The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-09-10
CHAPTER XvI.--CoYTrsuEp.

"Dear Mary" he said, ''if you could
only know how constant my thoughts
ar5 to YOU" She did not doubt that il
was SO; but just 80 constant were hei
thoughts to John Gordon. But from
her to him there could be no show OF
affection - nothing but the absolute
GOODNESS Of perfect silence. She had
passed the whole evening with him last
night, and had not been allowed to
speak single word to him beyond the
ordinary greetings of society. She had
felt that she had not been allowed to
speak single word to any one, be-
cause he had been present. Mr.. Whit
tlestaif had thrown over her the deadly
man le of his ownership, and she had
consequently felt herself 20 be dcbarred
from all right over her own words and
actions. She had become his slave; she
felt herself in very truth to be a poor
creature whose only duty it was in the
world to obey his volition. She had
told herself during the night that, with
all her motives for loving him, she was
learning TO regard him with absolute
hatred. And she hated herself because
il was so. Oh, what tedious affair
was this Of living! How tedious, how
sad aud miserable, must her future days
be, so long as days should be left TO
her. Could ii be made possible to her
that she should ever be able to do her
duty by this husband of hers--ior her,
in whose heart of hearts would be seat
ed continually the image of this other
man?
''By-the bye" said he, al want to sec
Mrs. BaggetL suppose she is about
somewhere"
"Oh, dear, yes. Since the trouble OF
her husband has become nearer, she Is
earlier and earlier every day. Shall
send Lerp' Then she departed. and
in n few inutes Mrs. Baggett entered
the room"
"Come in, Mrs. Baggett."
"Yes, SIR"
81 have lust few words which
want to say to you. Your husband has
gone back to Portsmouth"
"Yes, sir; he have.n This she said
in a very decided tone. as though her
master need trouble himself no further
about her husband" "
"a am very glad that it should be so.
It's the best place for him unless he
could be sent 10 Australia"
"He amt a.done nothing to fit him.
self for Botany Bay. Mr.. Whittlestafl, "
said the old woman, bobbing her head
at him.
al don't are what place he has fitted
himself for, so long as he doesn't come
here. He is disreputable old man."
"You needn't be SO hard upon him,
Mr.. Whittlestaf. lie ain't a-done moth.
ing much TO you, barring sleeping in
the stable one night when he had
drop o. drink too much" And the old
woman pulled out a great handker.
chief and began to wipe her eyes pit
eously.
"What a fool you are, Mrs. Baggett"
"Yes; / am fool. knows that"
"Here's this disreputable old man
eating and drinking your hard-earnsd
wages"
"But they are my wages. And who's
right TO them, only hep"
al don't say anything about that,
only he comes here and disturbs you.h
"Well, yes; he is disturbing; II It's
only because Of his wooden leg and red
nose. 1 don't mean to say as he's the
sort of man as does credit TO gen
tleman's house TO see about the place.
But he was my lot in matrimopy, and
I've got to put up with him. | ain'i
agoing to refuse to bear the burder
which came to be my lot. ] don't sup
pose he's earned a single shilling sine,
he left the regimont, and that is hare
upon a poor woman who'sgo nothing
but her wages"
"Now look here, Mrs. Baggett-"
eyes, SIR"
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