The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-07-23
CHAPTER vII.-CoNT1NuEp.

81 am the gentleman" said Mr..
Whittlestaff, holding himself somewhat
more erect as he spoke. The position
was difficult. He could see that John
Gordon looked upon him, William
Whittlestaff, to be AN unfit person to
take Mary Lawrie for his wife. By the
tone in which he asked the question,
and by his look of surprise when he re-
ceived the answer, Gordon showed that
he had not expected such reply.
"What! an old man like you to become
the husband of Mary Lawrie! Is this
the purpose for which you have taken
her into your house, and given her
those good things of which you have
boastedr' Thus Mr.. Whittlestafl
read the look and interpreted the speech
conveyed in Gordon's eye. Not that
Mr.. Whittlestaff had boasted, but thus
he read the look. He knew that he had
assumed Especial dignity as he made
his answer.
"Oh, indeedr' said John Gordon.
And now he turned altogether round
with his full frowning eyes fixed upon
poor Mary.
eff you knew it all, you would feel
that l could not help myself Thus
Mary would have spoken if she could
have given vent to the thoughts within
her bosom.
"Yes, sir. 1t isl who think myself 50
happy as to have gained the affections
of the young lady. She sto be my wife,
and it is she who must name the day
when she shall become so. | repeat the
invitation which l gave you before. I
shall be most happy to see you at my
wedding. If, as may be the case, you
shall not be in the country when the
time comes; and if, now that you are
here, you will give Miss Lawrie and
myself some token of your renewed
friendship, we shall be happy to see
you if you will come at once to the
house, during such time as it may suit
you to remain in the neighborhood." "
Considering the difficulty of the posi-
ton, Mr.. Whittlestaff carried himself as
well as might have been expected.
.'Under such circumstances, said
Gordon, 81 can not be guest in your
house" Thereupon Mr.. Whittlestafl
bowed. "But | hope that l may be al
lowed to speak a few words to the
young lady, not in your presence.
Certainly, if the young lady wishes
it,
II had better not" said Mary.
"Are you afraid of meP"
Il am afraid of myself. 1t had better
not be SO. Mr.. Whittlestaff has told
you the truth. | am to be his wife
and, in offering me his hand, he has
added much to the infinite kindnesses
which he has bestowed upon me-.
"Oh, if you think sol"
81 do think so. Ii you only knew il
all, you would think SO too"
"Row long has this engagement ex
isted?" asked Gordon. But Mary
Lawrie could not bring herself to give
an answer.
IF you are not afraid of what hi
may say to youP'- said Mr.. Whittle-
staff
II am certainly afraid of nothing
that Mr. Gordon may say"
"Then would accede to his wishes
1t will be better to have it over" Mr.
Whittlestaff, in giving this advice, hat
thought much as to what the worlC
would say of him. He had done nothing
of which he was ashamed-nor ha(
Mary. She had given him her promise
and he was sure she would not depar
from it, 1t would, he thought, be in
finitely better for her, for many reasons
that she should be married to him thai
to this wild young man, who had JUS
returned from the diamond-mines, ant
would soon, he imagined, 60 back ther,
again. But the young man had aske(
to see the girl whom he was about tC
marry, alone, and it would not suit hin
to be afraid to allow her SO much lib
erty.
II shall not hurt you, Mary" sail
John Gordon.
81 am sure you would not hurt me.
'Nors say an unkind word.n
ooh, mol You could do nothing un
kind, ] know. But you might spar
me and yourself some pair" ~
Fl oane1otdo it, he said. II ca
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