The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-03-13
HE KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
BY ANTHONY TRoLLoPE.
CHAPTER XXXv.
Continual

Mr. Gibsou's position was one not to
be envied. We're he willing to tell the
very secrets of his soul TO Miss French
with the utmost eandor, he c-uld no.
answer her question either one way or
tho other, and he was not willing TO |
tell her any of his secrets. 1t was GER |
tainly the fact, too, that there had been
thnder passages between him and Ara |
bella, Now, when there have been such
passages, and the gentleman is cross
examined by the lady, as Mr.. Gibson
was being cross-examined at the present
moment, the gentleman usually teaches
himself to think that q little falsehood
il permissible. A gentleman can hardly
tell a lady that he has become tired of
her. and has changed his mind. He
feels the matter, perhaps, more keenly
even than she does and though, at all
other times he may be a very paladin
in the cause of truth, in such strait
as this he does allow himself some lati-
tude. ..
"You are only joking, of cOnrse," he
said.
Indeed, am not joking. l can as
sure you, Mr.. Gibson, that the well
fare of our friends whom l really love
can never be a matter of joke to me.
Mrs. Crumbie says that you positive
ly are engaged to marry Dorothy Stan
bury"
"What does Mrs. Crumbie know about
tt" ....--
'Tdare say nothing. 1t is not so,-is
itT Ir
Certainly not"
"And there is nothing in it's
there ~
81 wonder why people make these
reports, said Mr.. Gibson, prevarica-
ting.
"itis fabrication from beginning to
end, then 7" said Arabella, pressing the
matter quite home. AT this time she
was very close to him, and, though her
words were severe, the glance from her
eyes was soft. And the scent from her
hair was not Objectionable to him as it
would have been to Mrs. Stanbury.
And the mode of her head dress was not
displeasing to ham. And the folds of
her dress, as they fell across his knee,
were welcome to his feelings. He knew
that he was as one under temptation,
but he was not strong enough to bid
the tempter avaunt. "Say that it is so,
Mr.. Gibsonw
"Of course, it is not So" said Mr., Glib
son,-lying.
"i am so glad. For of course, Mr..
Gibson, when we heard it, we thought
a great deal about it. A mans happi
ness depends so much on whom he mar
ries,-doesR't it And clergyman's
more than anybody else's. And we
didn't think she was quite the sort of
woman that you would like. You see,
she has had no advantages, poor thing!
She has been shut up in little cottage
all her life,--just laborer's howell, no
more,-and though it wasn't her fault,
of course, and we all pitied her, and
were so glad when Miss Stanbury
brought her to the Close,-still, you
know, though one was very glad of her
as an acquaintance, yet, you know as o
wife,-aAd for such dear, dear friend"
She went on and said many other
things with equal enthusiasm, aud then
wiped her eyes, and then smiled and
laughed. After that she declared that
shewas quite happy,-so happy; and so
she left him. The poor man, after the
falsehood had been extracted from him,
said nothing more; but sat in patience,
listening to the raptures and enthusiasm
of his friend. He knew that he had dis
grsced himself; and he knew also that
his disgrace would be known, if Dorothy
Staubury should accept his offer on
the morrow. And yet how hardly he
had been used What answer could
he have given compatible both with
the trath and with his own personal
dignity
About half an hour afterwards, he was
walking back to Exeter with Brooke
Burgess, and then Brooke did ask him a
question or two.
"Nrce glrls those Trenches, l think"
said Brooke. ----.-, a4-----
Every NICE" said Mr.. Gibson.
Glow Miss Stanbury does hate them!'
says Brooke. 80 r.
mot hate them, 1 hope" said Mr..
Gibson.
"she doesn't love theln.-dees she 7"
well, as for love,-yes, in one sense,
Il hope she does. Miss Stanbury. Won
know, is woman who expresses herself !
strongly"
'What would she say, if she wera
told that you and l were going to marry
those two girlsi We are both fayorites
ySuknow."
"Dear me! What very odd suppo,i.
ton p said Mr.. Gibson.
"Eor my part, don't think shall, )"
said Brooke.
~ don't suppose l shall either,p
said Mr.. Gibson, with gravity which
was-intended to convey some smatter-
ing of rebuke. -.- .r.-7. -.sr
"a fellow might do worse, you know
said Brooke. ''For my part rather like
girls with chignons and all that sort of
get-up. But the worst of it is we can't
marry two at time.o
THAT would be bigamy," said Mr..
Gibson. r- ..r---..-.' -,r-
F"Just So" said Brooke.