The Red Cloud chief., 1884-11-07
CHAPTER XXIII.-CoSTISUED.

th'h eitoo ILfCIiua IlNi4 SIiuth H.
Would Miss Lawric come over TO Lit
tie Arlesford Park. and stay there for q
few davs previous 10 tie wedding?
Katie Forester meant to bring down a
sister with her as a bridesmaid. Two
of the Miss Halls were to oificiate also.
and it would be taken as great favor
if Miss Lawrie would make a fourth. A
great deal was said to press upon her
this view of the ease, to which. howey-
er, she made MANY objections. There
was, indeed. a tragedy connected with
her own matrimonial circumstances,
which DID not make her We'll inclined
TO Join such a party. Her heart was
not al ease within her as 10 her descr-
ton of Mr.. WhittlcstaH. Whatever the
future might bring forth, the present
could not be a period Of JOY. But IN
the middle Of the argument, Mr.. Whit
tlesta!i spohc with the voice of author
ity accept Mr.. Halls kindness he
said land 30 over for awhile TO Little
A~lrcsford.'
And leave Won all a~lonc?"
II IN sure Mr. Hail Will be delighted
if you viii come too said Mr. Blake.
ready at the moment 10 answer for the
extent of his pat on's house and good
nature.
"Cuitc out of the question: said
MIR Whittlestaf, in q tons of voice in
tended 80 put an end to that matter.
but | can manage TO live alone for a
few day., seeing that | shall lie COM
PEELED 10 do so be ore long. by Miss
Lawric's marriage" Again Mary
looked M 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. Will
Won tell your papa. Miss Evalina. that
Mary will lie delighted 10 accept his
kindncS>?"
And Gordon can come down 20 me-"
said Bake. ~uproariouSly rubbing his
hands: land we can have three or four
final days t@cther, like two Jolly young
bachelors"
speaking for yourself alone" said
Katie. You'll have To remain a jolly
youn@ bachelor for some time still, il
YOU don't mend your manners
II ice int mend my Wanncr after
I'm married. | suppose But they
who knew Mr.. Blake well were wont 10
declare that, in the mattcrof what Miss
Forester called his manners, there
would not be much TO make his wife
afraid.
The aflair was settled as far rs it
could be settled in Mr.. Gordon's alb
sencc. Miss Lawrie was 10 90 over
and spend a fortnight ut Little Aries
ford. Just previous To Katie Forrester's
marriage. and Gordon was to come
down to The marriage. S o rs to be near
10 Mary. il he could be persuaded TO
do So. Oh this Mr.. Blake spoke W.,
great certainty. why couldn't he
come aud spoon a bit seeing that he
never did so vet in his life. Now |
have mad a lot OF it
Not such a lot by any means" said
Miss Forester.
According to all accounts he's got
to begin it. lie told me that he hadn't
ever proposed regular. Doesn't that
seem odd To you kattie?"
at seemed very odd when you did
IL" Then the three of them went
away. and Mary was left TO discuss the
prospects Of her future life with MIR.
Whittlestafl. You hal better both Of
yor come and live here he said.
.Therc would lie room enough Mary
thought probably of the chance there
might aco newcomers. but h said
notlilng- - SlOllu 90 away, vi
course" 81 d Mr.. WhittleStatf.
Turn You out of your w house"
why not? | shan't stay here any
WAY. 4 am tired of the place. and
though | shan't care to sell il, | shall
make a move. \ man ought to make
amove every now and again. l should
like 20 90 TO Italy. and live at one OF
those charming Little towns"
without a soul TO speak to-.
~ shan want anybody to speak to.
| shall take with me Just . few books to
read. | wonder whether Mrs Baggett
would 90 with me. She can't '
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 if rather took too long. She sal
leaning with her face on her hands,
and with a 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. II had IT last been determined
that John Gordon should be her nus
hand. That the fates seem 10 have de
cided. and she did acknowledge that in
uoiur so the fateS had been altogether
propitious. L. would have been very
ditncult-now at least she owned that
,ru.h to herself-it woulS have been
very difficult for her 10 have heea true
TO The prom;se she had made, altogether
IN eradicate John Gordon from heI
heart ana to ill Up the place LETT with
= wife's true affection for Mr.. White
siafr. To the performance OF such 4
tasI, as that she would not be Subjected.
Rut on the other hand, John Gordon
must permit her TO entertain and to
e,jace a regard for Mr.. WhittleStai,
no similar at all 10 the regard which
she would fee for her husband, but al.
most equal in its depth.
Al last she took the paper, and die
write her letter, rs follows:
DEAR Mr.. am not surprised a.
anything that MIR. .Whittlestad shoul &c
which shows the goodness OF his disposition
and the tenderness of his heart He IA.
think. the most unseifish OF mankind. ! be
lieve YOU to be so thoroughly sincere in the
affection which YOU express for me that you
must acknowledge tia. he IS so. III you love
me we'll enough 10 make me your wife, whal
must you think OF him who has loved me wei
enough. 10 surrender me to one whom L had
known before he had taken me under his
fostering care!
TO become your wife. What can l say to you
now, except that il Is so. IL Is so. And in
saying that have toto y nn,s ev ssy shas his US 70 &c
gard for me has been more tender even than
Yours always most lovingly: