Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-11
CHAPTER xyW-Co~

TT n Ill.
Would Miss Lawrie come over to Lit.
sIe Arlesford Park, and stay there for a
Few DAYS previous to the wedding?
nattle FORESTER meant to bring down a
SISTER with her as a bridesmaid. Two
OF the Miss Halls were to officiate also.
ana 1t would be taken as a great favor
II MISS Lawrie would make fourth. A
great deal was said to press upon her
tnls view of the case, to which, howev-
en- she made many objections. There
was, indeed, a tragedy connected with
her own matrimonial circumstances.
winch did not make her well inclined
20 JOIN such party. Her heart was
not at ease within her as to her deser-
ton OF MIR. Whittlestaff Whatever the
future might bring forth, the present
Could not be period of Joy. But in
the mlddle of the argument, Mr.. Whit
tiestaH spoke with the voice of author
1ty "Accept Mr.. Halls kindness" he
sald land go over for awhile to Little
Alresford -
And leave you all alone?"
IA sure MIR. Hall will be delighted
II you will come too,' said Mr. Blake,
ready at the moment to answer for the
extent OF his patrons house and good
nature
Quite out of the question:" said
MI Whittiestaff, in tone of voice in
tended to put an end to that matter
sBut L can manage to live alone for a
few days. seeing that 1 shall be COM
PEELED TO do So be.ore long. by Miss
Lawrie's marriage" Again Mary
looked up into his face. at is so, nv
dear. This young gentleman has man
aged to ferret out the truth, while look
ing for his wedding garments Win
You tell your papa, Miss Evalina, that
Mary will lie delighted to accept his
kindness?''
.sAnd Gordon can come down to me-"
said Blake, uproariously rubbing his
hands; "and we can have three or four
final days tgether, like two jolly young
bachelors"
''Spesking for yourself alone,' said
Katie .-ou'll have to remain Jolly
young bachelor for some time still, it
you don't mend your manners"
81 needn't mend my manners after
I'm married. l suppose" But they
who knew Mr.. Blake well were wont to
declare that, in the mattcrof what Miss
FORESTER called his manners, there
would not be much to make his wife
afraid
The affair was settled as far as it
could be settled in Mr.. Gordon's alb
sence. Miss Lawrie was to 90 over
and spend a fortnight at Little Aries
ford. Just previous to Katie Forrester's
marriage. and Gordon was to come
down to the marriage, so as to be near
to Mary, if he could be persuaded to
do 50. Oh this Mr.. Blake spoke with
great certainty. "Why couldn't he
bat L.
never did so yet in his life. Now [
have mad lot Of it.
mot such a lot by any MEANS" said
Miss FORESTER.
.sAccording to all accounts he's got
TO begin it. He told me that he hadn't
even proposed regular. Doesn't that
seem odd To you, Kattie?''
ut seemed very odd when you did
It" Then the three of them went
away, and Mary was left to discuss the
prospects of her future lin with MIR.
Whittlestatf. "You had better both of
you come and live here" he said.
"There would be room enough Mary
thought probably of the chance there
might be o. newcomers, but she said
nothing. II should 90 away, of
course" said Mr.. Whittlestaf.
Turn you out OF your own housed"
.sWhy not? / shan't stay here any
way. | am tired of the place, and
though shan't care to sell il, I shall
make a move. A man ought to make
amoye every now and again. 1 should
like to go to Italy. and live at one of
those charming little towns"
ssWithout = soul to speak TO.
II shan't want anybody to speak to.
shall take with me Just q few books to
read. j wonder whether Mrs. Baggett
would go with me. She can't have
much more to keep her in England
than have" But this plan had not
been absolutely fixed when Mary re-
tired for the night, with the intention
of writing her letter to John Gordon
before she went to bed. Her letter
took her long to write. The thinking
of it rather took too long. She sat
leaning with her face ON her hands,
and with tear occasionally on her
cheek, into the late night. meditating
rather on the sweet goodness of Mr..
Whittlestatf than on the words of the
letter. 1t had ut last been determined
that John Gordon should be her hus-
band. That the fates seem to have de.
cided, and she did acknowledge that in
doing so the fates had been altogether
propitious. 1t would have been very
d:fficuit-now at least she owned that
trush to herself-it would have been
VERY difficult for her to have been true
TO the promise she had made, altogether
TO eradicate John Gordon from her
heart. and to fill up the place left with
a wife's true affection for Mr.. Whittle-
stat. TO the performance of such
task as that she would not be subjected.
Rut on the other hand, John Gordon
INST permit her to entertain and to
n<,nce q regard for Mr.. Whittlestaf,
mt similar at all to the regard which
she world feel for her husband, but al
most equal in its depth.
At last she took the paper, and did
write her letter, as follows:
ssf1rxR Mr.. GORDON:-l am not surprised Mt
ANYTHING that Mr.. Whittlestaf should do
which sn3 tenderness of his 81 heart He is
eeRs-,k the NEST unselfish of mankind. i be-
i;.vf YOU to be so thoroughly sincere in the
s sn acknowledge that he is so. If you love
IL we'll enough To make me your rife, what
n as ron think OF him who has loved me we'll
: .sss,stL TO surrender me to one whom / had
<.4ss,@n before he had taken me under his
1os svx,,, Snow that love you. and am willing
S. ,ssc,rue your wife. What can say to you
nps. except that Il III, = So SO. II is SO. And in
eAyy..1iff OF him I can only say. thar his re.
11yrs for me has been more tender even than
sna' q Yours always E .ma lovingly,