The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-07-30
CHAPTER TX.
REV. MONTAGUE BLAKE.


John Gordon, when he left the room,
went out TO look for Mr. WhittestaR,
but was told that he had gone into the
town. Mr.. Whittlestaf' had had his
own troubles in thinking Of the uD-
lucky coincidence of John Gordon's re-
turn, and had wandered forth deter
mined TO leave those two together, so
that they might speak 10 each other as
they pleased. And, during his walk,
Should request of any kind be made
TO him by John Gordon, it should re-
ceive not the slightest attention. He
was a man to whom he owed nothing,
and for whose welfare he was not in the
least solicitous. "Why should | be
punished and he be made happy?" It
was thus he spoke 20 himself SHOULD
he encounter disappointment, in order
that John Gordon should win the object
on which he had set his heart? Ger
tainly not. His own heart was much
dearer TO him than that OF John Cor
don.
But II q request should be made by
Mary Lawriep Alasl il IL were so, then
there must be sharp misery in store foy
him. In the first place, were she TO tell
him that this man was dear 20 her, how
was II possible thas he should 90 TO the
altar with the girl, and there accept
from her her trothP She had spoken OF
q fancy which had crossed her mind re-
specting man who could have been
no more than dream 10 her, of whose
whereabouts and condition--nay, Of his
very existence-s was unaware. And
she had told him that no promise, no
word Of love had passed between them.
"Yes, you may think Of him." he had
said, meaning not to debar her from the
use Of thought, which should be open to
all the world, ''but let him not be spo-
ken Of" Then she had promised; and
when she had come again TO withdraw
her promise, she had done so with some
cock-and-bull story about the old wo-
man, which had had no weight with
him. Then he had her presence dur
ing the interview between the three on
which to form his judgment. As far as
he could remember, she had spoken
hardly above word during that inter-
view. She had sat silent, unhappy,
but not explaining the cause of her I'M
happiness. II might well be that she
should be unhappy in the presence Of
her aflianced husband and her old lover.
But now, il she would tell him that she
wished TO be relieved from him, and to
give herself 10 this stranger, she should
be allowed TO go. But he told himself
that he would carry his generosity no
further. He was not called upon 70 Of
fer to surrender himself. The man
coming had been misfortune; but let
him go, and in process Of time he would
be forgotten. 1t was thus that Mr..
Whittlestaff resolved.
II was now nearly five o'clock, and
Mr.. Whittlestaff, as Gordon was told,
dined at six. He felt that he would not
find the man before dinner unless he re-
mained at the house-and for doing so
he had no excuse. He must return In the
evening, or sleep at the inn apd come
back the next morning. Ho must man
age TO catch the man alone, because he
was assuredly minded 10 use upon him
all the power of eloquence which he had
ut his command. And, as ho thought
It improbable 10 find him IN the even
ing, he determined TO postpone his
task. But, In doing 80, he felt that he
should DO at o loss. The eager words
wero hot now within his memory, hay
ingbeen sharpened against the anvil Of
bis thoughts BY his colloQuy with Mary