The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-08-29


turn to have present-oddly enough,
considered in the light Of future events,
it was large monkey. She reached it
down from one of the lower boughs of
the tree and handed it to me, saying:l
"Dst is my Christmas present to you,
little Allan Quatermain."
AS she did SO her sleeve, which was
covered with cotton wool, spangled over
with something that shone, touched one
of the tapers-how do not know-and
caught fire, and the flame ran up her
arm towards her throat. She stood
quite still. 1 suppose that she was
paralyzed with fear; and the ladies who
were near screamed very loud, but did
nothing. Then some impulse seized
me-perhaps instinct would be better
word to use, considering my age-I
threw myself upon the child, and, beat
ing at the fire with my hands, mercifully
succeeded in extinguishing it before 1t
really got hold. My wrists were so badly
burned that they had to be wrapped up
| in wool for long time afterwards, but
with the exception of single burn upon
her throat, little Stella Carson was not
much hurt
This is all that / remember about the
| Christmas tree at the Hall. What hap
pened afterwards is lost to me, but to
this day in my sleep often see little
Stella's sweet face and the start of ter
ror in her dark eyes as the fire ran up
her arm. This, however, is not wonder
full, for had, humanity speaking, saved
the life of her who was destined to be,
my wife. -
The next event which I can recall
clearly is that my mother and three
brothers all fell ill of fever, owing, as
1 afterwards learned, to the poisoning of
our we'll by some evil-n1inded person,
who threw dead sheep into it.
Unjust have been while they were Ill
| that Squire Carson came one day to the
| vicarage. The weather was still cold,
| for there was a fire in the study, and
sat before the fire writing letters on
piece Of paper with pencil, while my
father walked up and down the room
talking to himself. Afterwards knew
that he was praying for the lives of his
wife and children. Presently servant
l CdIllt W buc uOOI dnu od1u bhdb SWIM OhC
| wanted to see him. =
'It is the Squire, SIR" said the maid,
land he says he particularly wishes to
see you
"Very WE'LL" answered my father,
YEARLY, and presently Squire Carson
came in. His face was white and bag
gard, and his eyes shone SO fiercely that
1 was afraid of him.
"Forgive me for intruding on you at
such time, Quatermain," he said in
hoarse voice, ''but tomorrow l leave
this place forever, and wish to speak to
you before go-indeed, must speak to
YOU" ~
shall I send Allan away9" said my
father, pointing to me.
mo, let him bide. He will not under
stand" Nor, indeed, did / at the time,
but remembered every word, and in
after years their meaning grew on me.
First tell me-" he went on, chow are
they?" and he pointed upwards with his
thumb. H
"My wife and two of the boys are be-
yond hope" my father answered, with a
groan. 81 do not know how it will go
with the third. The Lords will be
doner'
"The Lords will be DONE" the Squire
echoed, solemnly. "And now, Quater-
main, listen-my wife's gone"
Gomez my father answered. ''Who
with?" f..
with that foreign cousin of hers. 1t
seems from letter she left that she al
ways cared for him, not for me. She
married me because the thought me
rich English MILFORD. Now she has run
through my property, or most of it, and
gone. l don't know where. Luckily,
she did not care to cucumber her new
career with child; Stella is left to me-"
THAT is what comes of marrying
Papist, Carson" said my father. That
was his fault; he was as good and char
liable man as ever lived, but he was
bigoted. "What are you going to do
| follow her?" -
He laughed bitterly in answer.
Follow herr he said; ''why should l
follow her? If met her might kill
her or him, or both of them, because of
the shame they have brought upon my
child's name. No, never want to look
upon her face agsin. L trusted her, I
tell you, and she has betrayed me. Let
her go and find her fate. But 1 am GO
ing, too. / am weary of my life"
"Surely, Carson, surely" said my
father, you do not mean
mo, no; not that. Death comes soon
enough. But will leave this civilized
world that is living lie. We will go
right away into the wilds, my child and I,
and hide our shame. Where? don't know
where. Any where so long as there are
no white faces, no smooth, educated
tongues" g..
"You are mad, Carson" my father
answered. SLOW will you live? How
will you educate Stella? BE man and
live it down." sHs =!
| 81 viii be a man. and will live it
down, but not here, Quatermain. Educa-
ton, Was not she-that woman who
was my wife-was not she highly
| educated?-the clevereSt woman in the
country, forsooth. Too clever for me,
Quatermain-too clever by half. No,
no; Stella shall be brought up in diff
ferent school; if it be possible, she shall
forget her very name. Goodbye, old
| friend, goodbye for ever. Do not try to
find me out: henceforti shall be like
one dead to you, to you and ali knew"
and he was gone. 80
Mad" said my father, with heavy
lsigh. His trouble has turned his
fbrain. But he will think better of it,
At that moment the nurse came hurry
ing in and whispered something in his
ear. My fathers face turned deadly