The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-03-05


your own happiness" he said with u
proud smile.
"He's got his quietus," thought John
Norton, "and he takes it rather finely.
ought not to stay here any longer. l
am going back to Rome now," he said
somewhat abruptly to Mrs. Willis.
Goodbye. l suppose 1 shall see you
there some time or Other?"
She ignored the goodbye, and fol-
lowed him rs he went toward Margaret.
The marquis seeing his movement, recol-
lected IN engagement. Please ask
your friend to stay to dinner" he said
hastily. ~ shall return in an hour. "
And he left the room.
"When and where am to see you
again, Margaret ?" John asked, con-
scious of Mrs. Willis angry face at his
elbow; 1" | am going to the station now. f."
"Tu walk down across the green with
you," she said, "and we can talk it
over"
"But, Margaret, it il too hot TO go
out now" her aunt interposed sharply.
d" IL doesn't look well to go out mt noon;
10 one does"
"This is one Of the exceptions" the
niece replied.
She led him out through the flower
garden, by the path she had taken but
an hour before, and, going, told him the
story of the pennyroyal.
81 knew you couldn't do it, Pansy,"
he said with a tremor in his voice. 81
heard in America that you were going to
marry an Italian, and / started in twen-
ty-four hours afterward. Yet l never
really believed it, though i knew that
your aunt would be teasing YOU"
"YOu were much too sure of me then, "
she replied patheticalIy. clam awfully
wicked, John, and l was becoming am
bilious to shine in society"
"Why shouldn't you like to shine in
society?' he asked, smiling in her beau
tiful face.
sob but, you great honest goose !
you do not know what that sometimes
implies" she replied quite seriously.
"When there is crowd Of handsome
brilliant women trying to do the same
thing, it sometimes means all sorts of
petty tricks and spites."
John became serious and looked down.
He had heard of such things.
"And it isn't impossible that might
have accepted the marquis if it had not
been for you aud the pennyroyal."
Johns face flushed and he looked at
her sternly. Glow could you accept
him when you had never refused Inc,
and knew that l was waiting and hoping
for you?" he demanded.
Because you had no right to wait
and hope" she replied TRANQUILITY "You
ought to have come and taken me. L
like men who cut the Gordian knot"
"Better late than never" said John
Norton, with the quick, strong breath of
one who had escaped danger. "I've
come for you now, and l intend to take
You back with me not later than the first
OF November; we can be married in Oc-
tobcr. I'm going to name the day my
self. 1t shall be on the seventh day of
October; that will give you nearly two
to reconcile Mrs. Willis"
Margaret laughed. But you do not
know how YOU will be taken in if You
marry me-" she said. ~ have become
II dreadful woman. John, don't be too
much Mortified, but ] beat my maid"
"Nonsense!
81 really do. ! have struck her once
with the hair-brush, and countless times
with my hand"
"Poh! your hand wouldn't hurt
fly" he said, and took for an instant the
soft hand gave it little squeeze to try
its quality.
1t almost made blister" she persist
ed; "Agnes!na cried. I'm n fury when
I'm angry"
He looked at her seriously, and saw
that she was serious. alt is high time
that you should go home and have some
one to take care OF you" he said. g I'm
sure that You have been tormente6 till
you are nervous. In future don't beat
any one but me, Pansy. 1t isn't nice,
you know, for servant to see her mis-
tress i'll Il passion. could under stand,
but she would not"
That was the way he always excused
her when he saw that she regretted
fault.
They walked silently along the golden
road till they came to the great gate.
That WAS shut, but little one opened,
md the gentleman passed through,
shut it, aud leaned II moment on the rail
that separated them.
81 can not give you anything like
this" he said rather sadly, glancing
back at the villa. "You are sacrificing
a great deal to Inc, dear"
at is all beautiful, but such things
do not make ones happiness" she re-
piled. "ln II very little while it becomes
IN old story. Only nature keeps one
delighted.
81 know what will keep me perpetu-
lilly delighted" said the gentleman.
" 1t hasn't begun to be an old story to
me though, ever since you offered your
self to me-"
"Why, john" she exclaimed indig-
nantly, drawing back.
"Ever since you offered yourself to
me that day when l took you outOf the
brook" he went on, ~ have been por-
ing over it. Goodbye, dear; it is time
to 60. / shall see you in three days"
She looked dreamily after him. "Now,
could obey John, only will never tell
him So" she unused. "But / could
never obey the marquis. The only place
that suits him ID Mt my feet, going
through heroics. But John" She
smiled and blushed little. She didn't
saw where Johns place WAS.