The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-05

IS well IN MIR. Blake'S hands. Then
the young bride was taken away by
the four elder ladies to dress, and
the gentlemen followed them half On
b ur afterwards. t--ssf z
They were all very kind to him. and
sitting after dinner. Mr. Hall suggested
that Mr.. Whittlestaff and Miss Lawrie
should be asked over 70 dine on the
next day. John Gordon bad already
promised to stay until the third, and
had made known his intention of going
back to South Africa as soon as he
could arrange matters. '.l've got
nothing to keep me here" he said.
land rs there is good deal of money
at stake, 1 should be glad to be there
as soon as possible.
.'Oh, come! / don't know about
your having nothing to keep you here"
said Blake. But as to Mr.. Halls propo,
sition regarding the inhabitants of
Cookers Lodge, Gordon said nothing.
He could not object to the guests whom
gentleman might ask to his own house;
but he thought it improbable that either
Mr.. Whittlestaf or Mary should come.
If he chose to appear, and to bring her
with him, it must be his own lookout.
At any rate he, Gordon, could say aud
could do nothing on such an occasion.
He had been betrayed into telling his
secret to this garrulous young parson.
There was no help Tor split milk; but it
go any further. and heat any rate must
be content to bear the mans society for
one other evening. II don't see why
you shouldn't manage to make things
pleasant even yet" said the parson.
But to this John Gordon made no reply.
In the evening some of the sisters
played few pieces at the piano, and
Miss Forester sang few songs. Mr..
Hall in the meantime went fast asleep.
John Gordon could but tell himself
that his evenings at Kimberly were, as
a rule, quite as exciting. But then
Katie Forester did not belong to him,
and he had not found himself able, as
yet, to make choice between the young
ladies. 1t was. however, interesting to
see the manner in which the new vicar
hung abont the lady of his love, and
the evident but innocent pride with
which she accepted the attentions of
her adm rer.
Don't you think she's a beautiful
girl?n said Blake. coming to Gorlon's
room alter they had all retired to bed;
such genuine wit, and so bright. aud
her sing ing. You know. is quite perfect
absolutely .ust what it ought to be.
do know something about singing my
self, because I've had all the parish
voices under my own charge for the last
three years. A practice Ike that goes
a long way, you know" To this Mr..
Gordon could only give that assent
which silence is intended to imply.
''She' II have $1,000 at once, you know,
which does make her in a manner equal
to either of the Miss Halls. | don't
quite know what they'll have. but not
more than that, 1 should think. The
properly is entailed, and he's a saving
man. But ii he can have put b. f20,-
600 he has done very well; don't You
think sog''
Very well, indeed" MA
81 suppose might have had one of
them; / don't mind telling you in strict
est confidence. But goodness gracious,
after had once seen Katie Forester,
there was no longer a doubt. | wish
you'd tell me what You think about
her."
about Miss Forrester?n
You needn't mind speaking quite
openly to me. I'm that sort of 4 fellow
that | shouldn't mind what any fellow
said. I've formed my own ideas. and
am moi likely to change them. But !
should like to hear. you know. how she
striSes a fellow who has been at the
diamond fields. l can not imagine but
that YOU must have different IDEA
about women to what we have" Then
Mr.. Blake sat himself down N an arm
chair at the foot of the bed and pre-
pared to discuss the opinion which he
did not doubt that his friend was about
to deliver.
"a very nice young woman. indeed"
said John Gordon, who was anxious to
60 to bed.
..Ah. YOU know, that's kind of thing
that anybody can say. There's no real
friendship in that / want to know the
true, candid opinion of a man who has
Travelled about the world, and has been
at the diamond-felds. 1t isn't every
body who has been at the diamond
fields" continued he, thinking that he
might thereby tiatter his friend.
..No. not everybody. l suppose 8
young woman is the same there as here,
if she have the same natural gifts. Miss
Forester would be pretty anywhere
That's matter OF course. Any fell
low can see that with hall an eve. Alb
soluteiy beautiful, | should say, rather
than pretty
Just so. It's only variation in
terms, you know
'.But then her manner, her music,
her language, her W.T., and the color OF
her hair! When remember it all, /
think Tn the luckiyst fellow in the
world. shall be 4 deal happier with
her than with Augusta Hall. Don't you
think so? Augusta was the one intend
ed for me: but, bless you. / couldn't
look at her after had seen Katie For
roster. don't think you've given me
your true, unbiased opinion vet"
Indeed have" said John Gordon.
'.Wel, / should be more free-spoken
than that, if you we're to ask me about
Mary Lawrie. But then, of course.
Mary Lawrie is not your engaged one.
1t does make n difference II it does
turn out that she marries Mr.. Whittle-
staff, shan't think much of her, can
tell you that. AS it is, as far as looks
are concerned, you can't compare her
to my Hattie"
Comparisons are odious," said Cor
don.
''Well, yes; when you are sure to
get the worst of them. You wouldn't
think comparisons odious if you were
going to marry Katie, and it was my