Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-10-02
AN QLD.MAN'S LOVE,
~ 1sxHpnx TRoILo1H.
Author 81 LMt~ 1nnx.s. - FnnMIy pa,soa
I'D SfemBer," g The Ndr5en," ,
"Bdreheslsr To,rers." Etc. Etc.
CHAPTER N.-CoNr1yutp.

CoIn oOLdQAez4S AA0O tAiO Auo4 COxAC DUb
a day earlier, lie would have been in
time to say the first word; and in such
case there would have been no reason.
as far as MIR. Whits1estaff could see.
why John Gordon should be treated
other than as s happy lover. It was.
the one day in advance which had Civ
en- him the strength of his position. But
it was the one day, also, which had made
him weak. He had thought much
about Mary for some time past. He
had told himself that shy her means
might be procured some cure to the
wound in his heart which had made his
life miserable for so many years. But
had John Gordon come In time. the
past misery would only have been pro-
fonged, and none would have been the
wiser. Even Mrs. Baggett would have
held her pc ace. and not thrown it in. his
teeth tfat he had attempted to marry
Che girl and had failed. As it was, all
the world of Arlesford would know how
i. it had been with him, and all the world
of Arlesford, s. they looked at him,
would tell Themselves that this was the
man who had attempted to marry Mary
Lawrie, and had failed.
1t was true, all that John Gordon al
legged on his own behalf. But then
he washable to save his own conscience
byvtellipg himself that when John Cor
don had run Through his diamonds
there would be nothing but poverty and
distress. There vas nosreason for sup
posing that the diamonds would be
especially short-lived, or that John
Gordon would probably be spenthrift
But dianIouds as source of income are
VOLATILE not trustworthy, as were the
funds to Mrs. Baggett. And then the
nature of the source of income offered
enabled him to say so much as a plea
to himself. Could he give the girl to a
man who had nothing but diamonds
with which to pay his weekly bills? He
did tell himself again and again. that
Mary Lawrie sho1ld not be encouraged
to put her faith in diamonds. But he
felt that it was only an excuse. In
arguing the matter backwards and for
wards, he could but tell himself that he
did believe in John Gordon.
And tlfenN an idea. a grand idea. but
very painful in its beauty, crept into his
mind. Even though these diamonds
should melt away. and become as moth
ing, there was his own income, fixed
and sure as the polar star, in the con-
solidated British three per cents. Ifh
really loved this girl. could he not pro-
tecE her from poverty, even were she
down in the article of his diamonds? If
he loved her. was he not bound, by
some rule of chivalry which he could
not define even to himself, to do the
best he could for her happiness? He
loved her SO well that he thought that,
for her sake. he could abolish himself.
Let her have his money, his house,
and his horses. Let her even have
John Gcrdon.l He could, with certain
feeling Of delight, imagine it all. But
then he could. not abolish himself.
There be would be subjectto the remarks
of men. There is he," men would
saw OF him. ''who has maundered away
his mind in softness; who, in his life,
has loved two girls, and has, at last,
been thrown over by both of them be-
cause he has been no better than a soft,
maundering idiot" Thus his neighbors
wpah speak of him in his vain effort to
abolish himself.
It was not yet too late. He had not
yielded an inch TO this man. He could
still be stern and unbending. He felt
proud of himself in that he had been
stern ami unbending, as far as the man
was eoncerned. And as regarded Mary,
Ia did feel sure of her. Il If there was to
be weakness displayed. it would be in
himself. Mary would be true to her
promise; true to her faith, true to the
arrangement made for her own life.
Shewould not provoke him with argu-
ments. as to her love for John Gordon;
and. as Mrs. Baggett had assured him,
evensfn der thoughts she pwould not go
astt-zy, If it were but for that word,
Mrs.-Baggett should not be allowed to
leave his house. . .tG
But what as to Mary's love? ANY
such question was maunderingly soft.
1t was not for him to ask it. He did
believe in her altogether, and was per-
fectly; secure that his name and his
honor were safe in her hands. And she,
certainly. would learn to love him.
.sShe'l II stand the washing he said to
himself, repeating another morsel of
Mrs. Baggett' s wisdom. And thus he
made up his mind that he would. on
this occasion, if only on this occasion.
be stern and cruel. Surely man could
bring himself TO sternness and cruelty
for once in his life, when so much de-
pended on it.
Having so resolved, he walked back
into the house, intending to see Mary
LRwrie. and SO to speak to her as to
give her no idea of the conversation
which had taken place between him
and John Gordon. 1t would not be
necessary. hes thought, that he should
mention to her John Gordon's name
ahy'lhoteI Let his Marriage go on. as
though there were no such person as
John Gordon. 1t would be easier to be
stern and cruel when he could enact
the character simply by silence. He
would hurry on his wedding as quickly
as she would allow him, and then the
good thing-the good that was to come
out of slernnessI and cruelty-would be
ackt9eti JiItii{t$ s3I} ttt 81
q He went thTpugh from the library to
knDakI al Marg's door, aud, in doing
sol had to pass the room in which, Mrs.
Baggett had Slept TRANQUILITY for fifteen
yearsl There in the doorway, was a
BIG trunk, and in Che lock of the door
was KEY. A brilliant idea at once oc-
Cured tS Mr.. Whittlestaff. He showed
the big DOT inswith his foot locked the
door. and put the key in his pocket.
At that moment the heads of the gar
tiener. and She groom appeared up the
Hack Staircase and after them Mrs.
Baggett.
"Why, Mrs. Baggett, the door is
locked" said the gardner.
/ - 1t is to be sure" said the groom.
..Nhy, Mrs Baggett, you must have
-ksy-i in your own. pocket.
ri amt got no such thing. Do you
1..,xx- tbo bssx ,aoxunTyvjflY y,oIlsa ~~E -