The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-02-08
CHAPTER VIII.

Oliver wondered il the Frenchman
had come to kill him. There was no
time to cry out or to move in self-de-
Tense. If De Restaud came to murder,
he was prepared to do it quickly; up in
the valley of the Troublesome he had
been called a good shot. A vagrant
ray of sunshine filtered in between
the Stats of the closed blind, resting
on a faded spot on the carpet. Oliver
idly watched it, while thoughts of his
past, the present, the woman who had
| just written him, went through his
mind swifter than ever electricity car
ried a message.
A lamp lit and bright, a fash, a
crash and darkness. divers fingers
frightened on the arm of his chair. His
| lips quivered. He seemed to be gazing
down the unfathomable depths of
eternity. The sins of his past came
and leered at him; the awful, unan-
swered question of the centuries, of all
recorded time, haunted him. "And
afterwards"
He had heard that madmen quailed
at bravery, were deferred from evil
he looked steadily at his visitor. What
dreadful creature he had become!
Nor was it liquor alone that had
crazed his brain. There is 4 drug so
easy of purchase, so pleasing of effect
at first, that insensibly it steals away
reason, caution, decency. On the hairy
hand of the Frenchman were tiny red
dots; and similar dots tattooed all his
body. He had not learned to take
morphine in the convenient capsules,
and his dissipation was attended by
tiny pain like the prick of conscience.
He was terribly pale. with the glazed
pallor of corpse, his eyes weirdly
bright. his hair, few months ago I'M
touched by time, streaked with gray.
OF all sad drift on the shores of time
human wreck like this is the most
dreadful.
You are surprised to see me-" De
Restaud said, calmly, but his long
thin fingers trembled, showing the ag-
itation he strove to repress,
Il should be glad to assist you in
any way" Oliver answered, his voice
strangely hoarse, the words coming
with difficulty.
~ think you can," said the other,
slowly, for you seem TO have influence
with her and that old she-dragon, her
aunt. | know all about that night,
your visit down the railroad. I know
l have q son, and for his sake want
You to help me-"
What can / do? Surely you must
have lawyer of your own. would
not undertake your case for any con-
sideration."
do not be too hasty, Mr.. Oliver.
do not require your services in any
legal capacity, but, as you say in this
country in your la Dor difficulties, as an
arbitrator. My nephew in France is
dead, and my father writes me to come
home and bring my wife and child"
''She will never consent" Oliver said,
hastily. Her aunt would not let her
GO"
Il think husband has some rights,
Mr.. Oliver. You see | am very temper
ate in the matter, though | have cause
for anger. Now, my son has future;
my father will make him his heir, for
OlOllSA 10 iASii- anu pNoA'-C'- ACiiC
of us are long-lived. | shall not last
long; you see | have failed very fast.
l want to go back to my own country
and live the few days left, and IL
want you to help me-" He broke down
then in a womanish way and took out
his handkerchief. Oliver had felt con-
tempt before; it turned to pity now for
the stumbling creature so wretched in
his mental degradation. Il am willing
to forgive her the disgrace she has
brought upon me-" he sobbed, ''even
that application for divorce. Fly IA
Their will overlook the fact that | mar
ried out of my station-beneath me;
though never before would he notice
my marriage. The child has made all
the difference in the world, and l
haven't even been allowed to see him.
1t is n crime to treat father so. Even
an American court must recognize my
rights"
II have no confidence that you would
treat your wife decently if she came
back. 1t would be an unwise expert
ment," Oliver said, coldly.
But give you my word will. She
can have that awful aunt with her al
ways. Twill not say three words to