitted in a moment Of rashness. and
deeply repented Off, rescued almost
miraculously from dreadful death. he
should have travelled back over stormy
seas to the home of his youth. humble.
contrite, purified"
ut ia he-my Arthur cried Reuben
Harrild, as the shadow advanced. 81
am very, very thankful. Dear friend.
you have made me your debtor for life.
Come Laura, let US welcome your
brother
Upon my word" said little DR..
Bax. as Laura and her fathei eft the
room, ''this promises to be the most
glorious Christmas Eve in my re.
membrance."
Laura was weeping on her brothers
breast, while Reuben stood close, ko;d-
ing her sons hand
s.Dear sister," said Arthur, '.but for
your sweet counsel this happy reunion
might never have been. Do not weep,
Laura; there is great blessing in store
for you"
ARTHUR" she cried, stretching forth
1 uSI utulUiu1 SOu HUI
come home alonee"
..No; a friend accompanied me
whom have learned to love-a friend
who. on the long voyage home. spoke
and thought of nothing but the wrong
he had inflicted upon the girl of his
heart. He saved my life, dear; but
| for him l should have persisted in the
| wilds; and he has come with me to ask
| your forgiveness. You will forgive
him. will you not? He loves you per-
fectly, Laura, and has been very I'M
happy. Thank God! thank God! this
moment recompenses for allr'
At her feet knelt William Fairfield!
She raised him to her breast; and on
| solemn splendor of the starlit heavens,
the lovers were reunited, never more
to part in life.
1t was later than usual before the
Christmas party broke up. A happier
company had certainly never assembled
within four walls There was gladness
| around all, and every one appeared to
have grown suddenly younger Even
Stephen WinkwOrth's countenance
wore satisfied expression. and. much
to the establishment of the guests, he
was observed to smile upon two dis
| tinct occasions
Where is your skeleton now, DR..
Bax?" asked Laura, SIS she. William
and Alice stood by his side: '.the skele.
ton YOU were grumbling at last year?'
''Gone. my dear!'' replied the good
doctor. gayly; ''hiding somewhere
that may not get at him. All, Will
lam! before You sleep tonight. fall
upon your knees and thank God for
the good he has bestowed upon YOU!
As FOR you. my dear. if | were not an
old Iaan, would run away with you,
willy lilly. and marry you tomorrow.
But as It is. l suppose we must make
the best of our lots, and go on in the
same humdfuEa way as ever. Stephen
Winkworth." he said. as Stephen APP
preached. will Jcu let William have
back his farm?''
Yes" said Stephea. with tremor
in his voice as his daughter kissed his
hand; II have been wanting to offer it
back, but did not know how to do
it,
"Then everything is settled" said
DR.. Bax; land. excepting that We are
all very much happier, this Christmas
might be last Christmas. and the year
that has passed might have been mis-
take. A mistake, however" he added.
gently. (which will not. let us hope,
be set down to our disadvantage when
our life's account is balanced in the
ledger of old Father Tim e.
His dog-cart was at the door. ready
to take him on his regular Christmas
visits to his poor friends. How he got
into his Overcoat is a mystery. for
everybody at once tried to assist him
on with it, and the result was laughing
confusion. Laura's fair hands tied his
cravat round his throat, and Laura's
lips were pressed to his cheek.
A most inexplicablc hush fell upon
the guests. who were all hated and
cloaked and bemuflied, and who vet
made no stir to leave Mr.. Wymer
looked at DR.. Bax. and iidgeted in the
strangeSt manner-wiiich brought soft
wrinkles into the doctors eyes.
Il beg your pardon" said the law
yer. nervously, shave You not forgotten
something's"
Possibly, possibly, my dear sir. Can
you give it a name?"
''YOur baylor the poor?'
With beaming face and fearful eyes,
DR.. Bax produced it magically. No
wizard. whether of the east. north,
south or west, could have done the trick
more neatly, for not \ soul was able to
discover where the bag came from. He
opened its mouth and held it out No
need to ask or urge. Willing hands
and hearts contributed, and DR.. Bax
was ready to declare most solemnly
that the paper packet which Miss
Wymer dropped into the bag contained
more than the usual lawyer fee of six.
and eightpence. But had he done so,
Miss Wymer would probably have de.
clared that she had made mistake.
So he wisely held his tongue.
'.Do You not find it lonely sug.
gested Mr.. Wymer. driving by your.
self in the cold ARP
II might do so tonight" said DR..
Bax. Il confess should appreciate
the company of a kindred soul to whom
l could talk as l drive along to my
friends. William. of course. cam
come"
William laughed. and shook hi:
head.
IL beg your PARDON" said Mr.. Wy.
mer. twitching a button off his glove:
IF might be allowed To-
DIR. Bax held out his arm and Mr.
Wymer sedately accepted it-though
he WAS SO long and the doctor so short
that they formed a queer conjunction
and they walked to the dog-cart to
gether.
The doctor waved his hands and