Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-10-09
CHAPTER Xu-Cosr1srrn


Don't chat. because I'm in earnest.
Katie Forester will be in by the very
train that was to take you on to Lon
don, and I'm to wait and put her into
Mr.. Halls carriage. One of the
daughters, don't doubt. win be there,
and You can wait and see her if YOU
ike 10. II you'll get your bag ready
the coachman viii take IT with Katie
luggage There's tie Park carriage
coming down the street now. I'll 20
out and stop old Steadypaee, the coach
man; only don't you keep him long, be
cause / shouldn't like Katie to find
that there was no one to look after he,
at the station
There seemed to be an opening in al
this for Holm Gordon 10 remain at any
rate day longer in the neighborhood
of Mary Lawrie, and he determined
that he would asail himself of the OBJ
portunIty- lie. therefore, together with
his friend Blake, saw the coachman,
and gave instructions as TO finding the
bag at the station. and prepared him.
self to walk out to the Park. ..You can
60 down to the station he said to
Blake, ~and can ride back with the
carriage
'10f course / shall see you up at the
house.. said Blake. Indeed, I've
been asked 10 stay there while Katie is
with them. Nothing can be more hos
pitable than Mr.. Hall and his four
daughters I'd give you some advice.
only really don't know which you
Ike the best There is sort of SINH
larity about them; but that wears off
when you come to know them. / have
heard people say that the two eldest are
very much alike. If that be so, per-
haps you II like the third the best The
third Is the incest, as her hair may DE a
shade darker than the others. ! really
must be off now, as ] wouldn't for
worlds that the train should come in be-
fore n on the platform" With that
he went into the yard, and at once trot-
ted of on his cob
Gordon paid his bill, and started to
Little Arlesford Park Looking back
he could just remember TO have heard
his father speak OF Mr.. Hall But that
was all. bis fatherwas now dead, and,
certainly. he thought, had not men
toned the name for many years. But
the invitation was civil, and, as he was
to remain in the neighborbood, it might
be that he should again have an oppor-
sunity of seeing Mary Laxrie or Mr..
Whittlestaf. He found that Little
Arlesford Park lay between the town
and Mr. Blakes church, so tina. he was
at the gate sooner than he expected.
He went in, and, having time on his
hands, deviated from the road and went
up a hill, which was, indeed, one of the
downs. though between the park pail
ing. Here he saw deer feeding, and he
came after a while to a beech grove.
He had now gone down the hill Oh the
other side. and found himself close to
IS pretty laborer's cottage as he re-
lnembered ever to have seen. 1t was
still June. and it was hot, and he had
been on his legs nearly the whole morn
ing Then he began to talk, or rather
10 think. to himself. What a happy
fellow is that man Aontagu Blakei He
has yerything-not that he wants, but
that he thinks that he wants The
work of his life is merely play He is
gong TO marry wife-not who is. but
whom he niinks TO be, perfection. He
looks as though he were never i'll q day
in his life. How would he do if be were
grubbing for diamonds amid the mud
and dust of Kimberley? Instead of
that, he can throw himself down on
such a spot as this. and mediate his
sermon among the beech-trees." Then
he began to think whether the sermon
could be made to have some favor of
the beech-trees, and how much better
In that case It would be, and as he SO
thought he fell asleep.
He had not been asleep long. perhaps
not five minutes, when he became
aware in his slambers that an old man
was standing over him. One does thus
become conscious of things before the
moment of waking has arrived, so pos
itively Is 10 give to the sleeper false
sense of the reality of existence. Il
wonder whether you can be Mr.. Cor
dona said The old man.
But / am" said Gordon. 81 won
der how you know me-
:. Because / expect YOU" There was
something very mysterious in this
which, however, lost all mystery as
soon as he was sufficiently awake to
think of things "You are Mr.. BlaLe's
friend.
"Yes; / am Mr. Blake's friend
land / am Mr.. Hall, didn't ex-
pect to find you sleeping here, in Gar
Wood. Bnt when ] find a strange
gentleman asleep in Gar Wood, l put
two and two together. and conclude that
YOU must be Mr.. Gordon
If 5 the prettiest spot in all the world,
/ think.
.Yes; we are rather proud of Gar
Wood especially when the deer are
kcowsing on the hillside to the left, as
they are now. If you want to go to
sleep again. we II walk up to the house.
There's the carriage. / can hear the
wheels The girls have gone down to
fetch your friends bride Mr.. Blake is
very fond of his bride-as i dare say
you nave found out
Then, as the two walked together to
the house. Mr.. Hall explained that
there had been some little difference in
wears zone by between old Mr.. Gordon
and himself, as to money. Il was very
sorry, but / had to look after myself.
You know nothing about It, / dare
Il have heard your name-that's
all-''
al need not say anything more about
il. - said Mr.. Hall; '.only, when / heard
that YOU were IN the country, i was
fery clad to have the opportunity of
seeing sou. Blake tells me that you
know NV friend Whittlestaff."
81 did not know him till yesterday |
Then you know the young lady !
here; q charming young lady she is. !
Nv girls are extremely fond of Mary |
Lswrie- hope we may get them to
come over while you are staying here
Il can only remain one night, or at /
most two, Mr.. Hall
s..Pooh. poohi We have other places |
n the neighborhood to show you quite |
g uretty rs Gar Wood. Though that's /