The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-12-09

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jealousy, pure and simple What chief
" concerned this very agitated lady
was the question of how Alonzo had
thus far acted and of how al any mo-
rnent he might take il into his head to
act Here he was, returned to Sal
travia, the bosom friend of the kings
bosom friend. He must have heard
that Clarimond was intensely capti-
waited with Kathleen Everybody was
talking of the affair. Stories had got
afioat that the princess OF Brindisi had
already pleaded by letter the interven-
ton of the emperor.
"You are so reticent, my dear" she
said to Kathleen one evening at the end
of the kings third visit. You never
will tell me what he says about Alonzo
TO you Does he not mention hirn?'
Rarely, mamma, and then always
with kindness"
Kindness, m-yes." Mrs. Kennaird
pursed her lips a little. They're still
friends. them
'Friends2 Oh. yes
81 suppose Alonzo hasn't dared TO say
q word against you. kathleen. Other
wise he'd certainly have relieved him
self of untold spleen. my dear"
HE never carried grudges," the girl
said. as if her own thought was her sole
auditor.
well. even if he didn't. Heaven
knows he had monopoly Of most other
faults At this particular time any
praise of Alonzo was for some reason
specially nauseous to Mrs. Kennaird.
And as for keeping silent about us to
the king, why. there isn't the least doubt
that he'll do so. How would he dare
do otherwise. now that Clarimond has
become your actual slave"
Mamma, Mamma" exclaimed kath-
leen. You will make me so ridiculous
II anyone by chance overhears you in
these moods"
"Moods?'' bristled her mother. What
moods? I'm e-csssFrsly reticent. You
are so droll at times, Kathleen! As if
any mother could bear more calmly
than 1 do the splendid, the unparal-
leled honor which overhangs YOU
Kathleen looked fixedly at the speaker,
with her eyes moistening a little and
her under lip trembling. II wish you
would not speak like this" she faltered.
1T diStresses me So"
Her mother continued, however, stat
ing that she had not the vaguest doubt
Clarimond would soon startle his court
more keenly than he had dreamed Of
startling it before; that Kathleen had
only to wait little while longer and
the stars would drop ripe and shining
in her lap; that all past annoyance,
modification. defeat was to end glori-
ously in unique triumph.
kathleen listened. and then slipped.
as soon as she could. into the privacy Of
her own chamber The king had said
that he would revisit her to-day. There
was only an hour yet before the time OF
his coming. She did not want to see
him again. and yet she did want to see
him again. What was it? Did it mean
that he might bring her certain tidinCs
of Alonzo? Did it mean this? Did it
Te1lly mean this? Or was she infected
with the fervor Of her mothers over
leaping ambition? Her mother. The
sense of that personality. that compan-
iorship. so tremendous. 50 drastic n is
influence. its domination. terrified her.
She looked into her own brain. a it
were. and found there nothing but a
depressing tunult. How would she act
If action should indeed be required Of
her? No. no: the need OF such action
would not, could not. come. He. a
king. 1t was faulty to dream Of what
her mother had 50 boldly prophesied
Her hands were at intervals very tre-l-
i ! I'll
and once or twice she felt as if she must
desist from 1t and seek the one sort Of
aid that Just then would have been
least to her taste.
But when the king came she received
him with much conposure. Her mother
was to-day in visible throes. To Kathleen
her disarray was pathetic. The per-
turbed lady gave one or two spasmodic
curtsies which were mournful travesty
of her usual serene equipoiSe. She was
50 drunk with the heady wine fur
nished by the fact of this fourth royal
visit that exhilaration made her almost
stagger. Clarinond. calm and gentle
manlike rs usual, appeared to notice
nothing. Perhaps" thought Kathleen,
he is used to such grovelling servility.
Poor mamma, will she ever get out OF
the room with decent grace, she who
has prided herself for years on doing
nothing awkwardly?"
But at last the door closed on Mrs.
Kennaird's ducking and cringing figure.
Is this happened kathleen breathed an
audible sigh Of relief. The sign ended
in feverish laugh and she said, with
sudden eandor. to her guest:
Its dreadful how you've demoralized
ny mother. You must see, so l men
ton it
.'Denoralized her? To-
oh. then you don't see, monsieur,
mamma isn't accustomed 70 kings; that
Is all
And are you?- he said with his sweet,
kind smile. They were now seated op-
posite one another, and near 4 large
window that gave one fine view of the
mountains and Z still finer view of his
white. many-turreted palace.
NO" she answered But mamma
Oh, you must have noticed You're a
royalty. as they call it, and you've
turned her head Its odd. too, for she
has met all sorts of great people-prime
ministers. dukes, even the English
prince himself. l seem 50 vul-
gar when 1 talk Ike this, do hope
you'll excuse me. No doubt, you are
used TO embarrassing people, especially
Americans"
He shook his head smiling Il have
always thought it rather hard 20 en-
barrass Americans" he replied '-One
in particular he added; and then his
smile deePened. Is he watched her with
a glance full OF drollery both frank and