The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-08-16
ELEANOR'S ROMANCE.
BIZ MAUD RITTENBOUsE.

sheet beneath heavy band, rose from
lis chair with an ejaculation that
made the very pens in their tray dance
.inklingly.
s'Bv Jove! this is hard luck" he re-
1eated, and he strobe the length of his
office frowningly. Coming this week.
And to play the deuce with" but he
lid not finish the sentence. There are
thoughts that a man hesitates to form
INTO cold FLOODED English; and the
nan who paced that Office floor and
Kicked defenseless rugs and chairs
rom his path found it easier to recog-
1ize in thought than in speech the
state of affairs that so irritated him.
Old Mrs Post, who busted his Office,
and Just as vigilantly whisked all such
friendly covering from the private af-
fairs of MiIlport, would have been less
squeamish. Indeed, that very morning
she had been heard to say to her be-
capped and be-frilled neighbor, Mrs.
Pennypacker, that there would be 1.-The
Did gentleman to pay" when Miss
eleanor came home; which ''old gen.
.leman,7 to judge from her expression,
vas creditor in not too high repute
COR his leniency. AN w'ether ell
break wi her an marry Miss Celia, e
amt do 1T graceful, nor to break wi
Miss Celia an marry her, no more;" at
which lucid statement of the affair the
zap and frills of Mrs. Pennypacker
nodded sagaciously.
Hariowe Graham would proba bly,
have twisted his blonde mustache with
many degrees of added fierceness had
he dreamed that gossiping cronies
Jared consider thus officiously matters
hat to him were as grave as they were
uncomfortable.
His engagement to pretty Eleanor
Field had been of too long standing to
De ignored by any save the very one
whom he chose to nave ignore it,
handsome Celia Chichester. This
charming young woman, having lived
All her life abroad, had returned with
accomplishments that included q
knowledge of all the affairs on two
continents, save, perhaps, the one very
Insignificant affair of Mr.. Grsham's
Engagement, which affair that gentle
nan, in the triumph of. his friendship
with her lofty self, was quite willing
20 relegate to the dim and cobwebby
past.
All this had seemed delightfully."- easy
until now, when this most unwelcome
letter had informed him that Eleanor
would be home within the week, her
master in music having been called
away at just about the time the ex-
tremely hot weather in New York
made a change very desirable on her
OWN account.
Harlowe Graham's care not to admit
to his own mind the bare truth con-
corning his contemplated course was
due to the fact that he considered him
self man of such fine and sterling
honor that this quality of his could be
only equaled by the rare mental and
social elements that went to make up
his somewhat exceptional character.
But, however he might contrive to de-
ceive himself. his purpose was none
the less fixed to see Miss Chichester
before another day had passed, and de-
termine just how successful had been
his attentions to her.
Alas. that plans projected with real
skill and diplomacy must fall so short
of fulfllment. In the Chichester draw
ing-room that evening, he found
party of friends from a distance en-
PERTAINING Miss Celia in so lively a
manner as to utterly preclude any
thing in the nature of the quiet tete-a-
tete so desired. In the entire week of
their visit he was no more fortunate;
and before the end of that time Flea
nor had returned.
Graham knew of her arrival almost
at once; but he considered that he had
most excellent reasons for not going
near their home until several days
later. When, finally. he stood at the
threshold of the little house inquiring
for her, he was informed that Eleanor,
feeling indiSposed. could not see him;
and he never knew that the little
girl herself, at her window above the
fragrant rose vines, watched him out
of sight, with throbbing head and
eyes that were red from weeping. With
various embellishments Eleanor had
been told by one and another the story
her gentle tractableness there lay an
under stratum of such sturdy pride
that no power could have compelled
her to see him until she felt she could
control in a measure the sickening dis
at her heart.
1t was the following morning. while
she sat rather listlessly at the old
fashioned piano, that big Tom Chan
dler, their next-door neighbor, ran in
with budget of news.
The Carriers are home again in their
lovely place on the Petillant," he ex-
claimed, and the dear madam has
written me to bring up a party for
the Fourth. It'll be no end of fun
and of course 1 thought of you right
away. In fact, Mrs. Carter made
special request for you; and Mrs. Car
ter, you know, takes no denials"
Il want you to go, - Mrs. Field said.
with gentle authority. 1T will be a
most delightful rest for you as well as
pleasant visit. You haven't seen the
Carriers for three years"
Il know" Eleanor answered slowly:
then, with sudden resolve: IT hank
you very much. Tom; will go gladly"
And glad enough she looked on that
brilliant m Orning, sitting in the Prov
of the little tug whose speed through
the waters caused II wind to vhirl
the faxen tendrils !, ut her shapelv
head and call up the straying color to
her cheek. Harlowe was relieved TO
have gotten somehow through the
form of greeting her, and back where
the white waters rippled from the
r4a-y, h. laaua1 a hove Celia.s chair b,,4