The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-09-09

personal explanation of his ranl1est
follies. He had murdered all that was
finest in his wife, and those who knew
him best were well aware how strong
thrill of triumph had passed through
him when Kitty's own imprudences had
swelled into a striking offset against
those which he himself had committed.
81 can hit back now, if she tries the
| divorce game" he had once brazenly
said in an assemblage of intimates. The
ribaldry reached Alonzo's ears, and did
not tend to deepen his regard for its
author.
On his own side Hector greatly dis
| liked Alonzo He considered him per-
son besotted with many pambyisms and
| fit only to loll at the feet of women
sillier than himself. He thought that
his pranks and capers were the most
pointless bits of buffonery, and that he
was never SO much in his element as
when the recipient of reluctant giggles
/ from disguised observers. More than
once, during wrangles with his wife, he
had aired opinions of this cutting sort
as to her brother, and Kitty, ''for the
sake of peace" as women often put it
| to themselves. refrained from breathing
word of these savageries to AlOnzo.
/ Meanwhile, as at present, the two kins-
men continued to interchange civil
| greetings when accident placed them in
each others path.
DINNERS been waiting ages" Hector
Van Santvoord now said, following his
wife and Alonzo into a small reception
room off the main hall, nook that was
all one tender bloom of rose color and
silver. Hector himself was in full even
ing dress; the white at his throat be-
came him, as it does most dark mea
with features clean cut
His wife rested an arm on the mantoi
and stood there gazing downward, in
mournful apathy. Alonzo began to
draw off his gloves, and said, while do
ing so:
Il think that-Kitty had perhaps-a
suppose you-a-would dine out this
evening"
He retained no idea of what words
had escaped him moment after he had
thus spoken. Il seemed necessary to
break the awkward silence, and he had
employed with this purpose, mechan-
! ical m0nOtone.
Hector looked at his wife and shrugged
his shoulders. Il told you, Kitty he
grumbled. ''that would dine at home
! might have sat down alone he
went on. still more ill-naturedly. after
pausing for an answer and receiving
| none. But it occurred to me that you'd
possibly bring some one home with you
not Alonzo, but Jack Pettigrew, or
some one like that" The sneer was
evident and as she perceived it Kitty
raised her eyes. While she did so her
husbands look swept her face, and he
plainly started.
You've been crying" he said.
you're crying still. What's happened?'
Kitty. as if for answer, threw herself
on a sofa and buried her face. Alonzo
went to the open door and quietly
closed it.
~ good deal has happened" he said
to his brother-in-law. And then, with
his discourse broken by his sisters audi
BILE tears, he spoke for some time.
The end of what he said left Hector
extremely pale. Good Cod at length
fell from him. Its the most damnable
thingl It's lil5e-lile nightmare. II
dare say saw the suicide in the even
ing paper, but l always avoid reading
those nasty things unless they're about
people | know. And that fellow,
Chichester-why. I'd forgotten he was
in the firm at ALL
Ills names been conspicuous there for
n number of years." returned AlOnzO,
with grimness.
"ITe was never fit to be Uncle Craw-
ford's partner" exclaimed Kitty, lifting
her head and clutching a tear-stained
handkerchief in both hands. ''lIe
wasn't a gentleman, as 1--we often
said. And now he's ruined us. For,
even supposing we could save five or
six thousand a year apiece, what would
such pitiful little sum be to me? What
would ten thousand be-or even twenty?
Oh, wonder my hair isn't white al
ready! Perhaps it may even come to liv-
ing in the country, And don't doubt all
my diamonds will have to go. And
and my gowns will be sold around to
anybody who'll take them, rs Grace
Hacllensack's were when her husband
went to smash!''
You'd better wait till you know how
things really are" muttered Hector,
with lowered head and hands in his
pockets. 81 dare say they'll turn out
beastly enough" He glanced, here, at
Aionzo, and with no gentle gaze.
Money neglected is apt to be money
lost"
Uncle Crawford never neglected his
affairs" said Alonzo.
Perhaps he didn't. But he's been
getting on in years. You were part
ner in the concern-as well as he. But
you only turned up there once a fort
night. and sometimes not even that"
q never found myself wanted when
/ did turn up" said Alonzo, with indif-
ference rather than good temper.
THAT was because you took no in
terest in the concerns of the firm
At this the brother-in-law of Hector
slightly frowned. But he SAID, without
the least harshness: Il could never
master matters of business, and think
l was wise enough to realize that mod
esty alone makes us tolerate incompe-
! tence."
''Oh. pooh" retorted Hector. Idle
ness and lazinesS are not Incompetence"
a flash left Alonzo's eyes then. NO"
he replied; If they were, you'd be an
imbecile."
'Oh, come, now" scowled Hector. Il
don't spend my time as you spend it,
True" Alonzo shot back. You
spend it in gambling; don't In drink
| inr. | rarelv drink In the society of