The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-03-13

and make inquiry as as to the
extent of his injuries, but she was
young and thoughtless: she could not
be Intentionally heartless. l was horri-
fed to think that she should have made
such an enemy as even this aged and
poverty stricken wretch; but | said moth
ing. 1had no wish TO betray myself. He
waited for me to speak, aud grew impa-
tient at my silence.
"Say now, my friend" he Queried.
with sort of childish eagerness, did |
not take good vengeance? God him
self could not have done betterI'
81 think your wife deserved her fate"
i said CURLY, ''but / cannot say that ]
admire you for being her murderer"
He turned upon me rapidly, throwing
both hands above his head with fran
tic gesticulation. His voice rose to kind
OF muffled shrek.
Murderer you call me-ha! ha! that
is good. No, no! She murdered me! /
tell you / died when saw her asleep in
her lovers arms-she killed me at one
blow. A devil rose up in my body and
took swift revenge; that devil is in me
now, brave devil, a strong devil! That
is why do not fear the plague; the devil
it will leave me''-here his smothered
veil sank gradually to a feeble, weary
tone; Eyes, it will leave me and / shall
find dark place where l can sleep;
do not sleep much now" He eyed me
half wistfully.
"You see," he explained, almost
gently, 'my memory is very good, and
when one thinks CT many things one
cannot sleep. 1t is many years ago, but
every night l see her; she come to me
wringing her little white hands. her blue
eyes stare, hear her short means of
terror. Every night, every night" He
paused, and passed his hand in bewj.-
dered way across his forehead. Then,
like man suddenly waking from sleep,
he stared as though he saw me now for
the first time, and broke into q low
chuckling laugh.
what thing, what a thing it is, the
memory" he muttered. strange
strange! See, | remembered all that,
and forgot you! But know what you
want-a suit of clothes-yes, you need
them badly, and also need the money
for them. Ha, ha! And you will not
have the fine coat Of Milford Inglese! No,
no! understand. will find YOU some
patiencei"
And he began to grope among a num-
Der of things that were thrown in a con-
fused heap at the back of the shop.
While in this attitude he looked so
gaunt and grim that he reminded me of
an aged vulture STOPPING over carrion,
and yet there was something pitiable
about him too. In a way was sorry for
him: a poor half-witted wretch, whose
life had been full of such gall aud worm
wood. What a differenS fate was his to
mine, / thought! l had endured but one
short night of agony; how trifiing it
seemed compared to his hourly remorse
and suffering! He hated Nina for an
act of thOughtlessness; well, no doubt
she was not the only woman whose eXis-
tence annoyed him; it was most proba-
BILE that he was at enmity with all
women. watched him pityingly as he
searched among the WORKOUT garments
which were his stock-in-trade, and won
dered why death, so active in shifting
down the strongest in the city, should
have thus cruelty passed by this forlorn
wreck of human misery, for whom the
grave would have surely been a most
welcome release and rest He turned
idSG WIFI gesture
II have found it, he exclaimed. THE
very thing TO suit you. You are per-
hapS a coral-tiSherS You will like a fish
erman'S dress. Here is one, read sash.
cap and all-in beautiful cOnditio! He
that wore it was about YOUR height-it
will fit you well as it fitted him-and.
look you! the plague is not in it; the sea
has soaked through and through it; it
smells of the sand and weed"
He spread out the rough garb before
me. glanced at it carelesSly.
did the former wearer Kill his wife?"
asked, with slight smile.
The old rag picker shook his head and
made sign with his outSpread fingers
expressive of contempt
mot he! He was a fool. He killed
himself
"How was that? By accident or de-
sign?"
''Che! Che! He knew very well what
he was doing. 1t happened only two
months since. 1t was for the sake of
black-eyed Jade-he lives and laughs
all day long up at Sorrento. He had
been on long voyage, he brought her
pearls Tor her throat and coral pins for
her hair. She had promised to marry
him. He had just landed-he met her
on the Quay-he offered her the pearl
and coral trinkets. She threw them
back and told him she was tired of him.
Just that-nothing more. He tried O
soften her-she ragged at him like tiger
cat. Yes, / was oEa of the little crowd
that stood round them on the quay-I
saw it all. Her black eyes flashed. she
stamped and bit her lips at him, her full
bosom heaved as though it would burst
her laced bodice. She was only a mar
ket-girl, but she gave herself the airs of
q queen. i am tired of your she said to
him. 60! wish to see you no more
He was tall and well-made-a powerful
he staggered, his face grew
pale,--his lips quiyered. He bent his
head little-turned-and before any
hand could stop him, he sprang from the
edge of the quay into the waves; they
closed over his head. for he did not try to
swim; he just sank down, down, like a
stone. Next day his body came ashore,
and bought his clothes for two francs;
you shall have them for four"
"And what became of the grip"
asked.
'aOh, she! She laughs all day long, as
] told you. She has new lover every
week. What should she care?''
drew out my purse. 81 will take
this suit" said. ''you ask four francs,
here are six, but for the extra two you
must show me some private corner
where can dress"