The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-01

she must have been poor and left d
want when her step-mother died. She
had told him of the intentions of he1
life. and he had answered that perhaps
something better might come up foz
her. Then he had been called q pau
| per, and had gone away to remedy that
evil If 1t might be possible. He had
heard while working among the dia-
moHds that Mr. Whittlestaff had taken
her to his own home He had heard of
! Mr.. Whittlesta'f as the friend of her
father, and nothing better. he thought,
could have happened But Mary might
have been weak during his absence, and
have given herself up to some other
man who had asked for her hand. She
was still. at heart Mary Lawrie. So
much had been made known to him.
But from the words which had fallen
from her own lips, and from the state
ment which had fallen from Mr.. Whit
tlestaff. he feared that it must be so.
MIR. Whittlestaff had said that he need
not trouble stranger with Mary's af-
fairs; and Mary. in answer to his ap-
peal, had declared that he could not be
considered as stranger to her.
He thought moment, and then he
spoke boldly 20 both of them. IL have
hurried home from Kimberley, Mr..
! Whittlestaff, on purpose to find Mary
Lawrie."
Mary, when she heard this, seated
herself on the chair nearest to her. His
coming was too late. AS she thought of
this, her voice left her, so that she could
not speak.
"You have found her," said Mr..
Whittlestaf, very sternly.
Is there any reason why should go
away again?' He had not realized the
idea that MIR. Whittlestaff was the man
to whom Mary might be engaged. Mr..
Whittlestaff, to his thinking, had been
support in lieu of father. who had
come to Mary in her need. He was
prepared to shower all kinds of benefits
on Mr.. Observation-Disclosures pol
ished and diamonds in the rough, dia-
monds pure and white. and diamonds
pink only Mr.. Whittlestafi
would be less stern to him. But even
yet he had no fear of Mr.. Whittlestaff
himself.
:" should be most happy to welcome
you here as an old friend of Mary's,"
said Mr.. Whittlestaff, "if you will come
to the wedding" Mr.. Whittlestaff had
also seen the necessity for open speech:
and though he was a man generally
reticent as to his own affairs, thought
it better the truth be known at once.
Mary, when the word had been spoken.
"blushed black as her step-mother
had said of her. Adark ruby tint COW
cred her cheeks and forehead; she
turned away her face. and compressed
her lips, and clenched her two fists.
Miss Lawrie's wedding" said John
Gordon. "Is Miss Lawrie to- be mar
fied?" And he looked at her as though
asking her the question. But she an.
swered never word.
"Yes. Miss Lawrie is to be mar
RED
ut is sad tidings for me to hear" said
John Gordon. 'When last saw her
was rebuked by her stepmother be-
cause l was a pauper. 1t was true.
Misfortunes had come in my family, and
was not tit to ask Miss Lawrie for her
love. But l think she knew l loved
her. then went off to remedy that
evil. have come back with money,
and now l am told of Miss Lawrie s
wedding" This he said, again turn
ing to her for an answer. But from her
there came not a word.
81 am sorry You should be disap-
pointed, Mr.. Gordon" said Mr.. Whit.
tlestafi ''bIt it is So" Then there
came over John Gordon's face dark
frown. He was a man whose displeas-
ure those around him were apt to fear.
But Mr.. Whittlestaff was no coward.
Have you any reason to allege why il
should not be so?'' John Gordon only
answered by looking again at poor
Mary. Il think there has been no
promise made by Miss Lawrie. l think
L understand from her that there has
been no promise on either side; and no
word spoken indicating such prom
ise." 1t was clear at any rate that this
guardian and his ward had fully dis
cussed the question of any understand
ing between her and John Gordon.
No, there was none; it is true"
'.Well?"
1t is true. l am left without an
inch of ground on which to found COM
plant There was no word; no prom
Use. You know the whole story too
well. There was nothing but unlimited
love, at any rate on my part" Mr..
Whittlestatf knew we'll that there had
been love on her part also. and that the
love still remained. But she had prom.
ised to get over that passion, and there
could be no reason why she should not
do so, simply because the man had re-
turned. He said he had come from
Kimberley. Mr. Whittlestaff had his
own ideas about Kimberley. Kimber-
ley was to him a rowdy place-the last
place in the world from which o dir
Greet young woman might hope to get
a well-conducted husband. Under no
circumstances could he think well of Q
husband direct from the diamond-felds,
though he only looked stern and held
his peace. IF Miss Lawrie will tell
me that I may go away, l will co.
said Gordon, looking again at Mary,
but how could Mary answer him?
Il am sure" said MIR. Whittlestaf,
''that Miss Lawrie will be very sorry
that there should be any ground for .
quarrel. am welt aware that there
was some friendship between you two.
Then you went, as you say, and though
the friendship need not be broken, the
intimacy was over. She had no special
reason for remembering you, IS you
yourself admit. She has been left to
form any engagement she may please.
Any other expectation on your part
must be unreasonable l have said
that, as an old friend of Miss Lawrie's,
l should be happy to welcome you here
to her wedding. cab not name a day;