The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-07-01
CHAPTER XVIII.
JOIN BARLOW SPEAKS his ,1yD.

| maid adrift to win her way in this big
wilderness of a London, WI never q
friend to help her hold her pretty head
above water, an dangers meetin' her at
every step. l tell zee, never thought
thee'd done it, marm.7
The speaker was John Barlow, who
stood by the side of a low pony car
riage talking to lady, his honest faco
aglow with anger.
Good gracious, Mr.. Barlow" replied
the lady, quite taken aback by the
yeoman's ungracious reception, for she
was on a visit to friend in the neigh
borhood and had driven over to make a
call at Willoughby farm, quite uncon-
scious of the yeoman's sentiments re-
garding her conduct. What do you
mean? Arc you speaking of that I'M
fortunate girl, Kate Grahame?"
81 be-" was the stolid reply.
"And do you mean to say that you
think have treated her badly?"
II do"
''Then, you know nothing about the
case, or you would not say so. 1 am al
most too provoked with you to offer
you an explanation; but know what
an honest, good-hearted, stubborn man
you are, and"
Here Miss Baldcrstone's voice became
a little tremulous and tears forced
themselves into her eyes, an expression
of emotion which considerably discom-
posed the tender-hearted farmer.
Dang it all, marm," he said, bluntly,
'Jloan't begin bellerin', for l cannot
stand a woman's tcars-just tell ne In
two words what has become of the
maid, an if you dunnot want to aid her
yoursen, put it into al honest mans
power to give her helpin' hand
II do not linow-but, oh, Mr.. Bar
low, you Elust-you shall hear what
have to say"
well, marin, If it 'ull ease thy con-
science TO tell thy story, say thy say
wi'out more ado, an let me gan home
to ny dinner"
Miss Balderstone's face flushed with
Indignation.
"A year ago she left my house at
Ecnsington of her own free will-nay,
/ might almost say surreptitiously,"
she began.
Il dUnnot know what surreptitiously
means, but 4 it means that Kate Gra-
harne did anythin' TO shame her, wun-
not believe it OF the lass-so, there
you've got it,
II mean that she left unknown to
nc"
AN hadna thee done nothin' to make
her think her biding wi thee was1a
aGreeable?"
..y-, o,r4c;-I-- bo1 - J;441o +ro-,I,Ja
and perhaps my manner was not as
cordial Gs usual
MAY be bold enough to ask the
cause Of the trouble?"
You may. Mr.. Colburn, the emil
ucnt solicitor of Lincoln's inn, had
taken great trouble to secure a position
for her in Canada, and at the last no
ment, she fatty refused to start, or to
give any explanation of her obstinate
conduct
Sensible lass. Old England was
good enough for her; bless her little
heart, like her ten times better for
scttin' her pretty face agen 4 journey to
Turin parts"
'But you forget, Mr.. Barlow, that
Kate Grahane had to make her way in
the world, and
''Ah, marin. 1 see-thec made her feel
thGt-ca' that's why the sweet maid
left thee"
'-Oh, Mr.. Barlow, how can you be SO
cruel to nc? tell you loved the girl
like my own sister, and, though was
angry with her and might have said
some unllird words in my vexation, I
never thought"
THAT herd had the spunk to take
thy snecrs in earnest. Like q woman,
thee did ~ think that word can cut
as sharp as . whip-thonc-but, tell me,
did thee hear nothin' of the poor lass
Since her went away nigh on 4 twelve
month agoac?"
Yes about n month ago nay maid
met her in Kings road, Chelsea, and
she gave her an address m the neigh
borbood. She said that the poor child
was looking so wan and miserable
that
That what?-
'That 1 got the better of ny pride
and wrote TO her imploring her to re-
turn to my roof"
Thee did, marin. Well, that was
thought Miss Balderstone I'D q done.
Well, what did the maid say?"
''Shc never answered Ely letter, and
of course after such contemptuous treat
neat could not
of course thee couldn't. Nyl what
q heap OF dignity goes to the makeup
of even the best of women. But. viii
thee give me the address, for mayhap-
pen | shanot be so easily angercd by
her"
Willingly, Mr.. Barlow, and l hope
you viii be more successful IN restoring
the young lady to q proper frame ot
mind than have been. Perhaps, after
what has passed, you may deem it in
pertinent if l ask after your wife and
daxghter"
This was in Miss BalGcrstone's highest
style OF Miacrvaliic dignity.
Thee knowest viii not. Wife De-
bC-ah be fair to middlin', an Nellie, ray
little Ncllie's goin' to be married.
How c,,ultinGly the farmer gave this
latter piece OF information.
AYE" he added, to be married to
two hundcrd an icrty acres of the best
arabic land i the county of Surreyr'
Surely" Miss Baldcrstonc said.
smiling through her chagrin, ''you are
not making = sacrifice of yoar daughters
happincss-you speak SO strangely
about her marrying the l2rd?'
To BE CONTINUED.