The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-01-04

breath; he would not have liked DIR.
John to hear that last speech. You
must not tell her." he said. quickly,
"about this ride and coming to my
house"
''WEy not? Iwould like her to know
how good you were
There was no need, but he slashed
his horses angrily; then he said, curtly:
81 am sorry you cannot understand.
Could you explain it satisfactorily to
Mr.. de Restaud?"
'How cross you are! and know you
look just as you did when / talked
impatienee. But he is not reasona-
bic being. Other people may be-"
Would you have gone to those ami
able friends of his for assistance to get
to the railroad?"
''Of course not. You know that"
well. how is the world to know
am any better?r
Il suppose being a lawyer makes you
so smart" she said. in a melancholy
tone: she assured her dog in whisper
he was the only being who loved her
her only friend: that size was silly and
frivolous, Aunt Hannah said, and
seemed to be great trouble to mere
strangers of good dispositions. Oliver
said never a word: little smile curved
his lips. but he did not turn his head.
Soon she grew quiet, and her head
dropped against his shoulder. the soft
wind lifting her curls to blow across
his cheek. The dog. ornamented with
the doctors cap, slept in her lap.
Across the level land before them
crept the gray glimmer of the dawn.
Rose-colored light famed in the far
east. rejecting on the new snow on
distant mountain-peaks. Prairie dogs
hoped out of their holes and sat on
their hind legs discussing local politics
and happenings. the bill to abolish
free rents for rattlesnalIes. and the eX-
! tortions of horned owls. The Skye
terrier disgustedly flung off the doc
tors cap and barked angrily at TIE
small dogs. Mrs de Restaud lifted her
head with n little start, blushed and
slapped the Skye terrier.
do be quiet. Skye. ! am afraid
tired you, Mr.. Oliver"
lie would have liked to say a sweet
thing to her-to most women he would
but his role now was that of benev-
olent friend; so he only answered
vaguely: Not at ALL" as if he did not
know to what she referred. The horses
dragged themselves wearily forward;
it was six o'clock. and they had come
fifty miles over difficult road in less
than seven hours. Two parallel lines
of iron stretched far in the distance:
the clumsy outline of water-tanll
loomed up just ahead. The goal was
reached. and away in the north rib
bon of smoke outlined on the sky pro-
claimed the coming train. Oliver lifted
Mrs. de Rcstaud down. Skye rushed
madly to the hole of n venturesome
prairie dog who had taken up a resi-
dence near the tank and was out en-
joying the morning air. The terrier
found only vanishing. and vented his
annoyance at this and all the other
vagrant dogs in shrill barls. His mis-
tress was vastly amused; the strange |
ness of her undertaking had quite |
gone out of her head.
Oliver. in some concern. gave ner ad- !
vice regarding her journey: he was I'M /
Ger tain of his horses about the train |
and had to stand by their heads; so |
Mrs. Minny frisked about with her |
dog. entirely confident her difficulties |
were over.
You must send me word to Denver
when you get to Maine" he said, and .
be sure and make no acquaintances on
the ears
'One would think / was just ont of
bOarding-school'
The primary department" he said.
Grossly. Il wish you would be reason
able and listen a moment. l shall
tell the conductor You are one of
a camping-party and your mother
is i'll at Colorado Springs that
vou had to leave in such a hurry to
catch the train you had no time to get
ready. If must tell wrong stories for
you, Mrs. Ninny, please don't make
me out in lie the first thing"
How good you are," she said. softly.
Il shall never, never forget what you
have done for me. l shall say to my
self: 'Minny, you may be frivolous
Aunt Hannah says as unstable as water
but one big, handsome man is your
friend and always will be-"
always, Mrs. Minny, to the end of
my life
The rush of the near train terrified
MS horses almost beyond control. and
ne was obliged to send her for the con-
luctor when the train stopped for
water The obliging official showed
no surprise at divers ingenious story;
ne was used to camping parties. He