The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-08
CHAPTER vn.-Coxrrxurp.

BdFchcster IoUezs, ETC., BIC.
CHAPTER yu.-CoSrrxuEp.
al am the gentleman. said Mr..
Whittlestaff, holding himself somewhat
more erect as he spoke. The position
was difficult He coa.d see that John
Gordon looked upon him. William
Whittlestaff, to be an unfit person to
take Mary Lawrie for his wife. By the
tone in which he asked the question,
and by his look of surprise when he re-
-ceiyed the answer, Gordon showed that
he had not expected such q reply.
What, an old man like you to become
the husband of Mary Lawrie! Is this
the purpose for which you have taken
her into your house, and given her
those good things of which you have
bOasted!" Thus Mr.. Whittlestah
read the look and interpreted the speech
conveyed in Gordon's eye. Not that
Mr.. " hittlestaff had boosted. but thus
he read the look. He knew that he had
assumed a special dignity as he made
his answer.
s-Oh, indeedin said John Gordon.
AND now he turned altogether round,
with his full frowning eyes fixed upon
poor Mary.
elf you knew it all, you would feel
that / could not help myself" Thus
Mary would have spoken if she could
have given vent to the thoughts within
her bosom.
..Yes, sir. 1t is 1 who think myself Sc
happy as to have gained the affections
of the young lady. She is to be my wife,
and it is she who must name the iay
when she shall become so. repeat the
invitation which l gave you before.
shall be most happy to see you at my
wedding. II, as may be the case, you
shall not be in the country when the
time comes; and if. now that YOU are
here, you will give Miss Lawrie and
myself some token of your renewed
friendship, We shall be happy to see
you If You will come at once to the
house, during such time as it may suit
you to remain in the neighborhood.' ~
Considering the difficulty of the posi-
ton, MIR WhittIestaff carried himself as
web as might have been expected.
Under such circumstances" said
Gordon, Il can not be guest in your
house" Thereupon Mr.. Whittlestaff
bowed. '.But l hope that may be al
lowed to speak few words to the
young lady, not in your presence.
Certainly, If the young lady wishes
it"
Il had better not said Mary.
'.Are you afraid of me?"
Il am afraid of myself. 1t had better
not be so. Mr.. Whittlestaff has told
you the truth. l am to be his wife;
and. in offering me his hand. he has
added much to the infinite kindnesSes
which he has bestowed upon me-"
'-0h, Il you think so!'
81 do think so. Ii YOU only knew it
al, YOU would think so too
How long has this engagement ex-
isted?" asked Gordon. But Mary
Lawrie could not bring herself to give
an answer.
If yoa are not afraid of what he
NAV say TO you?"- said Mr.. Whittle-
stat.
Il am certainly afraid of nothing
that Mr.. Gordon may say"
Then would accede to his wishes
1t VIII be better to have it over" Mr..
Whittlestaff, in giving this advice, had
thought much as to what the world
would say of him. He had done nothing
of which he was aShamsi-nor had
MARY. She had given him her promise,
and he was sure she would not depart
from it. Ii would, he thought, be in
finitely better for her, for many reasons,
that she should be married to him than
to this wild young man, who had just
returned from the diamond mines, and
would soon. he imagined. 90 back there
again. But the Young man had asked
TO see the gill whom he was about to
marry. alone, and it would not suit him
70 be afraid to allow. her so much lib
eIty.
Il shall not hurt you, Mary said
John Gordon
81 an sure you would not hurt me. -
Nor say an unkind word :"
'-Oh. no! You could do nothing I'M
kind, know. But you might spare
me and yourself some pain :"
Il can not do it." he said al can
not bring myself to go back at once
after this long voyage, instantly, as /
should do, without having spoken one
word to you. | have come to England on
purpose to see you. Nothing shall in
duce me TO abandon my intention of
doing so bat your refusal l have re-
ceived great blow and it is you who
must tell me that there is certainly no
cure for the wound"
There is certainly none" said
Mary.
perhaps had better leave you to-
gether,' said Mr.. Whittlestaff, as he
got up and left the room
CHAPTER VIII
JOHN GORDON AND MARY LAwRrE-
Tie door was closed, and John Cor
don and Mary were alone together. She
wss still seated, and he, coming for
ward, stood in front of her. Mary"
he said and he put out his right hand.
as though to take hers But she sat
still. making no motion to give him her
hand. Nor did she saya word To
her her promise to Mr.. Whittlestaff was
binding-not the less binding because il
had onfy been made on this very day.
She had already acknowledged to this
other man that the promise had been
made. and she had asked him to spare
her this interview. He had not spared
her, and it was for him now to say
what there was to be said She had SET