The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-05-03
CHAPTER XVII.
MISS JoYcE's MISFORTUNE

bOic " BIZ up &tnOuRn the 0OCtOf 8QVlSeO
quiet and no attempt at exertion. until she
was fully recovered, since Q reaction might
set in.
The probate court granted stay Of some
weeks regarding the will Of the late Mr..
Vandible, on account of the illness of i'm
portant witnesses. Lurs Joyce had sue
ceeded in gaining this concession from the
court in spite Of the covert opposition Of
Captain Starbrght and his attorney.
1.-THE will is fraud, and can be proved
SO if you will wait until the young Miss
Penroy and her mother are able to appear"
declared Lura, and 30 once again was the
scheming Captain thwarted.
He understood to whom he owed his non
success, ard the bitter feeling IN his heart
for the brave young girl deepened into
absolute hatred.
Miss Joyce often visited Stonefield in
the interest of the young mechanic, who
lay in the county Jail waiting the outcome
Of Grace Penroy's injury.
1t was an outrage not to permit bail, Lura
Joyce declared, and the young man in
nocent, too The Captain and his attorney,
however, managed to have the bail fixed at
such high figure that none Of Austin
Wentword's friends could aid him, and so
the mechanic, wholly innocent as the reader
knows, languished in Jail. The testimony
of Captain Starbright before the justice in
whose court Wentword had his exami-
nation was positive against the prisoner,
and as the Captain was prominent citizen
there could be no doubling his oath.
Lura Joyce fretted at this not q little,
but, finding that nothing could be done to
rescue the young man from prison until
freed by due process of law, she gave up
the case and turned her thoughts and eff
forts in another channel.
Mrs. Penroy was soon able to attend upon
the wants of her daughter, thus leaving
Lura Joyce more time to herself.
81 believe Captain Starbright is at the
bottom of all this iniquity," declared Lura
one day to Grace. "You. of course, know
that Austin Wentword is innocent of an at
tempt on your life"
Certainly" assured Grace. "He and
were standing together when the shot was
fired by some one in ambush"
"We,l. you shall testify to this in good
time. have surprise in store for Gin
ton Starbright that will take him down a
peg when he comes to chew on it; and, mind
you, Grace, the villain shall begin the mas.
tication before he is many days older"
81 am not sure but what you wrong the
Captain" said poor little Grace, with a
faint, sad smile. HE has been very kind
to me during my Illness"
kind! All put on, my dear, every bit OF
IT," declared Lura, quickly.
To this the invalid made no reply.
As she sat supported by pillows in a
great armchair she presented pretty
l,,%,, hat hn, ta,e
cousin could not fail to admire.
"You will soon be strong again, dear, -
said Lura. at seems incredible that such
an accident should come to one so good as
you are. Grace. Sometimes l think that it
,uds an accident. You see, am sentimental,
like other girls, once in awhile
Then Lura gave vent to sharp little
laugh and sprang to her feet, gliding
swiftly from the room.
On her way to Stonefield that very day
on the stage the horses became frightened
and ran, the stage was overturned, and
several of the passengers injured, among
them Lura Joyce.
'Confound the luckr' exclaimed the girl,
when she found her ankle sprained so
severely as to prevent her bearing her
weight on it. IN never ride in that stuffy
old coach again. This serves me right for
not going on my own conveyance-theb back
of Romeo"
The driver secured farmers wagon, in
which he conveyed hls passengers to the
city. Miss Joyce found shelter at the
house of a friend. where, to her chagrln,
she was compelled to remain for several
days on account of her injuries.
While here she was visited by grave
looking gentleman of thirty, whose sober
face and quiet manners We're in direct con-
trast to the bubbling exuberance OF Miss
Joyce. This gentleman was Dr. Cotton,
really the most learned and gifted physician
IN the city. That he was a friend of Lura
Joyce was proved from the cordial nature of
their meeting.
"How is your patient, DR.. Colton!'
This was about the first words after a
good hearty hand-shake. Lura. with one
foot swathed resting on 4 hassock, reclin-
ing calmly in a huge rocker, was an inter-
esting picture. The grave, dark eyes of the
young doctor evinced their admiration by
the earnestness of their gaze.
my patient is fast gaming, and will soon
be sound as dollar-my old patient, but as
to my young one that remains to be seen,"
and Lura actually blushed under the affec-
tionate earnestness of his gaze.
$50 you heard of my little tumble," she
retorted, quickly. Il had no idea that l
should require the services OF a physician"
THAT remains to be seen"
He then bent over the swollen limb. and
with def fingers removed the wrsppings.
He assumed the physicians liberty, and
Lura Joyce was by no means prude enough
to affect any false modesty under the cir
cumstances. She was anxious to be on her
feet again, and had full confidence in the
ability of DIR. Arthur Cotton, VINO would
have been called to visit Grace Penroy had
she the ordering Of a physician at the out
set.
After a brief examination he regarded
her gravely. and said:
81 find fracture here that will necessi-
tate the utmost quiet for at least fort
night"
"But positively can not remain idle
that length of time" declared tine girl, in
quick agitation. Il must return to Lone
Hollow by tomorrow, at furthest."
"That would be out of the question. You
are under my care now, Lura, and must
obey orders"
Something like smile touched his face.
Lura realized that he was in earnest, how
ever. and she groaned lnwardly at the pros
pect. What might not happen during her
absence from Lone Hollow.
There seemed TO be no help for il, how
ever, and poor Lura resigned herself to a
fortnight's Imprisonment with the best
gree possible. She had no thought of
disputlng the wisdom of DIR. Colton's dag
nosis. To Lura his word, of all men in the
world, was law. She regarded Arthur
Cotton as the wisest man on the globe, and
as good as he was wise. She always felt
her inferiority while in his presence, and
this often embarrassed her so that
she shrank within herself and ceased
to shine with the full glow Of
her yivacious womauhood. Possibly