The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-07-09
2 CHAPTER y.-sGoNr1NuED.

winch she could found q fair hope. But
she had never been so certain of her
love-of her love as a true, undoubted
and undoubtable fact, of an unchange-
able fact-as she was now And why
should this poor old woman, with her
many years of service be disturbcdg
She went again up to her bed. room,
and, sitting at her open window and
looking out, saw HIM still pacing slow
ly up and down the long walk. AS she
looked at him, he seemed TO be older
than before. His hands were still
clasped behind his back There was
no look about him as that Of thriving
lover. Care seemed to be on his face
nay, present almost visibly on his very
shoulders. Sac would 90 to him and
plead for Mrs Baggett.
But in that case what should become
of herself? She knew that she could no
longer stay in his house as his adopted
daughter But she could go forth and
starye, if there was nothing better for
her. But, as she thought of starvation,
she stamped with one foot against the
other, as though to punish herself Tor
her own falsehood. He would not lei
her starve. He would get some place
for her as a governess. And shewas not
in the least afraid of starvation. 1t
would be sweeter for her to work with
any kind of hardship around her, and
be allowed to think Of John Gordon
with her heart free, than to become the
comfortable mistress of his house She
would not admit the plea of starvation
even to herself.&8 She wanted to be free
of him, and she would tell him so, and
would tell him also of the ruin he was
about to bring on his old servant
She watched him as he came back into
the house, and then she rose from, her
chair. ''But | shall never see him
again" she said, as she paused before
she left the room. y4s
But what did that matterp Her not
seeing him again ought to make, should
make no difference with her. 1t was
not that she might see him, but that she
might think of him with unsullied
thoughts. That should be her object
that and the duty that she owed to Mrs.
Baggett. Why was not Mrs. Baggett
entitled to as much consideration as
was she herself-or even heP She turned
to the glass, and wiped her eyes with
the sponge, and brushed her hair, and
then went across the passage to Mr..
Whittlestaff's library.
She knocked at the door-which she
had not been accustomed to do, and
then, at his bidding, entered the room.
"Oh Mary" he said, laughing, sis
that the way you begin, by knocking at
the doorP"
81 think one knocks when one wants
moment of reprieve."
"You mean to say that you are bash
full in assuming your new privileges
Then you had better 90 back to your
old habits, because you always used to
come where was. You must come
and 60 now like my very second self. I"
Then he came forward from the desk at
which he was wont to stand and write,
and essayed to put his arm round her
waist. She drew back, but still he was
not startled 1T was but cold kiss
gave you down below. You must kiss
me now, as a wife kisses her husband. ;"
'Never''
"What" Now he was startled.
"Mr. Whittlestaff, pray-pray do not
be angry with me-
"What is the meaning of itP''
Then she bethought herself-how she
might best explain the meaning. 1t
was hard upon her. this having to ex-
plain it, and she told herself, very fool
ishly, that it would be better for her to
begin with the story Of Mrs. Baggett
She could more easily speak
Of Mrs. Baggett than of John Gordon.
But it must be remembered, on her be-
half, that she had but second to think
how she might best begin her story.
II have spoken to Mrs. Baggett about
your wishes"
"Wellp'
"She has lived with you and your
family from before you were born.''
- "She is an old fool. Who is going to
hurt herp And, if it did hurt her, are
you and Ito be put out of our course
because of herP She can remain here
rs long as she obeys you as her mis-
tress.h
"She says that, after SO many years,
she can not do that
"She shall leave the house this very
night, if she disturbs your happiness
and mine. What! is an old woman
like that to tell her master when he
may and when he may not marryp /
did not think you had been SO soft"
She could not explain it all to him
Ill that she thought upon the subject
She could not cay that the interference
Of any domestic between such a one as
John Gordon and his love-between
him and her if she were happy enough
10 be his love- would be an absurdity
loo foolish to be considered. They,
that happy two, would be following the
bent of human nature, and would speak
no more than,a soft word to the old
Eoman, if soft word might avail any
hing. Their love would be thing too
,acred to admit of any question from
my servant, almost from any parent.
nut why, inythls matter. was not Mrs.