The Iola register., 1901-06-14

Chas b. Spencer g. Co.
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table and, picking up the retier, reuu
aloud: o"wound received in my house"
your face beneath the lighted
match" As he stood thus the letter
slipped from his hand. "Louise!" he
whispered, "the man whom Louise
shotl" Not in all the vicssitudes of
his wild career had Holbin received
such a shock OF surprise. His mind,
dazed and bewildered, could not ar
range a deduction beyond the discov.
cry that Richard Somers was the man
around whom so much of mystery had
gathered, and that Frances referred to
him in the tender word Husband" He
laid his hand upon the bell-cord and
hesitated; then his wicked smile came
back again as he pulled it.
Tell your mistress I shall be glad II
she will favor me with her presence
here" he said to William. When,
few minutes later. Mrs. Broollin came
into the room he failed to hear her.
"What is It, Raymond" she asked.
lie reused himself and spoke rapidly
"Frances got her wounded soldier
pass through our lines, and to please
her ! carried him to the front. After
he left me l found these papers in the
buggy where he had dropped them.
The fellows captain is Richard
Somers."
"Rchard Somers!"
"And now, madam. read the note
from Frances to him and let me con.
gratulate you upon"
She read ii rapidly, and when her
amazed face was lifted he added:
"Nour son-in-law."
81 do not understand What does
it mean?"
Answer that question for me moth
er; my head has ceased to be OF any
assistance. Undoubtedly, however. the
woman who you lead me to believe gave
you her promise to marry me some day
is already in point Of law Richard
Somer's wife and has forfeited her
right to any part Of her fathers es-
tate. Madam, fortune favors the bold;
congratulate you!" His manner be-
trayed an intense excitement and bit
ternesS.
wait, wait!" said the woman, qui-
city, her eyes riyeted upon the letter.
at seems that he was her husband
that night. Was not that night prior
to the signing of the will?"
"Yes, the night before" The son,
looking upon his mothers face, could
find no evidence Of satisfaction there.
1t was ghastly. "Why, what is il
now?"
"A stronger will and a clearer head
than we imagined has been at war with
us. do not know the law, but they
were trying to defeat the will in ad.
vance. 1t does defeat it in some way,
or our enemies would not have taken
the risk. II Frances were really mar
ried before the will was signed, she
cannot comply with its requirements
and the law will not demand an impos-
sibiiity."
"Well!" He bent forward, his voice
reduced to a whisper.
1--WE have lost, you and 1. Except
for my pittance, we shall be beggars
upon the day that Frances comes Of
age; and that day is near at hand"
A long silence followed, and then the
eyes Of mother and son met.
'Do you not share alike If the will
fails?"
mo. The intention of my husband
will be operative; only the condition
fails. There is no hope that way" His
mother looked from him and spoke
slowly.
as there no remedy?" he asked.
"Yes. If Richard Somers is not liv-
ing when Frances comes of age, or
should Frances"
Mother, mother, take care!" The
words burst in sudden energy from the
wretched man. lift hand TO harm
but one hair of her head, and, by the
Mother of Cod"
"Hush! Hush!" she said, quietly.
"You love her; that is enough. She is
safe"
"Swear it,"
"Read the other letter." she said,
disregarding him. ut is likely that a
man would mention his wife in his last
letter to his mother" Raymond
stripped off the envelope and shook
two letters TO the table. One, unsealed
was addressed to Mrs. Martha Somers
Nothing but gush," he said, running
his eye hurriedly over the lines. Mrs
Brookin had picked up the other, which
was addressed to DR.. BrodRar.
Continued