The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-03-01

"He may have other reasons
"You know he has, Grace Penroy," cried
the man, in a voice harsh with aroused feel.
ing 81 have heard all about it, that it is
settled that you and the Captain are to
| marry. Tie story is in everybody's mouth.
, l demand to know what foundation there is
in such stories"
"None whatever"
Grace PeAroy came to her feet and faced
her ,over with flushed cheeks and flashing
eyes, He saw how she was moved. and the
demon jealousy had full possession of him
at that moment, binding him to reason ard
justice.
"Grace Penrcy, do not believe you," he
uttered in the masterful rage and grief that
whelmed him at that moment. 81 have re-
ports that can rely on that prove all and
more than the gossips tell. I did not think
you would so abuse the trust of an honest
heart. But it is gold goldl nothing but
goldl A female heart is tuned to no other
key"
He was interrupted in his impassioned
outbreak by gesture from Grace, whose
cheeks had lost their color now, and were
pallid with the hurt his cruel words had
given her heart.
at is wonderful, sir, how much you
know Of woman's nature" she said, in o
low voice, husky and tremulous with feel
ing. "You distrust me, Austin Went
word, and, knowing this, it would bring
only misery to link my fate with yours. I
accept what you evidently wish, freedom
from our engagement"
Then she tore PLAN gold circlet from
her finger and held it toward him.
"Grace, do you mean this!"
He uttered the words in sort of astouud-
ment. Evidently he had not intended that
their quarrel should lead to such a length.
"Distrust would kill me. Imean it, sir.
After to-day you need not come again"
| He accepted the ring and was silent. She
turned, forgetting her book that lay on the
| ground, and was Fastening away when his
| voice held her steps.
"Miss Penroy, you have forgotten some
thing"
When she faced him again he was holding
the book toward her. He then advanced
and placed it in her hand.
"Thanks, Mr.. Weutword."
| Then she continued her course toward the
house, not many rods distant, the young
mechanic watching her retreating form
with mingled feelings of anger and sorrow.
Scarcely had she disappeared when another
| stepped upon the scene in the person of
| Captain Starbright.
Unaware of the quarrel, although he had
been viewing the two from distance for
some time, the Captain knew not how mop
| perfume was his coming. Wentword was
not in a mood for sensible, gu ct converse,
| and the sight of Captain Starbright, whom
he viewed as his successful rival, reused all
| the evil in the young fellows nature. What
| occurred would not have happened had my
| hero been of that sanity pattern made to
| order by some of the novel writers of the
day.
Austin Wentword was human, and per.
| haps had his full share of faults; he GER
| tainly was not a saint, and, at the present
time, his passions were reused to Q high
pitch.
"Ah, whom have we herea" sneered Cap
tain Starbright, in lofty and insolent way
that was not calculated to soothe the wound.
ed feelings of the Stonefield mechanic.
Austin grasped the Captains collar and
| said, tiercely:
"A man who can fog a score of such
pusillanimous sneaks as you are. You call
yourself Captain, Captain of what I
should ike to knows If you were ever in
the army, it must have been as a private in
the rear rank of the home guard or broom
brigade.
"Unhand mem ordered the Captain, al
lowing his hand to seek his hip beneath the
skirts of his coat. Here he usually carried
| a weapon ready for use in case of danger.
mot until make you confess that you
| are coward and never was in the army"
81 shall hurt you, young man, unless you
take your dirty paw off my collar" threat
ened Captain Starbright, now white with
rage.
"That is how 1 will unhand you," cried
the angry mechanic, at the same time deal
ing the Captain sharp blow on the cheek
with the fat of his hand. $50 tell Miss
Penroy that send her a cowardly cur for
helpmeet. Maybe she'll salve your hurts
with her tears"
At this moment bright object CLEANED
in the face of Austin Wentword. Then
came a flash and sharp report. A deadly
bullet grazed the cheek of the mechanic.
On the instant the tw1 men closed in a
desperate struggle for the MASTERY. twas a
struggle that might end onIS IL the death
of one of the twain. 1t was lucky for
troubled Grace Penroy that she did not see
the conflict.
Wentword seized the Captains wrist and
attempted to wrest the revolver from his
grasp. Feeling that to lose the weapon
meant doom to himself, Captain Starbright
chung to it with the tenaclty of desperation.
And thus the two men went to the
ground.
Over and over they rolled in the grass.
Captain Starbright felt his gripon his revolv-
err weakening. 1t was torn from his grasp,
and then a terrible weakness swept his
being.
"Mercy!" he gasped, as he felt the knee
of his antagonist against his breast and saw
the cooked and cleaning weapon in the
hand of his maddened rival
Mercy to such as you-Hepcrn'
Then Austin Wentword thrust his weap-
on in the face of his enemy and was on the
point of pressing the trigger when hand
"No, Mr.. Wentword; murder must not
stain your hands"
The words, uttered in low tone, held the
hand of the would-be slayer. Atterward
the young mechanic could not feel too CRATE.
full for the interruption that saved him from
the brand of Cain.
The young mechanic came to his feet to
find himself confronted by slender youth
who held rife across the hollow of his
arm. The reader has met this character
before-Louis Fingal.
"Who are you. Why do you interferer'
demanded Wentword, in an angry tone,
glaring menacingly at the new conner.
"To save bloodshed and your soul from
perdition," answered the youth, quickly.
Captain Starbright was now on his feet,
regarding the person who had saved his life
with grateful curiosity.
at strikes me We have met before,n ut
tered the Captain.
"Once, believe"
~ can not, however, call 70 mind the |
time"
'sNoa A few days since; just at the foot of