The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-09-27

A MOONLIGHT RAMnIr.


month, Mrs. Whitford, and pay in adj
vance" Elsie heard voice say. as she
entered her fostcr-mother's house one
afternoon.
'Toi:Gc TO pay, ger, when we ha' adj
died it: vor it be Almost as bad to pay
aforchand as not at all.
The word of the righteous is his
bond, 'snuffed the stranger, whom Elsie
had no difficulty in recognizing - Dodd,
the Hopllinsite.
This was the beginning of very bad
times for the poor girl: for. in place of
the pleasant companionship of the cul-
| turnl young schoOlmaSter. she had to
endure the perpetual presence of one
she instinc-ivoly detes.ed. and who
added to her adherence by constant
unpleasant illusions TO her absent
friend.
To add to her dilcmrnn. the man
seemed to have hcwitched her foster
parcnts-lirs Whittord by a sancti-
nonious appeal to her easily wrought
religious cmotions-thc corporal by u
7azzling display of Il knowledge Of Gle
mcntary geology, with 4 special bear
ing on minerals. which. to his untu-
torcd laind. revealed 4 depth Of learning
bordering on the supernatural. When
the canning rogue told WhitfOrd it was
gold he was after. and gold he would
surely find. and how he would share
his fo-t,nc in embryo with his host. the
corporaIs heart glowcd with hope.
and he was quite aware that he was
entertaining an angel. who would be a
special providence to him in his daily
increasing difficulties.
Day by day the clouds gathered over
the young girls life; at last the storm
burst.
Elsie. lass" said Mrs. Whitford late
one evening, '-Oi hate TO send thee out
at this tonne o noight. but thy fey
theirs tired. an l ha' need o. things
from the toon. Gan thee must, Oh be
afearcd~
Il will accompany the maiden" Dodd
suggested, with a ready smile.
Elsie started al the proposition. ''No
SIR. prefer to go alone"
"Whov. Elsie" There was a world of
rcproachful surprise in Mrs. Whitford's
tones.
'IIoot-toot, lass broke in the cor
poral. hOtly, the parsons good enough
company for the likes of You; get on
coat an start this minute
He spoke rs though he meant to be
obeycd. and the girl with 4 sigh made
her preparations.
AS the ill-assorted couple wendell
-, . l,,4
led to the city, Dodd talked flucntly, re-
ceiving, however. from the painting lips
of his companion but brief responses.
In fact she heard but half he said, but
suddenly She was shocked into strict at
tention:
My dear child" he said, suddenly.
the Lord hath appointed the blessed
state of matrimony."
Elsie felt constrained to say some
thing, so curly replied: Il suppose
So"
"And St. Paul says that it is not meet
that man sho1ld live alone"
Docs hep" very YEARLY.
so for The last few weeks my medi-
tations have turned toward marriage
Some lady in Orctown?" she asked
indifferently.
YES, dear child, listen" He drew
closer to her rs he spoke. 81 am not
very young, it is true, but Providence
has blessed me with perennial cheer
fitness of spirits. Youth, you know, is
not everything"
Il suppose not"
Youth is indiscreet; youth dissem-
bles, youth is tickle"
Yet youth is very enjoyable"
In a carnal sense. yes"
They walked on little in silence.
Mr.. Dodd doubtless meditating ON the
iniquities of the young.
Suddenly he asked:
"Doyou love Your father and mother,
Elsie?"
What a question. OF course do. "
And you would obey them like
dutiful daughter?"
Surely. but what has that to do with
your matrimonial projects-it was of
them we were talking"
"Oh, Elsie, can you not tell? Surely
those big round eyes of yours are not
blind to my devotion? Child, love
you"
you love me-" the girl recoiled with
horror. Sir, if my father only knew
that you had dared to"
"Pshaw! Your father does know,
your mother, too; this errand was all
sham, got up to afford me the oppor-
tunity to speak to you"
''Impossible!'
And why impossible? All, 1 see, you
still banker after that scallawag, Grey.
whose very acquaintance was a re-
proach to you"
You pitiful coward" Her eyes
blazed with passion.
You darling little beauty" he cried, |
Selling her in his arms and showering
kisses on her face.
Help help" she shrieked, in sick
ening agony.
Her breath came in short, choking |
gasps, the rocks seemed to whiFl, and |
the earth to reel.
Suddenly-how she never knew-a |
burly form sprang from the shadow,
there was the dull thud of heavy
blow, and her prosecutor loosened his |
hold on her and fell with a crash to the |
earth.
ITo BE Continued
An authority on anthropology says |
that the ears of women are set further |