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

CHAPTER Ill
NJ. De Restaud looked up from hi
cards as the chill gray of dawn stole il
the window.
Heavens" he muttered, what ,
night I've had!'
He pushed the chips away, for he haC
been heavy loser, and staggered t
his feet. He flung the banker at tn,
game n roll of bank notes and fumbleC
in his pockets for gold. The villainou.
faces of his four companions looked
sallow and hideous after the long
hours. His own head was aching, hi,
mouth dry and parched. He leaned
out the window, drinking in the fresf
chill air as icy water. The room be
hind him was foul with cigar-smol1t
and the smell of dregs of liquor in
many glasses.
''Go to bed" he said, weariedly
You know your rooms. I've played
enough. and you're all winners; yor
ought to be content"
One man muttered about giving him a
chance, but De Restaud shook his head
impatiently. and they all went away.
Il was ugly to the little girl last
night De Restaud said, half aloud
What did do? Odd can't remem.
Der. / wish she would keep away
from me when I'm not myself. She
has no more sense about some things
than child. I'll go see her"
He tried her door; no sound. not even
the angry bark of her inscparable COM
panion.
Il wonder if killed the dog when /
kicked it. Wish bad; but she'd never
forgive me. She riding down the road
to see that fellow-thinBs of him all
/ the time. i know in my heart she's as
! innocent as a child about it, just out of
school when | married her, but he will
think she's like other women and take
her nonsense in earnest. \ man of
the world, evidently. He had better
keep out of my way. Those boorish
Amcricans-he has fist like black
smith,"
He went muttering down the cor
ridor TO his own room. and flung him
self, still dressed. on his bed. The house
L,went softly about her work, monsieur
was so dreadful if awakened. Louis
currying the horses in the corral
scarce spoke above "a whisper. but tao
iturnity had become habit with him.
The poultry. however, clucked merrily
in the back yard; the gobbler gave his
views, and the hens. women-Iilze, cack
led about it, while the ducks enjoyed
the bonanza of deep mud and pools
upon the hills. huddled near the barns.
Annette, round-faced, beady-eyed. neat
as a pin. stood in the door. her hands
on her hips. She looked with pride on
her fowls-bow well the plump darlings
repaid her care-then she glanced
across at her husband, ten years her
junior-the beautiful man who had
spent her dowry and told her so charm
ingly he married her for that money.
and who had brought her to this wild
country. She smiled to herself in sat
isfaction; in this wilderness no girl
could take him away. Those Paris
girls We're such wretchcS. brazen
things. The ranchers' daughters here,
however, were well behaved: no matter
what eyes Louis made. they would
have none of him. The young girls of
the mountains were brave and good.
How they must suffer, though, for
Louis was so fascinating.
Louis" she called, softly. stepping
out on the plank walk. madame is
not yet awake, nor the little dog. 1t
is a strange silence for them who are
usually out so early. You climb up on
the roof of the corral and look in her
window. She never would open her
door to as
The man hurriedly obeyed. He had
been thinking all the morning some
thing was wrong. If she were dead
monsieur was wilder than common last
night, and so hasty; he had been
gambling and losing all day. The dog
must be dead; he hated Louis, and
generally made his appearance at the
window early to bark at him. Louis |
up one of the posts of the roof, |
crossed and looked in the open window. |
Annette watched him, shading her eyes |
with her hand.
''Shc is there. Louise"
He shock his head and dropped to |
the ground at her feet. No; she is |
gone. The bed hasn't been slept in"
Heavens cried Annette. wringing |
her hands Monsieur will be ter
rible."
He ought to kill her, the little cat. |
You need not pity her; she makes
game of you always because you cam
not comprehend her English tongue. |
must wake monsieur"
Followed by Annette, who prayed in |
a whisper, he knocked at monsieur's |
door. No answer. Then he went in |
and shook the sleeper gently.
Monsieur, he said, tremulously, as !
De Restaud sat up dazed and haggard-
eyed, Il hate to tell you, but l must;
madame is gone"
Liar cried the other. leaping to
his feet. ''She would not dare. Get |
my coat. Gone. Where? Who would |
take her in? Ah, know. l was not
far wrong all the time. 1t is madden
ing. Break in her door, Louis; have
no strength
ITO BE Continued