Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-09-25
CHAPTER X-Coyr,sUEp,

morning. l am sorry did not think
OF asking you to come to breakfast.
But, perhaps. under all the circum-
stances. it was better not. That dread
full man had put us sadly about. He is
the unfortunate husband of nv hardly
less unfortunate housekeeper.'
''Yes, sir, he is my husband, that's
true said Mrs Baggett-
I'm very much attached to my wife,
if you knew all about it, sir; and
wants her to come home with me.
Service amt no inheritance; nor vet
amt wages, when they never amounts
to more than twenty pounds year.
Its thirty, you false, ungrateful
beast.' said Mrs. Baggett. But Mr.
Whittlestaff had led the way into the
garden, and John Gordon had followed
him. Before they reached the hall
door. Mary LawIie had met them.> -
''Oh, Mr.. Whittlestaffr p she said, sis
it not annoying? that dreadful man
with the wooden leg is here, and col
lecting crowd round the place. Good
morning, Mr.. Gordon. 1t is the poor
woman's ne'er-do-well husband. She is
herself SO decent and respectable that
she will be greatly harrassed. What
can we do, Mr.. Whittlestaff! Can't we
SCt q poaCtIndi. LII bIllS way tIC Soh-
yersation was led away to the affairs of
Sergeant and Mrs. Baggett, to the in
effable distress of John Gordon. When
we remember the kind of speeches
which Gordon intended to utter it must
be admitted that the interruption was
provoking. Even if Mary would leave
them together, it would ne difficult to
fall back upon the subject which Cor
don had at heart.
Blu. John Gordon could not postpone
his moment. He could not go on resid-
ing indefinitely at the Claimants Arms
till he could lind q proper opportunity
for assuring Mr.. Whittlestaff that it
could not be his duty to marry Mary
Lawrie. He must rush at his subject,
let the result be what 1t might. He
had no hopes as to favorable result.
Was it natural that man should give
up his intended wife, simply because he
was asked. Gordon's present feeling
was an anxious desire to be on board
the ship that should take him again to
the diamond-fields, SO that he might be
at peace, knowing then, as he would
know, that he had left Mary Lawrie be-
hind forever. At this moment he al
most repented that he had not left
Arlesford without any further attempt.
But there he was on MIR. Whittlestaff' s
ground, and the attempt must be made,
II only with the object of justifying his
coming.
Miss Lawrie," he began, IF you
would not mind leaving me and MIR.
Whittlestaf alone together for a few
minutes, ] will be obliged to you"
This he said with soiemnity, so that Mr..
Whittlestaff drew himself up, and looked
l. a,.I sd CT, no ri 10
termined to forget Sergeant Bag9ett
and all his peccadilloes for the moment.
.'Oh, yes; certainly; but Mr..
Whittlestaff looked sternly at her, as
though he bid her go at once. You
2 must believe nothing as coming from
me unless it comes from out OF my own
mouth Then she put her hand upon
his arm, as though half embracing him.
s.You had better leave us, perhaps. :
said MIR. Whittlestaff. And then she
went. ..... 80
Now the moment had come, and
John Gordon felt the difficulty. 1t had
not been lessened by the assurance Civ
ell by Miss Mary herself that nothing
was to be taken as having come from
her unless it was known and heard tG
have so come And yet he was thor
ouphly convinced that be was altogeth
err loved by her, and that had he ap
peared on the scene but day sooner
She would have accepted him with a.
her heart '.Mr. Whitttestaff: he said
II want to tell you what passed yester
day between me and Miss Lawrie.''
stIs it necessarily he asked.
s'I thinks it is So oar.
LAS far as am concerned, l doubt
the necessity. Miss Lawrie has said :
word to me: as much presume, as sh'
feels to be necessary"
"f do not think her feeling in the
matter should be a guide for you or TO
me. What we have both of us to do
to think what may be best for her. AM
Z to effect that as far as may be withn
our power
"But probably you and differ mate
rally as to thinking what may be hes
for her. As far as | understand tn
- matter. YOU wish that she should b
YOUR wife. l wish that she should b
: mine. / think that as my wife sh
would live happier life than she eoul
do as YOURS; and as she thinks ALSO
Here Mr.. Whittlestaff paused.
ssBut does she think So"
..You heard what she said Just now.
81 heard nothing as to her thought
of living said John Gordon. IN
in the interview which / had with he
YESTERDAY did | hear word fall trol
=. her as to herself. We have got to forl
( our ideas as to that from circumstance
which shall certainly not appear by ne
own speech. When you speak again'
me-" -- r.
81 have not said word against yo'
SIR
..Perhaps you imply" said Gordon
not stopping to notice Mi. Whittl
STATS angry tone, perhaps you lmpl
thatmy life may be that OF rover, an
as such would not conduce to Mi
Lawrie's happiness. , -
81 have implied nothing. Gf 81.
= ITO suit her wishes would rema
.altooether in England L was vel
1neky. and am not man greedy
oreat wealth. She can remain her
and will satisfy you that there sha
beeuoueh fore joint maintenance.
sWhat do I care for your MANI
nance. or what does sheP Doyou kno'
sir that YOU are talking to me about
iadv whom intend to make my VII
who is engaged to marry meP Zoo
ness gracious me-"
s.I own, sir, that it is singular.
Very singular, indeed. Inever hea
of such q thing. IL seems YOU Ano" -
at Norwich. ~,
az did know her wei"
.And then you went away and dese'
II her ~ q r. rszs - 81