The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-07-18

her lips that could be taken As prom
Use. There had not been even a hint of
a promise. But it seemed to her that
this duty of which Mrs. Baggett spoke
was due rather to John Gordon than to
MIR. Whittlestaff.
She counted the days-nay, she
counted the hours, till the week had
run by. And when the moment had
come at which an answer must be given.
John Gordon was still the hero of her
thoughts. well. dear" he said. put
ting his hand upon her arm, just As he
had done on that former occasion. He
said no more, but there was a world of
entreaty in the tone of his voice as he
uttered the words.
"Mr. Whittlestaff ~
swell. dear"
81 do not think can. lido not think
1 ought. You never heard of--Mr.
John Gordon"
"Never"
"He used to come to our house at
Norwich, and-and-I loved him."
"What became of him?" he asked,
in a strangely altered voice. Was there
to be a MIR. Compass here, too, to inter-
fere with his happiness?
He was poor. and he went away
when my stepmother did not like him. y
"You had engaged yourself to him."
"Oh, mol There had been nothing
of that kind. You will understand that
l should not speak to you on such a sub
ject, were it not that am bound to tell
you my whole heart. But you will new
er repeat what you now 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 it happen9'
"Wnen my father was on his death
bed. He had come sooner than that;
but then it was that he went. think,
Mr.. Whittlestaff. thSs l never ought to
marry any one after that. and therefore
it is that have told you
You are n good girl, Mary"
II don't know about that. l think
thai l ought to deceive you at least in
nothing.
"You should deceive no one"
mo. Mr.. Whittlestaff She an
swered him meekIy: but there was run
ming in her s,ind feeling that she had
not deceived any one, and that she was
somewhat hardly used by the advice
given to her.
He has gone alt.yether?" he asked
again.
Il do not know where he is-whether
he is dead or alive"
But if he should come backs'
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 it now since Mr.. Gordon
went?'
There was something in the tone in
which he mentioned Mr.. Gordon name
which went against the grain with
Mary. She felt that he was spoken of
almost as an enemy. Il think it is
three years since he went"
Three years is > long time. Has he
never written?"
Not to me. How should he write?
There is nothing for him to write
about
1T has been 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
q fancy; but his love was sharpeued by
the opposition which this fancy made.
1t had seemed to him that his possess
inc her would give 3 brightness to his
life. and this brightness was not alto
gether obscured BY the idea that she
had ever thought that she had loved an
other person. As 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. 1.-The
week has passed by, Mary, and l 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 to surrender
herself. Am l not to have an answer
now?"
Il suppose So"
What is it to be-"
III you wish for me. will be yours :"
"And you will cease to think of Mr..
Gordon?''
II 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 be no speaking of him. 1t
is well that he should be banished from
Your mind. And now, dearest, dearest
love. give me your hand" She put her
hand at once into his. And q kiss"
She just turned herself little round.
with her eyes bent upon the ground.
Nay, there must be kiss" Then he
bent over her, and Just touched her
cheek. Mary, you are now all my
own Yes: she was all his own. and
she would do for him the best in her
power. He had not asked for her love.
and she certainly had not given it. She
knew well how impossible it would be
that she should give him her love. Il
know you ara disturbed. he said. II
also wish for few moments To think of
it all" Then he turned away and went
up the garden walk by himself.
She went into the house alone, and
seated herself by the open window in
her hed-chamber. As she sat there she
could see him up the long walk. going
and returning. As he went his hands
were folded behind his back, and she