The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-09

L II
feathers from the wings of the angels. !"
'.Laura," exclaimed William, looking
intently through the window, ''what is
that outside! There! Do you not see
it moving?'
1t was the shadow of q man, lurking
about the house. Laura's heart sunk
within her, and she turned as white as
the falling snow.
Evidently some skulker," said Will
lam: I'm go out and see who it is.
mo, no, William" implored Laura,
clinging to his arm, lido not go! I beg,
/ implore you, do not go!'
my little wife that is to be-" he
said, gazing at her in tender concern,
"this is the second time tonight you
have startled me without cause. 1t is
right should see who that man is; If
he is in want can relieve him; if he is
here for no good purpose. must get
rid of him. He'll not hurt me, dear, !"
mo, no, nor she exclaimed, with
strange earnestness, still clinging to
his arm; '.you shall not, you must not,
go. And sect is gone. 1t was only
| shadow, after all. We have been
| standing here away from the lights SO
long that we have grown fanciful."
Leaving him, she walked into the
room toward Alice Winkworth.
Many of the guests gazed at the con-
trast presented by these two girls. One,
1.-the, supple, graceful, pleasant-looking:
the other, deformed, MANNED and sick
". A world of tenderness was ex-
pressed in Laura's face as she leaned
over Alice's chair.
81 am glad you are here, Alice. You
| are looking SO well!'
II am as well as l ever hope to be-"
returned Alice, sadly, but with no sign
of petulance.
Laura smoothed Alice's hair with an
affectionate and tender hand, and Sc
Letting flower and some green leaves
from a vase. arranged them tastefully
among the bright curls.
"You have the most beautiful hair,
dear. You should always wear flowers
in it,
Alice took the kindly hand and softly
pressed it.
civilian sent me to You, Alice"
"Yes!" said Alice, eagerly.
''He wants you to come and sit by
the window"
A glad light passed into the sick girls
face as she rose and walked with Laura
toward the curtained recess. Before
they reached Laura whispered, with an
air of anxiety:
"Will you do me favor. Alice?"
"Oh yes, if l can"
81 have something to do which will
take me away from the room for few
minutes. Sit and talk with William
until come back. shall not be gone
long"
Alice nodded acquiescently. but not
without surprise-more from the nerv-
Gus, anxious manner i'm which the request
| wasmade than from the request itself.
They entered the recess, and with a
smile at her lover. Laura led Alice to
his side and turned to leave.
where are You going, Laura?" asked
William.
II must attend to the guests, Will; l
shall be back presently.
William was not satisfied. With the
usual selfishness of lovers, he begrudged
every moment that Laura devoted to
others. Bnt the deformed girl was gaz-
ing wistfully at him, and his nature
was too considerable to treat her with
Indifference. Seating himself by her
side at the window he saw for the Sec
ond time the shadow of a man lurking
about the house.
by heavens!' he muttered, there
it is again.
For moment he thought of run
ming out into the white plain and ac-
costing the man, but he was restrained
by the reflection that Laura might be
vexed with him for doing so.
Other eyes than his were fixed upon
the falling snow. Reuben Harrild had
left his guests for while to their own
devices. and had retired to his study,
where he sat gazing dreamily out of
the window. Old memories were pass
ing through his mind, causing him to
look older than he was. Some lives.
filed with vain strivings and mental
struggles. are prolific of wrinkles;
others, free from those wild storms
which are too frequently self-created,
scarcely raise 3 furrow on the face.
Too often, alas! are the pages of a life
blotted with tears: and Memory, as she
scans the record, lives over again, with
bitter brevity. the shedding of each
tear. Around Reuben Harrild lowered
the ghosts of past joys and grief-over-
Swallowed all by one pale spectre whose
intangible presence raised frowns upon
his face and shame and sadness within
his heart. Nor was his gloom dispelled
BY the appearance of the child whose
pure spirit shed the light of happiness
upon his life and home. He drew her
to his knee. and with her head pillow
cd upon his shoulder, they sat for
brief space in silent communion.
''Did you come to seek me, Laura"
he asked.
"Yes, father"
II shall lose you soon, dear child.
Doctor Bax asked me tonight what 1
should do without YOU. l do not know;
l shall be like a lost man. But must
not repine. 1t is the way of life-to
love and lose!"
"You will not lose me, father. Our
home will be yours, and we can live to-
gether always if you wish. DO not
speak SO sadly. If we love and lose
memory remains"
Remains to stab u.s." he replied,
with SILVER. Ito bring shame and sor-
row to us to the last day of our lives
She was too well acquainted with his
mood to continue the theme, and she
strove to lead him to gentler thoughts,
with so much love and tenderness as to
partially succeed. Pressing his lips to
her cheek he said. fondly:
"You are like your mother. child.
Shn foil nI 70 t,on l. TO