The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-11-13


sailing. =.
Then nothing more. What hap
pened no one kucw--no one will ever
know. A piece Of her hulk was all
that wasr ever found. and there was
woe in England and voc in America.
Husbands and fathers. sons and
daughters. and. many n womau's true
love had gone down in midocean with
no power TO send farewell word to
any ono.
And Gladys Barron was among them
Our Gladys-Frauk's wife.
He lay upon the floor 10 his study,
where he had cast himself down for
hours. and dared not speak to him.,
1t was days and weeks before the
shasiiy, frightened look left his face.
months before ceased 10 fear that he
would die of sorrow. aud | stayed
with the children. An so another year
went; by. Tinn it was springiime. i
remember. and all the orchards were
full of Blossoms. pink and white.
Frank came 10 me as sat ut work in
the shadow of the two or three trees
in our little village garden, and sat
down at my feet.
Faithful little woman" he said. IL
wonder il You know how dear you are
to met"
trembled aud ,ny heart throbbed so
could scarcely beathe.
You are rich and | am not" he
said; but / know you will not think
that | am fortune hunter. / am a
sort of wreck OF what was. ! think
something went ont Of mo when my
poor Gladys was lost-that is. youths
essence. feel it-and look how grey.
am growing! But l long for q dear
friend-for a woman's tenderness-for
q wife who will he what you can be to
me. viii you have me such as | am.
with my children and my saddeued
spirit. and all my imperfeclions on my
heade"
Would /? dared not speak; but !
put my hand in his. ! knew he did
not give Inc the love be had given
poor Glsdys; but I should have
right to live near him-to receive his
caresses-to be oil to him that l felt ]
could be.
He shall lore me yet as psssonately
as man ever loved woman."I said to
myself. when. no more repressed. no
more afraid of loving him too well. ]
am once his wife"
was happy as the angels are for q
little space.
We were to be married very soon.
but as yet had told no one. had my
wedding dress sent down from the city.
village gossips knew nothing of it. and
one evening went to my room to try
it on.
1t became me very well. 1t was
pale pearl silk. with pretty white
bonnet. aud ia that was to walk up
the, church aisle on the next morning.
We. wsre: TO. have little journey and
return.
e II am 'psctty again" thought to
myself. .'l,he looks / lost long ago
have come hack to me in nv joys" aud
l went up 10 the glass and kissed my
own reflection.
As my lips touched the mirror |
heard sound bellows wild cry, Il
scream of fear shout of joy. What
had happened2
/ rushed to the head of the stairs
They we're dark. The hall below was
fully lighted. Under the blaze of.the
swinging lamp ! saw Frank Barron
holding his wife Gladys in his arms.
She wore a travelling dress. His sud-
den clasp. had caused her cap to fall to
the ground and all her golden hair to
escape from its comb. Living and
loving she,stood there ubrzcing him.
| rushed, back 10 my'room. tore of
my dress. hid it, locked it safe from
sight, .donued the gown that came irst
to hand. cried God help mel" and
went down the stairs. BY this time he
had her,in the parlor and was looking
at her with his tear-wet eyes.
"As beautiful as ever" be cried; ''as
beautiful rs everr'
Thank God. Giadysm / cried And
surely / thanked God that she had
come when she did. She kissed me,
but not warmly.
Fancy me all this time on desert
island" said she. Il had to go back
to- London for clothes and money; and
/ thought it best not ia cable"
= Her tones were fippaut. her looks
defiaut.
Tired of taking care Of thesbabies?"
she asked. ',;;.How'do they LOOK? They
won't know Me.''
Later she came to my room, ~,
ii heard you we're going 10 marry
Frank she said. Hadn't YOU better
confess? On the whole | suppose
you'd like 10 leave us?' ant
Il have packed my trunk" | said.
GLADYS. you must have suffered: tell
me about your fife on the ISLAND. How
eouh You keep SO well: 50 flesh. so
blooniGg?" : 49,
Il cant bear to talk of it. she said.
at was .horrid. OF course. >. How old
and ugly, Frank has grown"
With grief for you" said. : -
She laughed aud left me.
A little later met an English friend. l
She took my hands.
i Thought you would give Mrs. Bar
ron up" she said. Her husband has
taken her back after all.".
-'.It is no crime to be east or desert
island" said !.
desert island!'h SHE laughed. did
sue tell him that story? She lost the
steamer and went back 10 her own
house. She found It hard 10 leave
some one she had come TO know, and
when the boat was lost she made eapi-
tai Of it ia America. We knew she
spent q good many months and geod
deal of money in the Isle of Wight
and her.temper WIS too: much even for
Lord -. So she came from de.
sert standard he believes it. How
funny" -,
never saw either Of them agsin.-
Erchdnge:'.