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

"YOU ARE AN ISFERSAL sCoUSDREL,"
SAID OLIVER.
aunt if she desire, but my child, and
go to France, or l bring suit for di-
vorce and the custody of my child and
tell all the facts"
1T is utter folly" cried Oliver.
what can ] do? / have no influence
over your wife; hardly know her;
and the aunt will never permi: her to
return"
The old lady is strict; she is proud,
too; and Young woman who has been
through divorce trial seldom comes
out with n good name-not without
reproach. Consider it well, and write
Miss Patten what / say. Truly
think my wife has great fancy for
you"
Oliver rose and opened the door.
"Mr. de Restaud, l will write you my
decision. | really must ask you not to
prolong this interview. There is a
limit to my forbearance.
De Restaud bowed, moclingly. Il
shall look for your answer soon. Per-
haps the doctor also could influence
Mrs. de Restaud. ! esteem the doctor;
he is an honest man, and has been
good to my SON."
With a polite bow the Frenchman
disappeared. aud Oliver went back to
his desk. What should he do? What
could he do? De Restaud would carry
out his threat, there was no doubt of
that. And. after all, would it not be
better for his wife to return? If the
family in France would care for her
and the child they would be safe, and
most women would look forward to
such a bright future. If she refused
to come, a trial, the publicity of
courtroom, the newspapers, lifelong
something to be whispered about her
by some one who had heard. How eX-
plain that daring ride across country?
Viewed in the cold light of reason it
was foolish thing; and he, Craig Oil
yer, must go on the witness-stand and
be questioned. A lawyer is n poor wit
ness. and he would be. A man of his
age doing such a romantic silly action.
Then that story to the conductor. The
other side would find him. of course,
and perhaps passenger who had seen
Minny's farewell. The whole thing
was unexplainable. Then his own past
the life of a wifeless man of the
world-how would the jury of hard
working men view that? They had
families and no temptations, and he
was rich and had enemies. 1t was so
cial and political death to him, and he
knew it as he sat there, yet he did not
write.
A week later DIR. John came in.
There was no need of telling him. He
had met De Restaud. and had come to
see what Oliver would do.
Il have not written her, said Oliver,
awkwardly, except a little note
thanking her for her letter. l shall
not write what he wanted"
Il have, though" said DR.. John;
both to Mrs. Minny and her aunt. The
Frenchman cannot trouble them long.
and after year or so Mrs. Minny will
be a Partisan. All know of Paris
and life there is from novels. Cad.
think if they are true Mrs. Minny will
be quite at home in France. She likes
things different, you know"
Il should be a coward to advise her
in this matter" cried Oliver. Il shall
have nothing to do with it"
However, after an hours talk with
his sensible old friend he changed his
mind and wrote a severely formal let
ter to Mrs. de Restaud, advising her to
return to her husband. Her answer
was a piteous appeal. What did he
mean? After all that had happened,
did he think she should trust herself
with man who everyone said was
crazy. DIR. John read and shook his
head. ''She won't come" he said;
but you keep on writing, for the
Frenehman means what he says. l
see him often as he comes to my Office.
She need not say three words to him,
and her aunt can be with her always
until she is safe at his fathers"
This was duly written, but the an
swers both from Miss Patten and her
niece were unsatisfactory until few
days before the time set by De Restaud.
Oliver, maddened by her disregard of
his warning, for he learned De
Restaud had his lawyer engaged and
the case would be presented, tele-
graphed her: Are you coming or not?
L beg you will come at once. We can
not face the consequences" He felt
like a coward, but what else could he
do? Fight with a mailman in a court
room? 1t was horrible. The answer
came promptly from Mrs. de Restaud;
she would start at once.
Oliver took the telegram and went to
find De Restaud. The suit for divorce
must be stopped. He had done his
part, and there was no need for further
anxiety. He drove to DIR. Johns Of
fee, but the doctor was up in the
mountains attending a case, and would
not be back for day or two. He knew
where De Restaud Ived-a furnished