The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-04-06

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"DoN'T GO, TREANr'
and beautiful. Let me thank you here
where we are alone for your kindness and
bravery. Let ME give you my love, Trean!
Don't throw it from you, darling; don't put
me awayv'
"She stood for moment like one intoxi-
Gated, swaying upon his words. her eyes
softly dilated, her bosom keaving. Suddenly
abe leaned toward him with an indescribable
murmur of pleasure and slipped down with
her cheek upon his hands where they folded
over her own, and hung there. For an
instant he felt her tears running over his
hands and her lips kissing them, then she
broke away and ran blindly downward into
the mist and was lost to his sight.
For a long time he stood still where she
had left him, for the whole mountain seemed
to beat like soft pulse, the air seemed
sweet, and the mist was but a halo about
MIN. Then, with deep breath. like one who
has drained delicious cup, he turned and
went up the mountain path much as one
moves who is young and jocund and with
out disease.
After time he emerged from the mist
and stood alone upon the mountain side
with the white sea all below him. Then in
the silence and sunshine loneliness that
was kind of doubt and fear came over
him. Might this not prove symbol of the
future! Would she ever rise above the
mist-that heavy medium in which she had
always moved! Should he not stand alone
at last upon the heights: He turned about
and went downward into the mist. Nothing
but death should sunder them. he said.
Yet the blood felt swee: in his veins. and
his step was light; single slow misgiving
could never overtake and silence the many
happy currents that went singing in and out
his heart. When he approached the house
the mist seemed to be lifting; a cool, under
wind had begun to fan 1t upward, and far
and near the bosom of the world came
heaying into view.
Trean was not visible. Up in her poor
little chamber she was walking 70 and fro,
her checks carmine, her eyes shining. She
paused before her little mirror: her face
surely had blossomed! She pressed a hand
on either side of the radiant apparition and
leaning back upon her lissome waist ga:ed at
it moment in sheer delight. The vail of
detection had fallen from it it was beautiful.
She pushed back the soft masses of russell
hair from her temples and pressed her
hands there as if she were dizzy with happi-
ness. Her heart throbbed as if it would
burst. Oh, this was her first real hour OF
life! She turned about and broke into a
snatch of song which was well-nigh a cry of
gladness. She fell upon her knees before
her bed and prayed that God would protect
him who had taken her soul in the sweet
snare of love, and even while she prayed
smiles came and went upon her face SO like
q beating heart was happiness within her
solcitude.
Poor child of the mountains, the sorrow
and dross and dullncss of something like
savagcry had always sEothered her spirit;
now they had rolled back from her like
folding curtain, and light, sweeter thou
sand times than the sunshine of early spring,
the midsummer sparkle of half-shaded
streams, or the cool fire housekeeping from
the milky surge Of stars, burned meltingly
through all her being.
She rose up and made herself as fine as
her meager wardrobe would permit, and
stood moment smiling at her image in the
glass; then, as from the thought that her
few poor trinlets would be as nothing to
him, laid them aside and clothed herself in
simple dress of white muslin and went
down, looking like goddess of the dawn.
Elchard was pacing to and fro along the
path before the porch, his head erect. his
checks touched with a tiny fame. When
she came out he was almost startled, so
much had gladness changed her. With a
quick step he was by her. ''Trean!" but
she lifted her finger with q pretty sign of
warning, her face flushed with happiness,
and he only stood q moment by her side
holding her hand tightly where it hung be-
tween them, and looking where the broken
mist rolled up the mountains and caught
here and there on spur and pine in mighty
melting tufts until. far in heaven, at last It
formed in foatiny isles Of fleece.
81 am going to meeting sOOl," she muir
INJURED. please don't go with me.''
He looked at her. "Why, darlingr' He
felt her tremble with that cndcaring name.
at might not be safe!'
ssWhat religionr' he exclaimed, with
sudden rcyulsIon.
''Yes,'' and her eyes were on the ground.
80, Trean! do you believe it!''
SIt might be true, and bad men make it seem
untrue" He was surprised at the musical
distinctncss of her speech. Love seemed to
have reused her from her sqaalid use of
words
"Yes, that is possible, perhaps, but do
not think it is so with this, Trean. The sys-
TEN seems bad the invention of bad men.
Yesterday went down the street, there
beyond the trees, and saw q woman of mid
die age knocking angrily at the door Of
little house. Presently young woman
opened the door, when the one who came
struck her in the face with a sharp rock,
and felled and beat her there upon the
threshold. A bystander who parted them
told me they were the wives of one man. 1t
was shociking"
Eyes, it was frlghtful," she said, thickly,
drawing the back Of her hand across her
forehead with a helpless air, ''but I don't
know any other way; never heard-I
never was shown better way''
'Love will show you, Trean; but let it. and
love will teach you the way!" His voice
was tenderness itself
Il have been learning a little since you
came" she said, looking up with smiling,
swimming eyes. With q murmur of glad
ness he caught her to him and held her close
for moment there among the hlacs. Then
steps sounded on the walk and they went
back together to the porch with their faces