The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-03-22

the wailing of woman's voice. This
startled him, and he tried the door
latch. 1t turned. ne door opened
into n cherries room. Around the
walls sat dozen old men and women
as still and silent as Quakers at
meeting A door in this room opened
into another chamber, and there he
saw a throng of women and children,
and thence issued the sounds of sobs
and cries Of grief. Bewildered, he
went to the door and looked for
Blanche. His eyes fell on the corpse
of woman covered to her wrinkled
face with white sheet. Looking over
the heads of this group Goddard saw
Blanche seated on low couch be-
tween two sobbing Young girls. She
had an arm round the waist of each,
and the major heard her trembling
voice try to speak words OF consola-
ton.
"Oh, Mrs. Goddard" the elder girl
said, "I cannot bear it, simply can
not give her up. She was all we had
--all-alll"
So much was Blanche concerned IN
the duty before her that she did not
look up. A light broke upon the
major, but he did not have the pres
ence Of mind to retreat unnoticed, as
he might easily have done. His relief
at finding his fears ungrounded was
so great that he felt weak all over.
Suddenly the younger of the two girls
with Blanche looked up. She pointed
at him, and touched her sister across
Blanche's lap.
at must be the new DOCTOR" she
said.
Blanche stared at him in bewilder.
ment for an instant. A slight flush
mantled her brow.
mo, it is my husband" she said;
"excuse me moment"
She came to him at once.
"Why did you Gomez" she asked, =
look of embarrassment on her face.
81 am so surprised. really do not
understand how"
He drew her to the side of the room
away from several persons who were
listening curiously.
81 have no excuse for spying on
you" he said, lamely; none, except
that was afraid you were in danger
and came toto protect you"
81 don't understand" she said. 81
really do not"
For moment he was reduced to
saying:
pardon my foolishness, dear; do
pardon mel"
"Oh, don't think l am finding fault,
she said, quickly. 81 am glad you are
here now, but"
81 may as well tell you that have
enemies, darling little girl, enemies
who would entrap you-take your life
anything to take revenge on me
When first / saw that letter did not
like its appearance, and when you
would not tell me about it my fears
got the best Of me-
ut was from Mary, there-the old
er of the two girls" replied Blanche
81 knew her and her mother when
Blanche flushed little-''when usec
to visit this quarter when 1 was il
school. Ever since then she and hav,
been friends, and ! have tried to helI
her family. They are so poor.
ought to have told you that was en-
gagged in this sort of work, at leas
after we were married.; but, knowing
that your other wife was opposed L
such things, thought you nigh
think l was parading my deeds, so
could not tell you about it,"
"Oh, darling, you are an angel, anC
am not worthy to touch the hem o
your garments! God have mercy OF
me-you don't really know the maj
you have married. II you did yol
would turn from me as you woult
from a leper."
Her face shrank sensitively befor,
the force of his strong sentences.
"You are the noblest, most abused
man in the world and / love you to,
dearly to believe anything agains
you" she exclaimed, with startled ten
derness. "But you'd better leave M
now. l am perfectly safe. hav
been here often before. / know al
most every family in the building.
shall be very busy all day. This dealt
is awfully hard on these poor girls
You and |, who have so much to b
thankful for, ought not to stand talk
ing of imaginary troubles in the pres
ence of such reality as this"
"When shall you come homer" h
asked.
"on the five o'clock train, think
Good-by, till then"
That afternoon while making some
purchases in one of the big shops or
Sixth avenue Blanche met LottiS
Dean.
"Oh, you dear thingl cried the lat
ter, giving Blanche little impulsive
hug, 81 am so glad to see you, but
haven't moment to spare. Papa is il
the carriage at the door, and is a:
crusty and impatient as bear. Yor
have been saying nice things about
me-"
81 always do that, dear" answered
Blanche.
"You have been talking to Mr.. Tai
ley about me; he has told me of {
number of nice things that only you
could have said"