The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-10
A WOMAN'S HUNGER.
She Wanted Confidence as Well as
Tender Care.

40uoOI SSAX0s
'What am I to do with her. Arnold:
The child will be q woman soon; wha,
am to do with her?n
A shade of perplexity was in the
speakers tone. and his gaze rested no,
on the man beside him-a man his
junior by too short cycle of time fol
the difference to have left its outward
impress-but the room, and out through
the open window on the lawn. where
stood girl caressing superb stag
hound. Unconsciously she made pic.
ture lovely enough to arrest any gaze;
but the perplexity on Frederick Fa-
bian's handsome face vanished in
amaze, as his companion gave short.
quick answer to his half-invoIuntary
question, in these words:
''Give her to me-"
For a moment astonishment rendered
him dumb.
Give her to you?' he gasped. at
last. "Why, Dick. old fellow, wha: would
an old bachelor like you do with a girl
like that? If you'd really like to adopt
one of the children. might turn one Of
the boys over to you; but, somehow l
don't quite think 1 could spare Mary
And m not sure she'd accept smother
father, Notwithstanding the manifold
advantages which might occur to her.
Fortunes lily divided in this world, is it
not? Here you are. bachelor. with =
clear income of thirty thousand per an
mum; and here am /. the father of an
interesting family of six, and your IN
come, divided BY Just about that num-
Der. No wonder I never can make
both ends meet"
Il don't think you quite understood
my proposition, Fred" responded the
other, though a flush had risen to his
usually pale face, and \ scarcely per-
cepible tremor of excitement was in
his voice. at is natural. perhaps. that
you should accept my meaning from =
pa.ernal standpoint; and 1 am well
aware-beleve me-of the slight differ
ence in our respective ages. But 1
didn't wish to adopt Mary As my
daughter. / love her. and would win
her for nv wife"
Your wife. man. calculated Fabian.
starting hack in amaze. why, the
child is scarcely out of the nursery. and
you-you-why. We were college boys
together. ArnOld::'
Il told you moment since / was not
forgetful of my age, but remember you
married, Fred, when YOU were twenty.
May is eighteen. and am thirty-six-
just double her age, but not too old to
love her with fervor = younger man
might envy ME- Fred, if 1 gain her
consent l may have yours.'
Mr.. Fabian outstretched his hand, and
grasped that of his friend.
Il can't realize it all in q minute, nv
dear boy. but know no man to whom
1 would as soon intrust my darling.
But can it be that she loves you, and
l have been so blind as never to sus-
pect?''
Il dare not believe she loves me, but
/ hope to win her iove," answered Mr..
Arnold. quietly, and then stepped out
through the window on the lawn.
A vivid blush overspread the girls
face as he approached.
down. Carlo-down"' she COM
manded the dog. and advanced to meet
him on the green, velvety sward. Was
she unprepared for the earnest words
which told her of his hope. and how the
verdict rested with her? If so. she
evinced no surprise, save the color
deepened in her cheek, and the low
".Yes- which fell like whisper from
II 30
ance.
Dick Arnold had won her promise to
become his wife. Yet it seemed but
yesterday that he had held her on his
knee a little, prattling child. whose
fingers penetrated into hidden pockets
for hidden sweets, even as she had PEN
etrated into the innermost recess of
his heart. She was q child to him still.
He would keep her child always, he
said to himself. Her path should be
bed of roses, and not single thorn
should pierce her little feet.
1t was singular engagement. The
lovers were rarely alone, and Mr.. Ar
mold footing had always been SO close
and intimate-as one of the household
that there was little change. True, he
never came now without some rare and
beautiful gift for May. but Iatterly she re-
ceived these with sort of petulance,
and tossed them, the next moment.
caEelessly aside. Once, just before her
wedding day. she burst into . passion
of tears; but she would give him no ex-
PLANTATION of their cause. He remem-
bered them, later. in connection with
the arrival, that same afternoon, of 3
young soldier-cousin, who had been
hidden to the wedding. and had OBJ
tained special leave to be present
After dinner. May and this cousin-a
tall. splendid looking young fellow
<trolled together out upon the lawn.
As once before, Arnold and her father
stood watching her.
They look well together, do they
not?' said the latter. Il used to fancy
VIII had q preference for May, but /
don't think my acumen in such matters
has proved itself very acute
And with light laugh, he turned
away. But Arnold stood motionless,
his ewes fixed on the two figures on the
lawn. Standing, there, he felt an old
man. In that moment, Mays accept
ance to his appeared sacrifice. but to
give her up now He could not even
carry out the thought Pshaw! What
brightness could this penniless subaltern