The Iola register., 1901-06-14

BY what means the visitor knew OF
her Louise was not informed; but she
had been given name and directed to
register under it. and she readily
guessed. She at once said, after the
formal greetings were over:
81 perceive, madam, that your
mourning has reached the second pc
riod." The visitor moved her chair
close and made = statement, carefully
worded, OF considerable length, and
this Louise was required to repeat over
and over until its main points were
fixed in mind. II related to cabinet
meeting of the day before. Mrs.
Brookin then offered a few comments
upon the weather and the unfortunate
war and would have arisen. but Louise
detained her. She said, bending over
her:
"You have a son In the war depart
ment who is in great danger and his
indiscretion has endangered you and
our whole system"
"Lower!-speak lower, for Gods
sake!"
"He has grossly deceived and
wronged a woman named Louise, and
has been rash enough TO let her into
his and your secrets"
Mrs. Brookin was almost unable to
articulate; the other handed her a
glass of water.
where is she-this Louse?" she
asked then.
MADAM, she stands before YOU"
Louise had then and there a part of
her revenge; the elder woman, in spite
CHAPTER XIV.
Locked within his own room, Ray
mond Holbin drew from his pocket the
packet of papers taken by him from
the murdered man with the official
order for which he had committed the
crime. The order read; Pass the
bearer. Thomas Riley, paroled prison
er, through the lines" at will not
do Louise much good, anyway" he
said. "even were | disposed to give it
to her" The name Martha Somers"
upon the sealed packet attracted his
attention, and he recognized in Della
ware address beneath the home of
Richard Somers. lie remembered then
the dead soldiers description of the
battle in which he was wounded, and
guessed that the packet contained the
papers given to him to deliver, Holbin
would hardly have troubled himself to
wade through a score of farewell pages
from q soldier to his mother, and would
have promptly destroyed the whole
collection, but that the remaining en-
velope, addressed to Richard Somers,
lay before him, and upon it his eye
caught the Brookin crest.
This is very different" he said to
himself with interest. Let us SEQ
what Frances has to say to the fellow"
He broke the seal and read:
IT sond you back, woll and free the
man who saved your life; I found him
sriovously wounded-a prisoner. 1t IL all
that have been able 70 do In return tor
your kEndnsss to mao, stranger, and for
the wound you reoeiVod In my house. Thknk
mo not indelcate when say that the
sweetest memory my heart carries 10 IN
the memory OF your face beneath the
| match that night and of tho words
| Frances, my wife which you have en-
graved In your looSet, and over which I
nave p4hSeu a message 10 yDA' forelfe mo-
II can never matter much, for a sea Of blood
rolls botweOB us. Good nlsht. GOD bs
With YOU till we neet-in Heaven
"FRANCRA"
Holbin sat gazing blankly upon the
lines. Ills head was in a whirl.
"Hcr husbandl her hushgndl
Pshaw!" no oNclaimpd with an uneasy
laugh, spmngiRs to bis Feet ard begER,
niE,g to walk tho hoeV "this cSues OF
the dss bio work cut yo.ndaP to-day :
my nerves srO simply p2struag" Hs
took bottle ineHi hin dressar, poured
sut HtH drinh, and tossed IL qG with
! enc Gulp, Thsn he veRt bask to his