The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-02-01

! forth the facts in this case in proper
legal phraseology."
~ fail to comprehend just what you
mean"
you see." explained the doctor,
''the French people are particular
about documents; and between the
property of De Restaud's father and
/ this child of Mrs. Minny's there is only
a feeble child"
Mrs. Minny's child?" repeated
Oliver.
"Why, of course. Perhaps had not
mentioned it. A nice boy-healthy, l
think. and bound to outlive his cousin
across the sea. The little chap born
in that poor place, that switchman's
hovel, may be the heir of millions. So
there must be no flaw in his title or
the record of his birth"
"A child, and she here friendless,
almost alone" divers face saddened.
Poor little thingr' he muttered,
what hard world it has been for
her,
"She is sensible about it, too" went
on DIR. John. 'She wanted me to
write for a lawyer and have everything
straight"
Ibid she suggest sending for meP"
asked Oliver, oddly.
The doctor hesitated. 'No: she has
forgotten you, old boy. Women are
not particularly grateful. Then it has
been a long time since she saw or
heard of you. Your vanity may be
hurt, but is it not better that she has
forgotten
Undoubtedly" Oliver said, coldly.
He went toward the house hurriedly.
"a freight train passes here in half
hour; | will go on that; so get your
papers ready and have the people here
sign their statements. Miss Patten
should also get that Mrs. Blinn to give
an account of Mrs. de Restaud's stay
at her house"
Mrs. Macon cleared the kitchen
table and brought pens and ink. Oliver
wrote swiftly, comparing his notes
with the doctors remembrance and
Mrs. Macon's assertions. Finally she
and her husband signed their state
ments, the doctor his, and then Oliver
looked at the clock. How hard that
writing had been to him no one ever
knew. From the closed door came
the murmur of wholesome that thrilled
every nerve and set his heart
fast beating. A feeble cry now and
then sounded strangely-the little life
that had come in this far-off place and
that might mean so much in the fu-
ture. Outside, the white-headed chill
dren played in the sunshine. Skye,
liberated from his hideous basket,
which he always regarded with terror
and plaintive whines, rollicked with
then, glad of his freedom. How in
finitely painful to record those facts
before him, and to think of her as he
had seen her first, that child woman in
her clinging yellow gown petalled like
a flower with its wide ruffie, her glow
ing hair, her beautiful pathetic eyes!
She had gone so far from those days
in bitter experience and suffering.
Was she changed, grown saddened and
old, care-worn with thought?-a calcu-
lating woman, forced to be for the
child's sake? Odd, in his mental pic
ture of her he could find no place for
the child. He could remember her
with the little Skye terrier and that
childish manner, but as a woman, a
mother, never.
Ill, friendleSs, homeless, no waif of
the streets was ever more desolate
than she when she stepped off the train
at this barren spot, forced to accept
the charity of strangers. Her dead
70 +ba- would bova riSaT, from, b;S rrrava
could he have known. His every
thought, his sister said, had been for
little Minny. Well it is the dead do
not know.
How fortunate you were on that
train Oliver said, suddenly.
DR.. John started. Me? Yes, it
was, and that should have found our
little runaway. l own up looked for
her all the time was away"
The door opened and Miss Patten
came softly in.
she is asleep, poor dear" she said,
gently. 81 guess my eyes is red. 1
was upset, and she don't seem to think
she done any harm in not letting me
know where she was, she was so des-
prit and scared-like."
when you return to Boston," said
Oliver, "have Mrs. Blinn make state
ment of Mrs. de Restaud's stay in her
house. must caution you also to be
very careful of the marriage certificate
and all other papers you may have
concerning your niece"
You can trust me-" said Miss Pat
ten, grimly. Il took 'em away from
that farm of theirs when was a-visit-
ing there, and / mean Minnie's baby
shall have his rights, for he's part Pat
ten, anyway, and would "a been my
brother Sans grandson. Sorry 1 be
he amt alive to see him. Rinny says
she saw Bosting paper that offered a
reward for her whereabouts or any in
formation concerning her, giving her
name right out in the paper, and that
was what made her go away from Mrs.
Blinn's, who was kind, good woman,
if she is in foolish business; but
don't know why dogs and cats shouldn't
be took care of, and folks in Bosting is
always running to some new freak.
Minny evidently thought Mrs. Blinn
would tell on her and get the reward;
but Mrs. B1inn said she'd "a done by
Minny as her own child"
WAS that what made her come
west?'' asked DIR. John.
The poor little soul thought it her
duty to go to her husband, brute as he
is" said Miss Patten, brokenly. And
to think that said she was frivolous
and hadn't no stability! As much grit
as I've GOT I wouldn't dare 90 to that
VOLTS den on the Troublesome and to
be in that mans power. 1 always
thought he want right in his mind.