The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-12-18

ana the man IN the DOaJ!
''He is there yet, fishing. He has just
hooked pickerel nearly a yard long.
Now he has got it into the boat"
81 see it allr' the young man cried,
enthusiastically. Il see it all, Wanda,
with your eyesi'
81 am glad to be so useful to you,
George" the girl replied, with a look of
ineffable tenderness.
"And, when you are gone, all will be
dark again. How selfishly happy
have been in your society"
"Hushl' she said. "You must not
speak like this. You will have Kate
and"
But Kate is not Wanda!'
There was world of meaning in his
words, and the girls eyes filed with
tears she could not repress.
''It seems but the other day." he con-
tinued, fretfully, that good old Dladon
brought me to Glastonbury. The physi'
clan had said that change of scene
would do me good-fancv change of
scene for blind man, Wanda-aud |
cared not where l went, for all places
were the same to me. But the smell of
the pines was pleasant, and | felt the
presence of the river. Little did think
that there was in store for me such n
year of happiness as | have enjoyed.
What lucky day it was for me when
Harry Evesham found me laundering
along in my poor, helpless way right IN
front of a runaway horse and took me
to his home. Then how generously
Mrs. Evesham received me into her
family circle, and = met y0u, Wanda"
YES, ycs!" the girl said, hurriedly;
| but he could not see the quivering of
her lip nor the deep crimson of her
blush. "Alone as you were in the
world, it must have been a pleasant ex-
perience for you"
"Ah, you may well say so. l never
knew how sweet n one till now. But
let us not waste words, Wanda, for this
may be the last chance | may enjoy for
months of speaking with You alone.
You and are similarly situated-waifs
and strays in the world"
Then he added with sad smile: ''You
have given me the priceless blessing of
a sisters love-alas, with my affection,
L dare not ask Tor more.
A sisters love | give you freely"
Then her face lit up with smile as
she said: You promised to tell me
about yourself, George. Now, be 4
good boy and crafty my curiosity"
well, sister mine" he said, Il will
give you my autobiography. | cannot
say in the orthodox manner of story
tellers that was born of poor but re-
! spectacle parents, for / am afraid mine
were automatically well to do. The
early past is yelled in much obscurity.
l have a dim recollection of Il happy
home across the seas of time when
l could see ali the beautiful things on
carth-of 2 long illness which left me in
to-al darhness-of frantic father hur-
rying me away from the place of my
birth-of long years of restless travel
and-that is all, Wanda"
But, your f2thcr?''
"Ah, he was the dearest, kindest man
who ever breathed the breath of life"
did he never speak to you of your
childhood?"
Never on the contrary he forbade
any allusion to it. For years he hur-
ried me from place to place with rest
less persistency, always accompanied
! by old William Bladon, who seemed to
be more trusted friend than servant to
him"
What object could he have in lead
ing such nomad lifc?"
That is more than can tell you. As
l got older fancied he was flying from
some terrible trouble - he seemed in
such constant dread of recognition or
pursuit"
How strange
WAS it not? Well, the climax came
at last. Just n year ago we reached Chi
cago from the far west. was tired
with travel, and my dear father was
anxious about my health, for no woman
could have been tenderer in her solicit
tude than he was of me. One day we
were walking down State state, he, in
gayer mood than usual. describing To
me the stores and the sights. Suddenly
felt his grasp tighten on my arm and
n thrill of emotion shake his frame-you
see we blind are very sensitive, Wanda
then, a groan escaped his lips,
knew he was suffering from some great
shock. Father, what is it?' | said.
Then l heard ] woman's voice quite
close to US. so, we meet at last, Ar
thur Arundel it cried in clear, music
al tone, which nevertheless had 4 ring
of anger in it, but which my quick per.
ception recognized as the voice of Z
cultured woman. The next instant my
poor father fell prone on the pavement;
a crowd gathered: and he was carried
to the hotel where he died in less than
an hour"
Without recovering consciousness
Wanda asked, her eyes moist with tears
of sympathy.
Not quite so bad as that. He man
aged to say few words to me before
he died. My son. he said, 4 am go
ing where the wicked cease from troub
ling; but you will be left to be {
shaft for their evil Vaccinations.
cannot even put you on your guarC
against them. Trust implicitly in Bla
don. It lies in my power to give yor
great wealth and high station, but the
risk of acquisition would be ruinou:
to Your peace of mind. and ! bequcatl
YOU sufficient for all your needs-a hun
dred thousand dollars is deposited Il
your credit in the First national banl
to New York Then he relapsed into ;
state of coma, only reviving for mo
ment to whisper in my ear: If eve
you meet Wanda, tell her that her sc
cret lies buried with me. 1t may allay
her bitterness
.'Wardar' the girl cried. "Hov
strange! Why, am Wanda"
But not the Wanda he meant. Hi
Wanda fancy was some cruel enemy
perhaps the very woman whose pres