The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-10-31
should there be any prc,enoe on NV

"Why. indeed?"
"But have not answered hin-D0t
as yet"
''Theye need be no delay"
81 would not do it till YOU had come.
Imay have known what he would say
to me, but may be much in doubt what
l should say to him.
''You may say what You like" He
answered her GROSSLY, and she heard the
tone. But he was aware of it also. and
felt that he was disgracing himself
There was none of his half-hour Of Joy
which he had promised himself. He had
struggled so hard to give her every
thing, and he might, at any rate. have
perfected his gift with good-humor.
''You know you have my full permfs-
sion," he said, With q smile. But he
was aware that this smile was not pleas
ant-was not such a smile as would
make her happy. But it did not signify.
When he was gone away, utterly abol-
ished. then she would be happy.
Il do not know that want your per
mission"
mo, no; dare say not"
''You asked me to be your wife,"
..Yes; l did"
':And accepted you. The matter
was settled then"
''But you told me of him-even ut
first. And you said that you would al
ways think OF him."
Eyes: told you what l knew to be
true. But l accepted you: and de-
termined to love YOU with all my heart
with all my heart"
..And YOU knew that you would love
him without any determination"
81 think that 1 have myself unde,
more control. / think that in time-is
a little t;me--I would have done my
duty BY you perfectly"
..As how?"
Loving YOU with all my heart"
..And now?'' 1t was hard question
to put to her, and SO unnecessary!
.'You have distrusted me somewhaL
l begged you not TO go TO London. l
begged you not to 60.
''Iou can not love two men," She
looked into his face, as though implor-
ing him to spare her. For though she
/ did know what was coming-though
had she asked herself she would have
said that she knew-yet she felt her.
self bound to disown Mr.. Gordon as her
/ very own while Mr.. Whittlestaf thus
/ tautalized her. "No; you can not love
two men. You would have tried to
love me and have failed. You would
have tried not to love him, and have
failed then Also"
Then would not have failed Had
you remained here, and have taken me.
l should certainly not have failed then. "
81 have made it easy for you, my
dear;-very easy. Write your letter.
Make it as loving as you please. Write
as would have had you write to me.
could it have been possible. Oh, Mary!
Mary! that would have made beautiful
for me my future downward steps! But
it is not for such a purpose that a
young life such as yours should be Civ
en-. Though he should be unkind to
you, though money should be scarce
with you, though the ordinary troubles
of the world should come upon you.
they will be better for you than the
ease l might have prepared for you. 1t
will be nearer to human nature. l at
any rate. shall be here if troubles come;
or if l am gone, that will remain which
relieves troubles. You can 60 now and
write your letter.
She could not SPEAK a word as she
left the room. Il was not only that her
throat was full of sobs, but that her
heart was laden with mingled Joy and
sorrow, so that she could not find a
word to express herself. She went to
her bedroom and took out her letter
case to do as he had hidden her;-but
she found she could not write. This
make John Gordon joyful; but it would
be impossible to bring her joy SO to the
surface rs to satisfy him even with
contentment She could only think
how far it might yet be possible to sac
rifice herself and him. She sat thus an
hour, aud then went back, and. hear
ing voices, descended to the drawing
room. There she found MIR. Blake and
Katie FORESTER and Eveiina Hall They
had come to call upon Mr.. Whittiestaff
and herself, and were full of their own
news. 'tOh. Miss Lawrie, what do YOU
Think" said Mr.. Blake. Miss Lawrie,
however, could not think, nor could
MIR. Whittlestalf. Think of whatever
is the greatest joy in the world said
Mr.. Blake.
Don't make yourself such goose, ="
said Katie FORESTER.
20, but am in earnest TIE great
est Joy in all the world"
81 suppose you mean you're going 70
be married." said Mr.. Whstlestaff.
Exactly. How g ood you are at guess.
ing! Katie has named the day. This
day fortnight. Oh, dear, isn't it near?'
s.H you think SO it shall be this day
fortnight next year." said Katie.
.Oh, dear, no! didn't mean that at
all. 1t can't be too near. And you
couldn't put it of now, you know. be-
cause the Dean has been. bespoke. 1t
is a good thing TO have the Dean to
fasten the knot. Don't you think SO,
Miss Lawrie?"
81 suppose one clergyman is just tho
same as another" said Mary.
$50 1 tell him. 1t will all be one
twenty years hence. After all, the
Dean is an old trump, and papa does
not care a bit about him."
/ but how are you to manage with
Mr.. Newface?" said Mr.. Whittlestaff.
That's the best par. of it all. MI.
Hall is such brick that when we come
back from the Isle of Wight he is going
to take US all in.'
IF that's the best of it, you can be
taken in without me-" said Katie.
..But it is good; is it not? We two,
and her maid. She's to be promoted to
nurse one of these days"
IF you're such fool, / never will
have y0u. It's not too late vet. remem-
! Der that" All which rebukeS-and