The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-09-30


that he had ever heard leave his friends
lips.
II do mean it, averred Alonzo. You
know just what trouble has come to
me-"
Eyes. It's too bad. It's really horrid,
you know"
I've lost my fortune, Philip. I'm a
poor man"
Eyes. I'm awfully sorry for YOU
Thanks, for your sympathy"
Lexington began to curl his full,
dark mustache by slipping thumb
under one of its ending curves and q
forefnger precisely above the thumb.
Then, while completing a little airy
twist of the grasped hairs, he replied:
Look here, my boy, you're devilish
sensitive, I should say"
Fright, Philip. 1 am sensitive.
Haven't l reason to be? Now is the
time that what friends 1 have should
stand by me. 1 never thought
had many real friends: 1 hardly be-
ieved, for that matter, that | had any
at all. But l did count on you. And
this thing I've asked you to do is such
a small thing"
Philip Lexington rose now, with a
weary sneer on his fine, chiseled face:
"A small thing" he broke forth.
mockingly. What, pray? 1 go and
ask girl who engaged herself to you
because you had lots of money, whether
she will have you now that you've lost
nearly everything? Can't you see be-
forehand what her answer will be? If
you've fancied there was anything
queer in her department the last time
you met her, can't you"
"Stop there" said Alonzo. He had
risen, too, and though he preserved
much composure an abrupt wave of his
hand bespoke excitement. IL deny
that kathleen Kennaird ever engaged
herself to me because, as you put it, l
had lots of money"
Then you're wrong" said Lexing-
ton, gazing down at his well vanished
boots. You're with another twirl of
the mustache tip) dead wrong, | assure
YOU"
Alonzo rnawed his lips. "Phil," he
cried, what are you sayiDg?'
Only the TRUTH
''The TRUTH
''Nes, yes
'But you must be mad to state that
Kathleen-Ob! no, no. no, Phiir'
Alonzo had caught his friend 10y
either shoulder and was plunging n
penetrating look into his eyes. The
latter, with GOODNESS unexpected yet
distinct, answered, while Alonzo with
drew from him:
ITS SO odd. You ought to know life.
You're old enough"
philip! Philip" broke from Alonzo.
I'm SO sorry asked you to go to her.
But you're my friend still? 1t isn't my
lost money that you're thinking of?
No, no, Phil, not you; not you"
Don't be tiresome."
Lexington might have said volumes
and yet not have expressed a more pun
gent little series of words than those
three.
IN try not to be tiresome." came
Alonzo's answer, rs if between shut
teeth. Its quite clear to me, Philip,
that my request bores you"
Swell" returned Philip. dcggedly,
after n slight silence, 1T does"
1T wouldn't have done so a short
time ago"
Il don't understand"
Don't you? do"
"You seem angry at me-" muttered
Philip; land for no reason"
For 10 reason?"
None that can see. A short while
ago? You mean, then"
''Oh, l mean what l mean, Philip.
There's hardly any favor that you'd
have refused me short time ago. Now
you find me of no importance. I've lost
my money, and I'm not worth cultivat-
ing"
Lexington flushed holly and tossed
his head. Isn't that rather uncivil of
you?" he frowned
Yes, if you choose. But the uncivil-
ity of raw truth has sometimes a GER
tain refreshing refinement"
Il don't grasp your paradoxes. You
always excelled in them, however"
Alonzo had grown very pale. Let it
all rest there, then, Philip" he said.
''Ycu've disappointed me horribly.
Good by" and he turned on his heel
with dismissal at once quiet and i'm
perious.
Lexington walked to a door and
seized its knob. ''Oh! just as you
please" he said, sullenly You keep
up your pride, but I'm afraid it won't
serve you as well as you think. With
regard to the money l owe you, since
we've both been mentioning money So
so broadly, I'll do my best
ing words:
Il don't want a dime from You, and
I'll be only too glad if you'll consider
that debt Cancelled, so to speak, by the
of our acquaintance"
Across another threshold Alonzo
swiftly quilted the rooEl. No sooner
was he alone, however, than he re-
preached himself for undue severity.
And yet he did not regret having broken
with this man. 1t was mercilcssly
patent to him that Lexington had been
the most time-serving Of friends. 4
kind of clairvoyance had told him this,
by flashes at once intuitive and acute
Hundreds of other men, placed like him
self. might have meant as much as he |
and said a great deal less. But Alonzo |
had rarely dealt in sclf-restraints. |
Those who liked him best liked him be- I
cause of such candors; those who liked (
him least did SO because his free speech. |
MS wearing the heart on the sleeve, re- /
PEELED them from the point of view of |
taste, if from none other. And these /
after critics would have been just the /
,nes to denounce his openness with /
Lexington as vulgar, however much /
! I Al 7