The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-07-25
CHAPTER v.-CoSr,srEp.

Not a word had been spoken to her ON
which she could found fair hope. But
she had never been so certain of her
loye-of her love as true, undoubted
and undoubtable fact, of an unchange-
able fact-as she was now. And why
should this poor old woman. with her
many years of service. be disturbed?
She went again up to her bedroom.
and. sitting at her open window and
looking out, saw him still pacing slow
" up and down the long walk. As she
looked at him, lie seemed to be older
than before. His hands were still
-clasped behind his back. There was
no look about him as that of a thriving
lover. Care seemed to be on his face;
nav, present almost visibly on his very
shoulders. she would go to him and
plead for Mrs. Baggett.
But in that case what should become
of herself? She knew that she could nc
longer stay in his house as his adopted
daughter. But she could 60 forth-and
starre. if there was nothing better for
her But, as she thought of starvation,
she stamped with one foot against the
other. as though to punish herself for
her own falsehood. He would not LEI
her starve. He would get some place
for her as governess. And she was NOT
in the least afraid of starvation. II
would be sweeter for her to work with
any kind of hardship around her. and
be allowed to think of John Gordon
with her heart free, than to become the
com fortable mistress of his house. She
would not admit the plea of starvation
even to herself. She wanted to be free
of him, and she would tell him so. and
would tell him also of the ruin he was
about to bring on his old servant.
She watc he'd him as he came back into
the house, and then she rose from her
chair. .sBut / shall never see him
again." she said, as she paused before
she left the room.
But what did that matter? Her not
seeing him again ought to make, should
make, no difference with her. 1t was
not that she might see him, but that she
might think of him with unsullied
thoughts. That should be her object
that and the duty that she owed to Mrs.
Baggett. Why was not Mrs. Baggett
entitled to as much consideration as
was she herself-or even he? She turned
to the glass, and wiped her eyes with
the sponge, and brushed her hair, and
then went across the passage to Mr..
Whittlestaff's library.
She Knocked at the which she
had not been accustomed to do, and
then, at his bidding, entered the room.
''Oh, Mary" he said, laughing, sis
that the way you begin, by knocking at
the door?"
81 think one knocks when one wants
q moment of reprieve."
"You mean to say that you are bash
full in assuming Your new privileges.
Then YOU had better 60 back to your
old habits, because you always used to
come where l was You must come
and GO now like my very second SELF. :"
Then he came forward from the desk at
which he was wont to stand and write,
and essayed to put his arm round her
waist. She drew back, hut still he was
not startled. 3" 1t was but cold kiss |
gave YOU down below You mast kiss
me now. as wife kisses her husband"
Never"
what" Now he was startled.
mir. Whittlestaff, pray-pray do not
be angry with me-"
what is the meaning of it?"
Then she bethought herself-how she
might best explain the meaning. II
was hard upon her. this having to en-
plain it, and she told herself, very fool.
ishlv. that if would be better for her ia
begin with the story of Mrs. Baggett.
Sln aanl-
of Mrs. Baggett than of John Gordon.
But It must be remembered, on her be-
half, that she had but a second to think
how she might best begin her story.
Il have spoken TO Mrs. Baggett about
Your wishes"
..Welln'
s.She has lived with you and your
family from before YOU were born"
.'She is an old fool. Who is going to
hurt her? And, if i. did hurt her, are
YOU and to be put out of our course
because of her? She can remain here
as long as she obeys you as her mis-.
treSS."
''She says that, after so many years,
she can not do that"
..She shall leave the house this very
might, if she disturbs your happiness
and mine. What! is an old woman
like that to tell her master when he
may and when he may not marry?
did not think you had been so soft"
She could not explain it all to him
all that she thought upon the subject.
She could not say that the interference
of any domestic between such a one As
L. - Lnx
him and her if she were happy enough
TO be his love would be an absurdity
too foolish to be considered. They,
that happy two, would be following the
bent of human nature, and would speak
no more than a soft word to the Old
woman, if soft word might avail any.
thing. Their love would a thing toe
sacred to admit of any question from
any servant. almost from any parent.
But why, in this matter. was not Mrs.
Baggett's happiness to be of as much
consequence as Mr.. Whittlestaff' s-es-
pecially when her own peace of min5
lay in the same direction as Mrs. Bag
gets? ''She says that you are only
laying up trouble for yourself in this,
and l think that it is true"
Then he rose in his wrath and spoke
his mind freely, and showed her al
once that John Gordon had not dwelt
much on his mind. He had babe her moi
TO speak of HIM, and then he had been
contented to look upon him as one
whom he would not be compelled to
trouble himself with any further. 81
think, Mary, that you are making toe
little of me, and of yourself, 10 talk to
me, or even to consider. in such mat
ter, what servant says to You. As you
have given me your affection, you
should now allow nothing that any one