The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-08-02


had an awful cough, an once the
doctor told me Liza would never be
we'll
1--WE found hcr lynn on the floor
one day. with her eyes closed. There
was bit Of paper near her. Shed
tried to crawl to the stove and couldn't,
SO she'd tore the letter up in little bits.
We couldn't make out Q word, but we
knowed Joe wrote it
latter that she never seemed to get
WELL We TOOK her to my sister Annie,
and she would lie in a stupor-like for
days. but when she opened her eyes
she was always askin' for me. Seems
like she wouldn't let me out of her
sight Shed want me to be beside her
an she'd put her arms around my neck
and draw my face close to hers and
say: You amt mad at me. Sally,
no more. is you? I've kept my prom
ise.'"
1.-The great tears brimmed over
Sally's eyes and she went on: Il
couldn't leave her no longer. so l told
Miss Southworth, an then l went to
stay at Annes. an took care of Liza
Oh, but she was beautiful, Miss Sue,
her cheeks was pink an her eyes SO
bright Some days she used to be we'll
enough to be dressed, an she'd set by
the window and look out as though she
was holdin' her breath to listen. but
she kept her promise an never men,
toned Joe's name. She seemed SO sad
it almost broke my heart, and one day
] says: Liza, do you want to see
Joe?'
"'Such look as came into her eyes!
an she smiled like her old self, an
then the wistful look came back an
she answered, so low l could scarcely
hear her: You told me l must neve,
speak his name"
1.-The sobs jes' shook me, an ] kiss
ed her and said: You shell see him,
Liza. l will send for him" But she
caught my hand an says: mot now,
Sally; not now. Not till l am dying.
thought may be he had been here"
IAN oh. how l wished he had. when
l saw the look in her eyes. I'd give
my life to have had him care enough to
ask how she was; but l had to shake
my head.
"'That night We sent kilograms over
the country for him. Liza knew next
morn she was dying. Then she told me
bout the letters she'd got from Joe. all
bout a robbery. anywhere he'd slowed
the things, but she said she dared not
tell me. because she'd promised never
to mention his name. She wanted to
see him. She said he was afraid to use
the things for fear of bein' caught, an
all this time Liza had been mournin'
over it an waitin' 10 write him to give
them to her; she'd take them back and
bear the punishment
"'We told her we'd sent for him to
come; but she died that mornin' with
the listenin' look on her face. and that
day we read in the papers that Joe had
been arrested for the robbery. but that
he got away from the officers; but they
fired at him and shot him dead
There" said my wife, 1--we told
you the story, and did not mean to.
You must hear Sally tell it,
l was filled with excitement; there
was something more than that story
in what my wife had been relating.
She had been 80 interested in hearing
of Liza, that she had not noticed some
peculiar facts connecting it very close
ly with our own life
would you mind asking Sally to
come in here TO me?' asked.
BE careful in questioning her. dear.
or you may not get what you wish. l
am so glad it will do. George, but be
sure and show sympathy for her, else
you can not get her to tell it in a nat
ural way
Dear me. Suev l burst forth. 81
can not coptain myself; don't you see
any connection between that story
and our loss'" l pointed to my empty
safe. Can't you remember when we
lived in Orange and was not so poor?
Can't you remember colored coach
man by the name of Joe Ramsay. whose
mother kept a greenhouse"
Mercy cried Sue. jumping up.
81 never thought OF it! You dom.
think that was Liza's husband?'
Il certainly do"
well. but Sally knows nothing
about itp'
But we may get some clew to these
bonds and"
Twill cali her," and away few my
wife
The pretty mulatto, with her sleeves
rolled up to her elbows, came into the
room. My wife with subdued excite.
ment stood beside her.
Mrs. Kercheval has been telling me
of your sister Eliza and of her nu band
Joe Ramsay" pronounced the name
boldly, but Sally seemed not to notice
it and answered:
Yes. sir"
My wife nodded excitedly.
Ibid any one ever know where the
bonds were that he stole?" l asked
quietly.
Sally took step forward. her eyes
wide with establishment you know
aoout them, then? Sir! Oh! do you
know who lost them?"
Joe Ramsay was my coachman. We
lived in Orange at the time. He was
arrested for robbery, but was shot
while trying to escape. No one knew
what he did with the bonds. have
the best authority for knowing they