The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-08-06

Eo effect that as far as may be within
bur power"
"But probably you and differ mate
rally as to thinking what may be best
for her. AS far as I understand the
matter, you wish that she should be
your wife. Iwish that she should be
mine. 1 think that as my wife she
would live happier life than she could
do as yours; and as she thinks Also.
Here Mr.. Whittlestaf' paused.
"But does she think sop
"You heard what she said Just now."
81 heard nothing as to her thoughts
of living" said John Gordon. "Nor
in the interview which / had with her
yesterday did hear word fall from
her as to herself. We have got to form
our ideas as to that from circumstances
which shall certainly not appear by her
own speech. When you speak against
me-"
Il have not said word against you,
SIR"
Perhaps you imply" said Gordon,
not stopping to notice MIR. Whittle-
staff's angry tone, perhaps you imply
that my life may be that Of rover, and
as such would not conduce to Miss
Lawrie's happiness. B."
"a have implied nothing"
"To suit her wishes l would remain
altogether in England. l was very
lucky, and am not man greedy OF
great wealth. She can remain here,
and will satisfy you that there shall
be enough for our joint maintenance.
"What do / care for your mainte-
nance, or what does shep Doyou know,
sir, that you are talking to me about q
lady whom l intend to make my wife,
who is engaged to marry mep Good
ness gracious me!'
"I own, sir, that it is singular
Every singular, indeed. Inever heard
of such a thing. ltseems you knew her
at Norwich"
al did know her WE'LL"
"And then you went away and desert
ed her."
81 went away, Mr. Whittlestafi, be-
cause | was poor. | was told by her
step-mother that | was not wanted about
the house, because | had no means.
That was true, and as | loved her dear
ly, started at once, almost in despair,
but with a shade of hope that | might
put myself in the way of enabling her
to become my wife. did not desert
her."
Every well. Then you came back
and found her engaged to be my wife.
You had itfrom her own mouth. When
gentleman hears that, what has he to
do but to go awayP"
"There are circumstances here
"What does she say herself? There
are no circumstances TO justify you. II
YOU would come here rs n friend Of
fered to receive you. As you had been
known to her / did not turn my back
upon you. But now your conduct is SO
peculiar that l can not ask you to re.
main any longer" They were walk.
ing up and down the long walk, and
now Mr.. Whittlestalf stood still, as
though to declare that the interview
should be considered as over.
81 know that you wish me to &C
away" said Gordon.
"Well, yes; unless you withdraw al
idea of claim to the young lady'i
hand"
"But / think you should first heal
what / have TO say. You will not sure
ly have done your duty by her unless
you hear me-"
"You can speak if you wish to-"
1T was not till yesterday that you
made your proposition TO Miss Lawrie. v
what has that to do with itP''
"Had l come on the previous day
and had | been able then TO tell her al
that can tell her now, would IL have
made no dillerenceP"
'Did she say SOP" asked the fortu
nate lover, in very angry tone.
"No; she did not say so. II wa!
with difficulty that forced from her al
avowal that her engagement was so re
cent. But she did confess that IL wa
so. And she confessed in her manner
that she found it impossible to refus,
you the request that you had asked"
81 never heard min assert so i'm
pudently that he was the sole owner o
a lady's favors. Upon my word,
think you are the vainest man | eve
met"
"Let It be so. | do not care to de
fend myself, but only her. Whether
am vain or not, Is it'not true that whicl
/ sayP put it 10 you, as man to man
whether you do not know that II i
Nrle? If you marry this girl, will yol
not marry one whose heart belongs 4
meP VIII you not marry one of whom
you knew two days since that her hear
was mineP VIII you not marry on,
who, If she was free this moment
would give herself to me without PAM
Of remorseP
"a never heard anything like tn
mans vanity"
"But is Il truep Whatever may b
my vanity, or self-seeking, or unmanli
ness il you will, is not what say God
truthP 1t is not about my weaknesses
or your weaknesses, that we shoul
speak, but about her happiness.
"Just so; don't think she would b
happy with you"
Then it is to save her from me ths
you are marrying her-so that she ma
not sink into the abyss Of my unworthl
, ness"
, Partly that"
, "But II l had come two days since
, when she would have received me wit
, open arms"