The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-08-16

how impossible it would be for his
love and loyalty ever to wane. And
now it lay within his power TO make
her quite as happy again. He began
to feel almost magnsnimous in the
thought of what he was giving up and
how he meant to rejoice her tender
heart He found his step growing
quicker as it turned back along the
path toward the great house.
On the lawn he found them gathered,
watching game of tennis; and, alert
and swift and rosy, Eleanor darted
here and there across the court or sent
the balls swift and straight into her
opponents field.
Cad! she plays a good game" young
Carter called out, sdniringly.
"She hadn't a peer in our little club
in New York, Lieut.. Thorne said, with
enthusiasm.
Gray turned away somewhat dis
quieted. He would have preferred her
in sadder mood. He would wait until
the end of the game and take her
stroll along the bluffs. But at the end
of the game, by some preconcerted plan,
she and her naval friend repaired to
the cool drawing room for special
little visit with Mrs. Carter. Graham
could hear the quiet convers alton and
the occasional soft little peals of
laughter. from where he sat upon the
wide veranda. BY the time they
sauntered out he had reached that
| hypercritical state where everything
| about this handsome officer with his
fine figure. his soft manners, and his
rare smile, struck him disagreeably.
He was quite sure he didn't care to see
Ell eanor now, or to talk with her. 1t
was just as we'll; for dinner was
presently announced, and as they were
assigned their dinner-seats and Miss
Field was cozily ensconced between
her friend Tom and the lieutenant,
there would ha We been small chance
for him.
There was no denying the fact that
he. HaTlowe Graham, the cool, the
! polished, the irresistible. was in
plain, everyday fit of the sulks. The
young moon was hardly risen over the
willow-fringed river, and the rockets
beginning to sing through the rose
I
the further end of the piazza, there to
tread gloomily back and forth. angrily
resolving to ''have it out with Eleanor
on the homeward trip, and to tell her
exactly what he thought of her ''un-
blushing Irritation" with Lieut..
| Thorne.
In the meantime, that obnoxious
person, usually the most reserved of
men, was detailing to the little girl in
gray all the long. long thoughts that
had haunted him since an evening,
weeks before. when she had put sud-
den end to the hopes burning high
within him.
And this fortunate fellow whom l
can't help wanting to bayonet, Miss
Eleanor, where is hep"
Here said Eleanor. with a
pathetic little gesture. and then, in
answer to his look of amaze: II think
it was all a-mistake. He-did not
care: and now, believe-I do not care,
myself" The man was looking at her
in kind of stupefaction, and she went
on hurriedly: II don't understand it
or myself. How can | tell you?
think must be very shallow and very
tickle; for at first l thought it would
break my heart, but now"
Now" he interrupted, and his eyes
sought her own as if to read the very
soul in them-'now, Eleanor, is it
possible there is hope for a great old
ruffian who has tormented you so long
because his life was so intolerable a
thing without you?"
| She did not speak at once. but her
trembling little fingers touched his
own with sudden impulse of
gratitude and fervor. You are SO
good. so good" she said. her sweet
voice choking There is no one like
you-no, not ene-so grand, so strong,
so worthy the best love-and the first
He held the little fingers close.
Eleanor. sweet" he said, IF | win
your love, however tardy, l pray
| heaven | shall be made worthy so I'M
speakably precious gift"
The deep voice rang with earnest
ness: and when she lifted her tear-wet
eyes To his face there was shining in
their limpid depths a light he had
never seen there before.
The rest of that evening was like a
dream. The pyrotechnics over. Eleanor
sang for them; and standing off across
the room, his eyes feasting upon her
sweet and radiant face, as did all his
sense of sound and melody upon her
liquid notes, Lieut.. Thorne felt that
kindly providence had united all its
| best girls in this one adorable maiden,
i IL.
more to be desired.
From the dimness of the cool veranda
another man looked on. amazed past
all expression at the power and sweet
| ness of that voice as it set his pulses
tingling. What an easy, graceful, self
possessed little lady it was, too; and
what perfect control she had of every
tone ringing clear and bird-like on the
air. He tried to remember the simplic-
ity and shyness which he had always
thought characterized her. There
seemed TO be not trace of it left. Her
very gown. that soft, gray affair, sill
very in the white lamp-light. had GER
tain tone and elegance about it that
struck him oddly. Evidently, to this
self-poised and accomplished young
woman he must apply other arguments
and persuasions than those he had
planned so easily a few hours before.
He waited in sort of frenzy of impa-
thence for the time of their leave
taking.
When at last they were gathered in
the soft moonlight, ready to Chamber
into the noisy little tug, he reached |