The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-11-07
CHAPTER XXIu.-CoNr1NUEp.

CHAPTER XXIII.-CoNTINUED.
Then Miss Evelina Hall struck in.
Would Miss Lawrie come over to Lit
tie Arlesford Park, and stay there for q
few DAYS previous to the wedding?
Katie Forester meant to bring down a
sister with her as bridesmaid. Two
of the Miss Halls were to ofliciate also,
and it would be taken as great favor
if Miss Lawrie would make fourth. A
great deal was said to press upon her
this view of the case, to which, howev-
er, she made many objections. There
was, indeed, tragedy connected with
her own matrimonial circumstances,
which did not make her well inclined
to join such a party. Her heart was
not at ease within her as to her deser-
ton of Mr. Whittlestaff. Whatever the
future might bring forth, the present
could not be n period of JOY. But in
the middle of the argument, Mr.. Whit
tlestaff spoke with the voice of author
fly accept Mr.. Halls kindness, he
said land 60 over for awhile to Little
AlreSford.
And leave YOU all alone?"
90 m sure Mr.. Hall will be delighted
If YOU VIII come too said Mr. Blake,
ready at the moment to answer for the
extent of his patrons house and good
nature.
"Quite out of the question:" said
Mr.. Whittlestaff, in tone of voice in
tended to put an end to that matter.
'.But l can manage to live alone for a
few days, seeing that | shall be COM
PEELED TO do so be ore long. by Miss
Lawrie's marriage" Again Mary
looked up into his face. at is so. my
dear. This young gentleman has man.
aged to ferret ont the truth, while look
ing for his wedding garments. VIII
you tell your papa, Miss Evalina, that
Mary will lie delighted to accept his
kindness?''
And Gordon can come down to me, :"
said Blake, uproariously rubbing his
hands land we can have three Or four
final days tgcther, like two jolly young
bachelors"
speaking for yourself alone" said
Katie. you'll have to remain jolly
young bachelor for some time still, if
you don't mend your manners"
Il needn't mend my manners after
I'm married. | suppose But they
who knew Mr.. Blake well were wont to
declare that. in the matter OF what Miss
Forester called his manners, there
would not be much to make his wife
afraid.
The affair was settled as far as it
could be settled in Mr.. Gordon's alb
sence. Miss Lawrie was to 90 over
and spend a fortnight at Little Aries
ford. Just previous 10 Katie Forester
marriage, and Gordon was to come
down to the marriage, so as to be near
to Mary, if he could be persuaded to
do So. OF this Mr.. Blake spoke W.T.
great certainty. why couldn't he
come and spoon a bit seeing that he
never did so yet in his life. Now
have mad lot of it.
met such los by any means" said
Miss Forester.
According to all accounts he's got
to begin it. He told me that he hadn't
even proposed regular. Doesn't that
seem odd to you, kattie?n
at seemed very odd when you did
II" Then the three of them went
away. and Mary was left to discuss the
prospects of her future life with MIR.
Whittlestaff. lyon had better bo$h OF
YOU cone and live here" he said.
-Therc would be room enough Mary
thought probably of the chance there
might lie O. newcomers, but she said
nothing. Il should 90 away, OF
course" sad Mr. WhittleStaff.
Turn YOU out of your own house,
Inv, II oh
way 1 am tired of the place, and
though shan care to sell it, l shall
make a move. A man ought to make
q move every now and again. / should
like to 60 to Italy. and live at one OF
those charming little towns"
without soul to speak to-"
81 shan't want anybody to speak to.
shall take with me Just 3 few books to
read. | wonder whether Mrs. Baggett
would go with me. She can't have
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 it rather took too long. She sal
leaning with her face on her hands,
and with tear occasionally on heI
cheek, into the late night. meditatins
rather on the sweet goodness of MIR.
Whittlestaf than on the words of the
letter. 1t had at last been determined
that john Gordon should be her hus-
band. That the fates seem to have de-
cided, and she did acknowledge that in
doing SO the fates had been altogether
propitious. Il would have been very
diflicult-Dow at least she owned that
truth to herself-it would have been
very difficult for her to have been true
10 the promise she had made, altogether
to eradicate John Gordon from her
heart and to till up tbe place left with
a wifes true affection for Mr.. Whittle.
stat. To the performance of such a
task as that she would not be subjected.
But on the other hand, John Gordon
must permit her to enterta and to
evince regard for Mr.. Whittlestaf,
not similar at all TO the regard which
she would feel for her husband, but al
most equal in its depth.
At last she took the paper, and did
write her letter, as follows:
DEAR Mr. GoRDoN:-l am not surprised a;
anything that Mr.. Whittiestaf should dc
which shows the goodness of his disposition
and the tenderness of his heart. He il,
think. the most unSelfiSh of mankind. ] be
Heye you TO be so thoroughly sincere in the
affection which you express for me that you
must acknowledge thai he is so. If you love
me well enough 10 MAKE me your wife, what
must you think OF him who has loved me well
enough 10 surrender me to one whom / had
known before he had taken me under his
fostering carer
You Know that love you, and an willing
to become your wife. What can say to you
now. except that it is so. 1t is so. And in
sayiDg that, have told you everything as to