The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-10-14

ran one of Eric's letters, my request
that you would come and accept the
court position you have now consented
to fill was proffered in a mood rather of
Jest than earnest. Yet circumstance
has conspired in more ways than one TO
make bright reality of what was then
but a rosy dream. | shall have you
here in Saltravia, my friend, and that
unhappy loss of your fortune is not the
sole reason l have secured you. The
king has for some time reposed in my
hands Those hands which have had the
luck so to please him as regards their
architectural plan drawings all power
of appointing the art superintendent of
his realm. ] gave this Office not very
long ago to one of our fellow country
men. an artist of no mean talent and of
apparently the coolest head. But no
sooner had he donned. so to speak, his
sinsignia. than arrogance and effrontery
We're mild names for him. What could
l do? There he strutted through the
halls of our beautiful museum with a
carriage you would have called immod-
est in peacock. Unless greatly err,
the poor king was the only one of us
whom he did not presume to patronize.
How to get rid of Mr.. birmingham was
for some time a battling problem.
could not discharge him. as no actual
offense could be laid at his door But
finally hit upon way. OF necessity
he would be absent for days at a time,
and | cleared my throat augustly one
afternoon and informed him that in
these absences n cosuperintendent must
be appointed to take his place. He
bristled at this. just as / had expected.
and asked me why a cosuperintendent
should be created and not an officer of
lower status than his own. / cndeav-
ored to explain precisely why. and in Sc
doing | am afraid that with intention
reused his lordly wrath, for a Disguised
resignation followed. and il came just
in the nick of time. During that same
week Your letter reached me. telling o.
that fateful suicide. The position wa
ready for you, and waits now your era
cious occupancy. Meanwhile JCrning
ham. still resident of Saltravia. poi
sons the air with malign tales abou
my jealousy of his success at winnin'
royal countenance. \ withered sister
who adores him, helps to spread thes
Gilly reports. They don't injure me.
am not. after all, half so unpopular il
Saltravia as Mr.. and Miss JerninghaT
would try to make out. But | feel j
my duty, dear Alonzo, to warn you the
you will find in these people two ready
made foes. And yet their enmity j
harmless as a sleeps bleat, and, ! regro
to add, hardly more amusing or drt
matte"
On reaching Saltravia. after n brio
stay in Paris. Alonzo alighted from til
train just at sunfall. His journey ha
been long and firing, but toward IL
latter part of it soft hills. green as en-
erald, had gradually greatened. affec
ing him from the window at which /
sat like giant spirits Of woodlawn no.
pitality, that linked their godlille hauo
in continual increase of greeting. b,
the light-built station. shaped wit
ARREST dclicacy. brought him greetir
dearer still. Eric Thaxter grasped h
hand before he had taken ten steps.
Dear old Eric.' he said: You loo
just the same. Big and handsome an
yellow-bearded as ever"
Eric smiled. and pressed his friend
hand with a vigor that brought la,
the atelier days in Paris, not to mentiC
hours of merry abandonment in IL
boulevard Saint Michel.
Don't think of your luggage sai
L
caught from his friends hand Il
vouchers held there. Come" he cor
tinued. after fieeting converse with tv
liveried servants. In another instal
he had thrown an arm about AlOnzo
neck, while they walked onward
together.
1T seems so natural to meet you her
in Saltravia," he said. 1T is like ha
ing the moon rise, or the breeze bloy
For am sure you will like it here, III
less the weather becomes rebellious."
Ore would say" murmured Alonz'
looking about him. that the skies wei
always kind to SO enchanting a spot
this"
$50 you like ito" flashed Eric Tha;
ter. Il was sure You would"
Like it? Are we near railway st;
tion?'
YES, my friend; but did you observ
the tunnel as you approached? 1t
three miles long"
You call it tunncl?"
We'll, causeway, if you prefer.
any case, our trains plunge through I'll
valley with kind of sleepy fierceGes
1t is the kings doing. And if you wi
cast your eye backward along IL
route of the railway by which you hav
Just come. YOU will see nothing but
series of undulant green embanllment
ablaze with spots of the choicest flow
crs.''
"Exquisite,' said Alonzo. But on
has lovclier things to look at here"
added. throwing his gaze to the RICH
and left, and then letting it dwell il
quiet ecstasy on the prospect tina
fronted him.
shall we drive to your lodgings, o.
shall we walls?" sounded Eric's voice.
Drive? walk?" fell from his nearer
in dGzed monotone.
After all it's but step" pursued the
guide. And You really like Saltravia
then? l was sure you would"
Like it, faltered Alonzo.
He had not yet made up his mind
whether he was in town or country.
No one ever did who first came to this
magic little region. True there were
no sidewalks. no pavements. Butroads
and paths that looked like huge and
endless white ribbons were bOrdered by
villas OF fairy-like fragility and yet
often of spacious exterior. Like an i'm
mense curved sword flung down upon
the velvet sweeps of turf, a river blazed
below the dying splendors of sunset.