The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-03-08
CHAPTER VIII.
A LETTER

Grace Penroy and Lura Joyce stood to-
gether in the room of the former. Grace
had just loosened her waving masses Of vel
low hair, and stood by the glass combing
the golden strands, while her cousin leaned
against 4 richly-carved mantel over the mar
row CRATE and regarded the pretty girl be-
fore her with no attempt to conceal her ad-
miration.
II do not wonder that so many men are in
love with you, Grace" said Lura at length,
after full minute given to silent admira-
ton. eff l was half as beautiful 1 should
feel proud as Lucifer, and"
'Lura, please don't"
sits not bit of fiattery that am giving
you, young lady. You are the most beauti-
full human creature / ever behold, and l
say again it's no wonder the men love YOU
80, and are ready to cut one another's
threats through their infatuatien. There's
the gallant Captain, and handsome Austin
Wentword, and"
"Lura, will you ceaser'
Grace turned now and faced her cousin, a
panied expression on her white face and
lurking in her honest gray eyes.
"Don't you like to hear the truths Are
facts so repugnant to you that you feel
hurt at their utterance, pretty cousina'
"You do not understand, Lura'' said
Grace, in low tone, slightly tremulous with
feeling "None Of the gentlemen named
are aught to me.''
"Not one7"
Lura Joyce seemed surprised.
THAT is the truth, Lura. beg you to
say nothing about any of these fortune
hunters
"Ah, there's the rubr' exclaimed Miss
Joyce, with merry laugh. al understand
the situation exactly. You don't encour-
age one of these fellows for fear he is look
ing only after your fortune. I've no doubt
your fears are not ill-founded. have been
at Lone Hollow but fortnight, yet in that
comparatively short space of time have
made discovery"
Lura joyce threw herself into q rocker
and clasped her hands over one of the
arms, peerIng up from under sandy brows
at her cousin.
As tIrace made no remark Lura went on:
"a have spotted one fortune-hBnter at
least cousin NINE, the handsome, heartless
Captain Starbright Have you ever thought
OF his attentions seriously, Graces'
"Neyer"
That is good" calculated Lura, with
evident satisfaction. Captain Starbright
Is fortune-hunteri in every sense of the
term, and as heartiess as demon. Have
tmet him beforsi thought you knew that
he once pleaded with me on Bonded knees
to marry him. It's fact all the same, and
you know it now. He was after my fortune,
which proved a myth, and so the gallant
Captain ran away from that part Of the
country to seek out the granddaughter of
old Morgan Vandible, and if possible win a
fortune and wife at one and the same time
He has not yet succeeded and never will, il
you are wise, Grace"
shall be wise enough not to wed one
do not love-" answered the heiress, simply
well said. cousin. 1 hope you will stick
to that text"
"You may be sure that will"
e. Now tell nae, Is there one that you do
love, Gracei"
The girl at the glass busted herself with
her toilet without seeming to notice this
question. 1t was repeated, with still no
answer.
Then Lura Joyce came to her feet, and,
srossIng the carpet, peered into the face OF
Der cousin. She was not wholly surprised
70 find the honest gray eyes brimming with
Aears.
A smile fitted over the countenance Of