The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-02-22

1 Il
be loved and made friend of. If you
would be as sweet as on that ride, if
you"
He drew her close and pressed his
lips against that soft round cheek,
blushing SO prettily now.
TRY me, Minny. l swear to you
those dear eyes shall never shed tears
from any word or act of mine. have
loved you since you came out in the
light that dismal night and thought
you a little girl"
"And l loved YOU" she whispered,
lifting her tousled head from his arm,
"when you looked so disgustedly
amazed at things in that ranch that 1
told you, and all of sudden smiled on
me as you are smiling now. Craig,
mean to try and be grown-up and good
always"
'No, no; just be yourself And, now,
dear, go smooth your hair and get your
things on. We will be married in the
quietest way l know a couple of fell
lows l can get for witnesses; we can
pick them up on the road"
She jumped up, all rosy and smiling.
At the door she looked back. MAY
take the dog, Craig?" she said, hesitat-
ingly.
He smiled. ''Of course" he said. re-
signedly. you don't have to ask
may ~ we are comrades, you know
BY the way, tell tie chambermaid to
pack your trunk. Pay her. We will
go away in the early afternoon. 1
want to be free from all memories"
She kissed her hand as she ran away,
and he, somewhat dazed at the turn
street with unsecing eyes. In his
heart, though, he was happy, delirious-
ly so. lie had loved her from the first,
and there had been few holidays in his
busy life. He would forget that
CHASTITY specter lying at the morgue in
Denver, and for months live for love.
The world lay all before them; they
would put the past by.
Il will steal my happiness from life"
he cried. Let the world condemn
me. l can fight her battles; and no
man knowing my story and hers, see
ing her frightened, tortured by that
maniac's memory, would do otherwise
than do now"
Mrs. Minny appeared in her jaunty
traveling-suit, her sealskin jacket, a
dainty dotted veil over her hat, and
her dog under her arm.
Il never get married like other peo-
ple," she said, cheerfully. Look at
me in these clothes; and the other time
had on an old dress, too"
Oliver WINGED. Perhaps at the third
you'll have better luck, my pet"
Il have said something awful, l sup
pose," she laughed, "but am so happy
don't care, and said good-by to that
ghost room. Oh, I'm so glad I've got
somebody alive to be with
Il believe you are going to marry me
out of fear" he said, as they drove
along in the carriage.
''You don't think that, sweetness"
she said. contentedly; land you have
got your lovely look. You always were
like a man out of a novel to me. A
city bachelor, Aunt Hannah says
Won't she be surprised? but, do you
know, she said had leanings towards
you all the time?"
Mrs. Minny was very reserved when
the two strange gentlemen Joined
them, and when the marriage service
was being read trembled little, until
Skye yawuing dolefully-he had not
slept well, poor dog, in the hotel
cellar-made her smile, and she was
radiant when the solemn ceremony
was over. They were married in a
shabby parsonage of an out-of-the way
church, by an underfed parson in
threadbare clothes. and Minny's gen.
erous heart rejoiced when she caught
a glimpse of a fifty-dollar bill Oliver
paid for the few moments talk that
meant so much-the ceremony that is,
after all, the strongest link in the
chain of human happiness.
Oliver had told his two friends some |
thing of the events preceding this |!
strange marriage, so they were tactful |
enough to say the right things at the |
little dinner the four had in the very
private room where Minny had eaten
the day before. Skye behaved pretty |
well, and the only cloud on his mis-
tress' brow was when one of the |
strangers stupidity asked if the dog |
was going on the wedding trip.
''Of course" she said, decidedly.
''0f course" echoed Oliver, meekly, |
and the two guests smiled the old, old |
smile of the married man who knows.
1T was little like Hamlet" Minny |
when she and her husband, |
and of course the dog, drove to the
wedding-feast."
He laid his finger lightly on her lips.
Sweet, there are things best unsaid."
You will find me so full of faults"
she sighed, in remarkable meekness.
Skye, give me your paw; this is your
new papa, and if he gets cross, why, 1
can pet you. 1t will be no new expert
ence to you, unhappy dog"
Then Oliver laughed and Rugged her.
what child you are!" he said.
At the depot he sent a telegram to
DR.. John:
81 have married Mrs de Restaud. We are
on on q trip, and want TO hear nothing from
Denver. Tell my clerks won't be home for
tour months Have sent word TO Jones &
Bailey to take my cases. am happy, and she
IS divine. We have the dog along
CRAIG OLIVER"
When, after two months absence,
Oliver telegraphed DR.. John to forward
his mail to St. Augustine, the first let
ter he opened was one addressed to
himself from Newcastle, Me. Mrs.
Minny leaned on his shoulder as he
read:
DEAR Mr. OLIVER: The first thing saw
IN my getting home from Paris, France, was
etter in my niece Minnys unreadable hand
writing. which she saws Is italian but Is as |