The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-01-06
CHAPTER TX.

terminablc period OF the lmmeasurable
cycles of sleep, came slowly to com
rrehend the significance of the occur
rences of the previous day and the
night. only to exchange the fieeting
| incubus Of the night for more per-
maaent one of the day. Where was
Polly2 She had wanted to tell ME
something of great Importance some
secret not to be whispered within the
possible hearing of other people.
True. Fan had supplemented this with
the story of the marriage. But was
not this a mere rumor9 The lille Cos
sip of an envious and back-biting VIII
lage? And should accept such ilimsy
and unreliable rumors for fall under
standing of all the facts? Such an
understanding as could Get only from
her? No; must see her. Only from
her in person ought 10 accept an ex-
PLANTATION rs authentic and complete.
owed it as a duty to myself and to
her to see her and hear from her own
lips her own version uniniluenced by
the presence of others. In short. l
must see her. and alone.
know no,C that what thought then
the perfect philosophy of generous and
manly argument for the pure and SIM
pie truth was in fact specious and
shallow plea for the present gratiiica-
ton of my longing to see her. the
daughter of :he horse-thief, All! l
said it is only for the present and for
the last time. And sic can not he held
responsible in any way for her fathers
crimes. whatever they may have been.
And perhaps these are til" mere ground
less charges of malice. Had l not seen
deadly feuds involving perhaps more
bloodshed than that of last night,
among noted families in the Sandtown
circuit? Couldn'; name them almost
by the score?
Later in life 1 should have frankly
confessed to the truth that l wanted to
see Polly and talk to her simply out of
my ravenous hunger for her presence.
her touch. and the sound of her voice.
This would have been ample apology
in my own eyes in maturer years. 1t
is ample apology and explanation for
far more desperate resolutions and
deeds than contemplated. even in my
greatest frenzy. But hold! Have l
not forgotten my sudden hatred for
Judge Banks? The man who in past
times had affected to see in ME mate
rial that might be wrought into brilliant
things. The man who had paid me
the great compliment to point out the
road to pvefermen:-pcrhaps to emil
nence. and Stir IN my heart the first
f!uttering of ambition-that guardian
angel of youth through the period OF
greatest temptation and least power of
resistance.
l easily persuaded myself that the
judges friendship for me was a selfish
one Through it he could the more
readily reach the proud and maynard
daughter of the tavern-kceper. l re-
membered how many. how rery many
times the Old judge had been enabled
to pass 4 whole evening in orr COM
pany. In ours! In hers. What did
he really care for anime! l was the
simple and unsuspec:ing means to the
end had sat beside her listening to
his skilifuliy handled fund of stories
and pli:losophic dissertations. proud to
show her that was of sufficient i'm
por.ance in the eyes OF the greatest
h, l,.,,
man to her SO often-so Very often.
What fool!
However. I managed to eat very
heartily of the very palatable break
fast that Fan had speedily prepared on
finding that 1 WAS at last awake. l
even smiled family rs. in answer to
Fans question. confessed the dream
to her.
She was in ecstacies. Always neat
and careful Of her dress she WAS this
morning in her very best and with the
| advantage Of feCliDg-as l presume
only woman can fecl-that she is 1T
her best in every respect. A bright
smile fitted about in the many dimples
Of her pinky checks: and her flaXen
hair. curling in the short locks about
her ears and neck. gave her Il sort of
refinement and deiicacy that l had
heretofore totally failed to discover in
her. Moreover we We're entirely alone,
the whole family having gone to some
portions OF the village more nearly the
center Of excitement ~ this tiue, and
finding the attraction too strong to
permit them to return as yet.
Usually loud and loquacioUs. Fan
had smiling and delighted shyness
and reserve upon her thi. MORNING.
combination always captivating to ME,
and believe. to al of the stcrner sex.
She said little excepting in answer to
my own remarks. But there WAS an
eager. impatient. eSpectant and half
startled way about her looks and move
ments that claimed part of my atten-
ton. and even succeeded in some de-
gree in making me temporarily forget
the keener point of my anguish and
rcstlessness.
Finally l arose. and, taking my hat,
walked to the door and looked out.
Are you go-un. Jim?' she
asked. tmidly. and coming to the
door half shyly.
Yes" l said. without looking di-
rectly at her.
And if you find that she isn't mar
ried9"
g Then TIL marry her as quick as
we kin git to preacher.
And eff you find she is-then