The Red Cloud chief., 1884-07-18

a taken some Olncf Niic, aoh
conscious that not q word had passed
her lip. that could be taken a a prom.
ise. There had not been even a hint OF
a promise. But it seemed 10 her that
this duty Of which Mrs. Baggett spoke
due rather to John Gordon than TO
MIR. Whittlestaf.
She counted the days-nay. she
counted the hours, till the week had
run by. And when the moment had
come al which an answer must be given,
John Gordon was still the hero OF her
thoughts. We'll dear, he said, put
ting his hand upon her arm, just as he
had done on that former occasion he
said no more, bu. there was a world OF
entreatv in the tone of his voice IS he
uttered the words.
MIR. Whittlestaf"
We'll. dear"
II do not think can. lido not think
] ought. You never heard of-Mr.
John Gordon
Never"
He used to come to our house at
Norwich. and-and-l loved him.
What became of him." he asked,
in a strangely altered voice. Was there
TO be 4 Mr.. Compass here, too. 10 inter
ferc with his happiness?
He was poor. and he went away
when nv stepmother did not like him.
You had engaged yourself TO him.
"Oh, no. There had been moth NJ
of that kind. You will understand that
| should not speak To YOU on such sub
ject, were il moi that l am bound TO tell
YOU nv whole heart. But you will ncv-
er repeat what you o hear.
There was no engagement
There was no question OF any such
thing
And he is gomez"
Yes" said Mary; .'he has gone.
And will not come back again?
Then she looked into his face-Oh. so
wistfully. "When did il happene'
When NV father WAS on his death
bed. He had come sooner than that;
but then il was that he went. ! think.
Mr.. Whitlle-taff. tha.. | never ought 10
marry any onr after that. and therefore
ii is that | have told you"
You are a good girl. Mary"
Il don't know about that. / think
thai ! ought 10 deceive you at least in
nothing"
You should deceive no one"
mo. Mr.. Whittlestaff." She an
swered him meakIv: but there was run
ming in her Slind a feeling that She had
not deceived anv one. and that she was
somewhat hardly used by the advice
given 10 her.
~He has gone altogether" he asked
again.
Il do not know where he is-whether
he is dead or alive"
..But if he should come back9'
She only shook her head. He had made
her no offer. He had said that if he
returned he would come first to Nor
witch. There had been something of a
promise in this; but Oh. SO little. And
She did not dare to tell him that hitherto
she had lived upon that little.
Il do not think that you should re-
main single forever on that account.
How long is il now since Mr.. Gordon
went?'
There was something in the tone in
which he mentioned Mr.. Gordon's name
which went against the grain with
Mary. She felt that he vas spoken of
almost as an enemy. Il think II Is
three years since he went"
Three years is a long time. Has he
never written
Not TO me. How should he write'
There is nothing for him TO write
about
1T has been a fancy"
..Yes-a fancy" He had this excuse
for her. and she had none stronger TO
make for herself.
He certainly did not think the better
of her in that she had INDUCED in such
a fancy; but his love was sharpened by
the opposition which this fancy made.
Ii had seemed TO him that his possess
inc her would give a brightness to his
life. and this brightness was not alto
geiher obscured by the idea that she
had Yer thought that she had loved an
other person. As a woman she was as
lovable as before, though perhaps less
admirable. At any rate he wanted her.
and now she seemed to be more within
his reach than she had been. The
week has passed by. Mary. and / sup
pose that now YOU can give me an an
swer." Then she found that she was
in his power. She had told him her
story. as though with the understand
ing that if he would take her with her
fancy she was ready I o surrender
herself. Am l not I o have an answer
now?"
Il suppose So"
What is il TO be-"
If You wish for me. I will be yours"
And YOU will cease 10 think of Mr..
Gordon?'
81 shall think OF him. but not in a
way that you would begrudge me-"
That will suffice. | know that YOU
are honest. and l will not ask you
to forget him altogether. But there
had better De no speaking Of him. 1t
is well that he should be ban;shed from
your mind. And now. dearest. dearest
love. give ME your hand She put her
hand If once into his. And a kiss"
She just turned herself q little round.
with her eyes bent upon the ground.
NAY, there must be a kiss" Then he
bent over her, and just touched her
cheek. MARY, YOU are now all nv
own Yes: she was all his own. and
she would do for him the best in her
power. He had no asked for her love.
and she certainly had not given it. She
knew well how impossible il would be
that she should give him her love. Il
know You are disturbed" he said. Il
also wish for a few moments to think of
it all" Then he turned away and went
up the gardeh walk by himself.
She went into the house alone. and
seated herself by the open window in
her bed-chamber. As she sat there she
could see him mp n long walk. going
and returning. As he went his hands
Were folded behind his back, and she
thought tbs, he appeared oder than
sne had ever remarked him TO be before.
What did il signify? She was SURE that
- .a.la l.. -