The Iola register., 1901-04-19

speak kindly 20 me againT On, air, you
do not know, you do not know what
your tenderness has done for the girl
no, the woman you call a child. You
do not know what IL is TO have missed
fathers care, a mothers"
"Hushl" he cried, mot one word
more. You are making IL hard--hard
for me to keep faith with my friend.
You are betraying his secret" She
threw off his hand and arose suddenly,
with an abandon of passion that over
whelmed him.
what mockeryl what a mockeryl
/ am ashamed-sshamedi 1t is l who
am betrayed" He had arisen also,
full of emotion and almost unnamed.
"Never-at my hands. 1 chose the
words deliberately. I will honor and
protect you--to the best of my ability;
but my ability ends where my promise
began. All is based upon my contract
with Francis Brodnar, my friend"
"Friend-friendl" she said, bitterly;
sin Gods name, sir, what am to your"
He was too deeply affected to answer at
once. When he did his voice was un-
steady.
"This: In the hour have been
here you have found an untrodden way
10 the heart of Richard Somers. know
now that no woman was ever there
before you; none will ever follow you.
may not be here TO give you my hand
Il do not know the circumstances that
surround you, or even If in winning
your sympathy am playing false-but
wherever you are, remember that my
soul follows, and would keep guard
over you il I might" He spoke With
an earnestness and passion that dis
turbed and alarmed himself. Some
thing like q groan burst from his Hps
when he realized how far he had cSm-
mitted himself, and he sank back in his
chair. There presently she found him,
and resting her hand timidly upon his
arm, she said, gently:
What would you have me answer
your She was calm and confident
now. AT frst she had shrunk little
from him. Her simple, confiding action
restored 10 him his oalmness.
81 would have you say at what hour
II is you are accustomed to close the
eyes which look down upon without
seeing mine"
AT nine. But what is this upon your
lapel-a fower2"
"a white rose for our wedding"
With pretty show of authority she
drew It from its resting place and
fixed 1t In her hair.
do not flowers belong TO the
brideP"
"Wear It in memory OF me-" he said,
gently. But now l am going to in
sist thet you take steps to preserve
those other roses which 1 am sure
have bloomed for you. Have you a
dressing-room9"
"Yes, but am not sleepy and l
shall not desert you. Wait. Speaking
of the rose, shall sing you a song
my guitar. All, here II isl Now I'll
sit here-and you right there-but
wonder II l can ever play in the dark
May not have Just little hght2
/ won't mind"
How easily you forgetl 1t is i'm
possible. Sing as you are; I shall not
hear any discord." He was astonished
at her swift change of mood and a
new, glad note in her voice. She sang
low and sweetly, with perfect control
of her tones, the Last Rose of Sum
mer." And then he understood bet.
ter. For in her voice he read that
the soul and spirit of an impassioned
woman dwelt in the slender frame
veiled by the shadows of the room
He was silent Every heartache that
had been crushed out of his manhood
seemed to have revived under the
magic of n subtle tone, an indescriba
BILE, indefnable echo. 1t was a resur.
rection of something that had died
hard within him.
"You do not like my singing" she
said, disappointed, when, waiting fol
his praise, she found him silent anc
| thoughtful.
Your singing? Yes. But mem
ory! 20 to sleep now. Make yourself
comfortable and leave me to keeI
watch. Yet stay; will you not sing
over those lines again? To me they
are ineXpressibly beautiful"
Standing in the doorway of hei
dressing-room, she sang the verse
through again softly without accom-.
paniment, waited until she was as
sured that he would not speak, and
then passed thoughtfully within
When she came forth, arrayed in heI
wrapper, she paused beside him, puz
zled over his change Of mood.
II am afraid you are going to be
lonely" she said.
sleep, my child, sleep; I shall moi
be lonely-knowing you are there"
perhaps l am keeping you awake? p
"Yes. That is it; you are keeping
me awakel"
well am holding out my handI
and saying good night" she said
He found and pressed his lips upor
them. He held them so tightly anc
treInbled so violently she bent dowr
over him confused. One Of her curls
looeened, dropped upon his neck. ant
another across his cheek. The mingled
odor Of her hair and the rose fille(