The Red Cloud chief., 1884-10-24
CHAPTER XXI.
THE y PARK.

was within, and in two minutes found
himself standing in the hall with that
hero of Mr.. Whittlestaf told
himself, A. he looked NJ the man, that
he was such a hero as ought TO be hap
py in his love. Whereas Of himself
he was conscious Of q personal appear
ance which no girl could be expected
to adore. He thought too much Of his
personal appearance generally, COM
planning 10 himself that il was mean;
whereas in regard TO Mary Lawrie. it
NAV be said that no such idea had ever
entered her mind 1T was just be-
cause he had come first" she would
have said if askei. And the he"
alluded to would have bee- John Cor
don. "IIe had come first, and there
fore / had learned to love him" Ii
was thus that Mary Lawrie would have
spoken. But Mr.. Whittlcstali, as he
looked up into John Gordon's face. felt
that he himself was mean.
lyon got my letter. Mr.. Gordoa?"
eyes. ! got il last night
II have come UP TO London because
there j. something that | want tG say 10
Won. 1t is something that | can't very
well put up into a letter. and therefore
1 have tlkca the trouble 10 come TO
town As he said this he underworld. no
doubt, 10 assert his own dignity by the
look which he assumed. Nor did he
intend that Mr.. Gordon should know
anything OF the struggle which he had
endured.
But Mr.. Gordon knew n wei what
Mr. Whittle.1aff had TO say Is did Mr..
Whittlestaff himself. He had turned
the matter over in his own mind since
the letter had reached him. and was
aware that there could be no other
caus for seeing Kim which could bring
Mr.. Whitilcstaif up to London. But "a
few DAYS since he had made an appeal
10 Mir. Whittlestatf-an appeal which
certa My might require much thought
for It's answer-and here was Mr.. Whit
tlestaif with his reply. 1t could not
have been made quicker. Ii was thus
that John Gordon had thought of il as
he had turned Mr.. Whittlcsiaf1s letter
owe in his mind. The appeal had
been made readily enough. The max
ing OF IL had been easy; the words TO
he spoken had come quickly. and with
out the necessity for a moments pre-
meditation. lilo had known Il all, and
from a full heart The mouth speaks.
But WAS IL TO have been expected that
n man 50 placed az had peel Mr.. Whit
t~lcstaN, should be able 10 give his reply
with equal celebrity? He, John Cor
don, had seen AT once. on reaching
Cookers Hall. the state in which things
were. Almost hopelesSly he had made
his appeal 10 the man who had her
promise. Then he had met the man ut
MIR. Halls house. and hardly a word
had passed between them. What word
could have been expected? Montagu
Blake. with all his folly. had judged
rightly IN bringing them together.
When he received the letter John Cor
don had remembered that last word
which Mr.. Whittles;af had spoken TO
him in the squire's hail. He had
thoughtof the appeal, and md resolved
To give an answer 10 il. 1t was an ap-
peal which re iuired an answer He
had turned il over in his mind. and had
at last told himself what the answer
should be. John Gordon had diScov-
cred all that when he received the let
tie. and If need hardly be said that his
feelings in regard TO Mr.. Whittle-tatf
were very much kinder than those OF
Dir. " hittlestaf TO him.
.'TerhapS Won wouldn't mind coming
out INFO the street" said Mr.. Whittle-
staff. Il can say very well what l We
got to say in here .
Certainly" said Gordon; Il Will go
anywhere
..Let lis go into the Park. 1t is
Green there. and there i some shade
among the trees Then they went out
of the club into Pail Mall. and Mr..
Whitilestatf walked on ahead without Il
word. No: we will not 90 down
there he said, rs he passed the en-
trance into 81. James Park by MARI
borough Hoase, and led the way
through ~. James Palace into the
Green Park. We'll go on till we
come to the trees: there are seats there.
unless the people have occupied them
nil Cnc CAM talk here under the
blazing sun 81 least. l can't" Then
he walked on At 4 rapid pace. wiping
his browS aS he did so. "Ies, there's Il
seat, III be hanged if that man isn't
going 10 sit down upon it, What a beast
he i. No. | can't sit down on n seat
that another man is occupying. don
want any one Ia hear what I've got to
say. There, Two. women have gone
"A little far her on" Then he hurried
TO the vacant bench and took possession
of il. ii was placed among the thick
trees. which give a perfect shade on the
north side of the Park, and had Mr..
Whittle>taff searched all London
through. he could not have found n
more pleasant spot in which 10 make
his communication. This will do"
said he.
Every nicely. indeed, said John Cor
don.
Il couldn't talk about absolutely pri-
waite business in the hall % the club, you
know"
Il could have taken YOU into n pri-
waite room. Mr.. Whittlestatf, had you
wished IL"
With everybody coming il and ont,
JUST - they pleased. | don: believe
in private roopasin London clubs. What
I've go. 10 say oan be said betrerNf tio.
| suppose You know what L is that I've
got to talk about"
'tHardl-." said John Gordon. But
that IS no. exactly true. Think know.
bat am no, quite sure If it. Ga such
a subject ] should not ike 20 make 3
surmiSe unless | were confident"
Its about Miss Lawrie.'
- suppose So"
'iNhat makes yea suppose that:?' said
WhIti!e>iaf. sharply.
"icu tod me that you Wee sure l
should know"
) | am quite sure. You came ali
the way down 10 Alresford TO see her.
Ii you spoke the truth. YOU came all the
way home from the diamond fields with
the same object"