The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-12

when the time arrived Tor gong TO
the dinner, Mr.. Whittlestaf took Mary
in the pony carriage with him. "TEers
is always q groom about there" he
said. $50 we need not take the boy "
His object was, as Mary in part under
stood, that he should b e able to speak
what last word he might have to utter
without having other ears than hers to
listen to them.
Mary would have been surprised had
she known how much painful thought
Mr.. Whittlestaf gave to the matter. To
her it seemed as though he had made
up his mind without any effort, and was
determined to abide by it. He had
thought it well to marry her and hav-i
ing asked her. and having obtained her
consent, he in tended to take advantage
of her promise. That was her idea of
Mr.. Whittlestaff. as to which she did
not at all blame him. But he was, in
truth. changing his purpose every GUAR
ter of an hour;-or not changing it. but
thinking again and again throughout
the entire day whether he would not
abandon himself and all his happiness
to the romantic idea of making this girl
supremacy happy. Were he to do so,
he must give up everything. The world
would have nothing left for him as to
which he could feel the slightest inter-
est. There came upon him at such mo-
ments insane ideas as TO the amount of
sacrifice which would be demanded Of
him. She should have everything-his
house, his fortune /; and he, John Cor
don, rs being part of her, should have
them also. He, Whittlestaff. would
abolish himself as far as such abolition
might be possible. The idea of suicide
was abominable to him-was wicked,
cowardly and inhuman. But if this
were to take place, he could wish to
cease to live. Then he would comfort
himself by assuring himself again and
again that of the two he would certain
ly make the better husband. He was
older. Yes; it was pity that he
should be so much the elder. And he
knew that he was old of his age,-such
a one as a girl like Mary Lawrie could
hardly be brought to love passionately.
He brought up against himself all the
hard facts as sternly as could any
younger rival. He looked at himself in
the glass over and over again, and al
WAYS gave the verdict against his own
appearance. There was nothing to
recommend him. So he told himself
Judging of himself most unfairly. He
set against himself as evils little points
by which Mary's mind and Mary's judg-
ment would never be affected. But. in
truth, throughout it all he thought only
of her we fare. But there came upon
him constantly an idea that he hardly
knew how to be as good TO her as he
would have been had it not been for
Catherine Bailey. To have attempted
twice, and twice to have failed so disas-
trously! He was man to whom to
have failed once in such a matter was
almost death. How should he bear il
twice and still live Nevertheless he
did endeavor to think only of her wei.
fare. You won't find it cold, my
dear ?" he said.
Gold! Why, Mr.. Whittlestaff. it's
quite hot
81 meant hot. Ibid mean to say hot. ="
i've got my parasol."
''Oh.-ah.-yes; so perceive. &c
on, Tommy. That foolish old woman
will settle down at last, think" TIC
this Mary could make no answer. be
cause. according to her ideas. Mrs
Baggett's settling down must depend OIL
her masters marriage. Il think i
very civil of Mr.. Hall asking us in thi:
way"
Il suppose it is"
Because you may be sure he had
heard of your former acquaintance with
HIM"
do you think SOP
"Not a doubt about it. He said 81
much to me in his note. That youna
clergyman OF his will have told him
everything. 'Percontatorem iugito nam
garrulus idem est I've taught you
Latin enough to understand that. But,
Mary, if you wish to change your mind.
this will be your last opportunity" His
heart at that moment had teen very
tender towards her, and she had re-
solved that hers should be very firm to
HIM.