The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-12
CHAPTER XIII.-CoSrrNuEp.

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an CHAPTER XIII-CoSTINuEp.
"For the young lady's sake. A lady
always prefers young gentleman to
an old one. Only think what you'd
feel if you were married to Mr.. Whit
tlestaff?'
''0h, Montagu! how can you talk
eucn nonsensep
81 don't suppose You ever would,
because YOU are not one of that sort of
young ladies. l don't suppose that
Mary Lawrie likes it herself; and there
fofe I'd break the match off in a mo-
ment if I could. That's what | call
good-natured."
After lunch they all went off to the
Rookery, which was at the other side
of the park from Gar Wood. 1t was a
beautiful spot, lying at the end of the
valley. through which they had to get
out from their carriage, and to walk
for half mile. Only for the sake of
-doiHg honor TO Miss Forester, they
would have gone on foot. But as it
was, they had all the six horses among
them. Mr.. Gordon was put up on one
of the young ladies' steeds. the squire
and the parson each had his own. and
Miss Eyelina was also mounted. as Mr.
Blake had suggested, perhaps with the
view to the capture of Mr.. Gordon.
''As it's your first day." whispered Mr..
Blake TO Katie, sit is so nice, think.
that the carriage and horses should all
come out. OF course there is nothing
In the distance, but there should be 3
respect shown on such an occasion. Mr..
Hall does do everything of this kind
just as it should be-"
81 suppose you know the young lady
who is coming here tonight" said
Evelina to Mr.. Gordon.
"Oh. yes; | knew her before 1 went
abroad"
'.But not Mr.. Whittlestaff?''
81 had never met Mr.. Whittlestaff,
though | had heard much of his good
ness
And now they are to be married
Does it not seem TO YOU to be very
hard?'
mot in the least. The young lady
seems 10 have been left by her father
and step-mother without any engage
ment, and. indeed, without any provis-
ion. She was brought here, in the first
place, from sheer charity, and l can
certainly understand that when she was
here MIR. Whittlestaff should have ad-
mired her."
That is matter of course" said
Eveiina
MIR. Whittlestaff is not at all too old
10 fall in love with any young lady.
This is a pretty place-a very lovely
spot. think like it almost better
than Gar Wood" Then there was no
more said about Mary Lawrie until they
all rode back to dinner.
CHAPTER XIV.
MR.. wHrTTLEsTAFF Is GOING OUT TO DINNER.
There's an invitation come asking
Us TO dine at Little Arlesford today
This was said soon after breakfast bv
MIR. Whittlestaif to Mary Lawrie. on
the dav after Mr.. Gordon's coming.
81 think well go.''
Gould You not leave me behind?''
''by no means. want YOU to become
Intimate with the girls, who are good
girls"
''But Mr.. Gordon is there
Exactly. That is Just what l want
1t will be better that you and he should
meet each other. without the necessity
of making scene" From this it may
be understood that Mr.. Whittlestaff had
explained to Mary as much as he had
thought necessary of what had occurred
between him and John Gordon, and that
Mary's answers had been satisfactory
to his feelings. Mary had told him that
she was conteIted with her lot in life,
as Mr.. Whittlestaff had proposed it for
her. She had not been enthusiastic ::
but then he had not expected it. She
had not assured him that she would
forget John Gordon. He had not asked
her. she had simply said that if he
were satisfied-so was she. 81 think
that with me, dearest, at any rate, you
will be safe" Il am quite sure that
shall be safe" she had answered. And
that had been sufficient.
But the reader will also understand
from this that he had sought for no an
swer to those burning questions which
John Gordon had put to him. Had she
loved John Gordon the longest? Did
she love him the best? There was no
doubt a certain cautious selfshness in
the way in which he had gone to work.
And yet of general selfishness it was
impossible to accuse him. He was will
ing to give her everything do all for
her. And he had first asked her to be
his wife. with every observance. And
then he could always protect himself on
tie plea that he was doing the best he
could for her. His property was as
sured-in the three per cents, as Mrs.
Baggett had suggested; whereas John
Gordon's was all in diamonds. How
frequently do diamonds melt and come
to nothing2 They are things which a
man can carry in his pocket, and lose
or give away. They can not-so
thought Mr.. Whittlestaff-be settled in
the hands of trustees, or left to the
charge of an executor. They can not
be substantiated. Who can say that,
when looking to lady's interest, this
bit of glass may not come up instead
of that precious stone? John Gordon
might be very steady fellow; but we
have only his own word for that'-as
MIR. Whittlestaff observed to himself.
There could not De a doubt but that
MIR. Whittlestaff himself was the safer
staff of the two on which a young lady
might lean. He did make all these eX-
cuses for himself, and determined that
tfxy were of such q nature that he
might rely upon them with safety.
But still there was pang in his bosom
"a silent secret which kept on whis-
pering to him that he was not the best
beloved. He had, however. resolved
steadfastly that he would not put that
question to Mary. If she did not wish
to declare her love, neither did he. 1t
was pity, thousand pities, that it