The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-03-19

Win ulul. 1TISs VINO was W nave W8UCus
ed that night. came an hour later. When
she entered with flowers in her hands,
for she had brought fresh ones every
day to please the invalid, Warrin gton
was alone in the room. A dull pain was
upon him, heavier than his grief for the
dead man, the hard, bitter conscious
ness that he should see Iris no more. He
rose as she entered. and though he did
not speak his look warned her of the
truth; and she glanced hastily at the
quiet face ON the pillow. Her lips quiv-
cred. and the roses dropped from her
hands and were scattered, spots of
glowing color on the dingy floor. War
rington, hardly knowing what he did,
fell on his knees and began gathering
them up, with wild longing to speak
at all hazards, to call her his saint, his
divinity.
"Give me a rose," he said, huskily.
The girls voice faltered as she ans
wered him; but it had ring of indigna-
ton in it that touched him to the quick.
"This is no time to talk of roses" she
said passionately.
"Oh, you do not understand" he ex-
claimed holly. "You have no pity for
the living"
He did not glance up as he spoke, or
he would have seen a strange look pass
over her face. 1t passed like shadow
was gone; she turned away, and the
next moment he heard her voice, all
sympathy, speaking to Mrs. Hartley.
Then, feeling like an arrant coward, he
skunk back to his own room.
Iris left an hour later. Some rela-
tivcs of Mrs. Hartley's had come, and
she could do little more. Dick reap
peared as she was quitting the house, to
offer his services as escort.
''Thank you," she said, not unkindly,
but with quiet decision. Il would
rather walk alone.
ut is very late," urged Dick.
cool tone of dismissal. and he fell back.
But he was not to be baffled SO easily.
Iris might walk solitary if she liked; but
she could not prevent his following at a
suitable distance, at all events, till she
reached the main street. He took no
pains to keep under cover, for he was
reckless, and, indeed. had she turned.
his tall figure and careless gait would
infallibly have betrayed him. But
whether or not some instinct warned
her of the truth, l can not tell; but she
never east a glance behind, not even
when her quick footsteps brought her
into an alley rather too riotous for her
liking, and he saw her hesitate once or
twice. But further ON. when they en-
tered Garrick street, he himself hastily
/ srA~ <nr
things were beginning to look ominous.
Half a dozen sailors, British and foreign,
but all drunk, and all very much ex-
cited, had just poured out of one of the
worst public houses in the quarter, and
were commencing a free fight among
themselves. A little throng gathered,
cursing and cheering, and Obstructing
the pathway, and Iris stopped, good
deal frightened. Dick noted one police
| man on the extreme outskirts of the
disturbance leisurely whistling for help;
and then-it all happened in an instant
"a drunken Lascar broke out of the
thrOng and caught Iris by the arm. She
uttered low cry. The next moment
that Lascar was lying on the pavement,
to which Dick had flung him with per-
haps unnecessary force.
Not for long. He was up again, with
| Economical look of rage on his face,
and he sprung at Dick like wild beast.
Something flashed in the crimson tavern
lights. Then, as in wild dream. the
thrOng melted away, with fierce cries
and calculations, and Iris was kneeling
at Dick Warrington's side chatting his
hands. There was a surgeon standing
| by and one or two cOnstables, looking
down compasionately on the PROSTATE
figure, and some one had said: There
is no hope" For the Lascar's aim was
not made false by passion, and he had
| struck at the heart. A strange and wild
dream, a life that she had tried to scorn,
passing away for her sake into the
darkness. Dick seemed to wake from
a heavy sleep, with the sound of the sea
in his ears as it Numbered against far
distant rocks. Stay. was it the sea or
the tumult of the great city? The city
was growing silent now, wrapt in an
cver-deepening tranquility. Then
memory came back to him; he knew
what had come to pass: knew that he
was dying. With pang of regret at
first, but when he raised his eyes, and
saw Iris Enderby's face bending over
him. he was well content. 1t was as
colOrless as his own; but there was a
new expression mingled with its intent
ness, a look that he had dreamed of
seeing there. but had never thought To
see in walking life, that touched him
with a vague fear.
This is good of you," he said, faint
". 81 think it will not be for long"
s'Can you forgive me?" said the girl
in low voice. ''You have laid down
your life for me-"
Dick looked at her with amazed eyes.
The surgeon had turned away; the two
constables were speaking to each other
in husky undertones.
''What have l got to forgiven" he
asked, wonderingly. "But will never
forget you. All. I wish my life had
been worth your taking! A poor, poor
| failure! If had known you sooner,
might have had the heart to begin
again; but lost hope early-God knows
why, You will never let it trouble you.
this happy fate of minc?'
'.lt will trouble me-" she said, slow.
ly, "all my life."
"Ah, nor he said, eagerly; and in
that instant a strange look of nobility
irradiated his face. look it had not
known for many year.
Forget it. am not worthy of one
regretful thought from you. Indeed.
indeed. l am not worthy. And how
could it end more happily? For if 1 had
lived l should have sunk yet lower, and
now am not wholly base"
He paused. His words were prc~ng
incOhoront