The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-07-18
CHAPTER Iy.-CoSr1Srrxn.

CHAPTER Iv.-CoNr1Nurp.
81 do not know what color you
blush" said Mr.. Whittlestaf.
81 dare say not"
''But when il does come / am con-
scious of the sweetest color that ever
came upon lady's cheek. And l tell
myself that another grace has been
added to the face which of all faces in
the world is to my eyes the most beauti-
full" What was she to say in answer
TO a compliment so high-fown as this.
to one from whose mouth compliments
were so uncommon? She knew that he
could not have so spoken without pur-
pose. declared at any rate to his own
heart. He still held her by the arm.
out did not progress with his speech,
while she sat silent by his side, and
blushing with that dark ruby streak
across her cheeks which her stepmother
had intended to vilify when She said
that she had blushed black. "Mary, -
he continued, after a pause, lean you
endure the thought of becoming my
wife?" Now she drew her arm away.
and turned her face, and compressed
her lips, and sat without uttering q
word. ''Of course, am an old man. !"
1T is not that" she muttered.
''But think that | can love you as
honestly and as firmly as younger one.
| think that if you could bring yourself
to be my wife you would lind that you
would not be treated badly"
'Oh. no, no, nor she exclaimed.
Nothing, at any rate, would be kept
from YOU. When have a thought or a
feeling, hope or fear, you shall share
1t. As to money"
Don't do that. There should be no
talk OF money from you 10 me-"
Perhaps not. 1t would be best that
should be left to do Is | may think
most fitting for YOU. l have one incl
dent in my life which I would wish to
tell YOU. / loved girl, many years
since. and she ill-used me. [ continued
to love her long, but that image has
passed from my mind He was think
ing, as he said this. of Mrs. Compass
and her large family. ut will not be
necessary that l should refer TO this
again. because the subject is very pain
full; but it was essential that should
tell you. And now, Mary, how shall it
be-" he added, after pause.
She sat listening to all that he had to
say, but without speaking word. He.
too. had his John Gordon but in
his case the girl he had loved had treat
ed him badly. She had received no
bad treatment. There had been love
between them, ample love. love enough
to break their hearts. At least she had
found it so. But there had been no
outspoken speech of love. Because OF
that the wound made. now that it had
her been so cruel as with Mr.. Whittle-
staff. John Gordon had come to her
on the eve of his going, and had told
her that he was about to start for some
distant land. There had been loud
words between him and her STEP moth
er. and Mrs. Lawrie had told him that
he was pauper. and was doing no good
about the house; and Mary had heard
the words spoken. She asked him
whittier he WAS going. but he did not
reply Your mother is right. l am
at any rate doing no good here" he had
said. but had not answered her question
further. Then Mary had given him hel
hand, and had whispered, Good bye.
place will come to shall be Norwich u
Then without further farewell he had
gone. From that day to this she had
had his form before her eyes; but now,
If she accepted MIR WhittleStaff. it must
be banished. No one knew of her
wound. She must tell him. should she
accept him. 1t might be that he would
reject her after such telling. If so. il
would be well. But. in that case, what
would be her future:9 Would it not be
necessary that she should return to tina;
idea of a governesS which had been SC
distasteful to her?
Mary, can YOU say that it shall be
so9" he asked quietly, after having re-
manned silent for some ten minutes
Could it be that all her fate must be
resolved in so short a time? Since first
the notion that Mr.. WhittleStaff had
asked her to be his wife had come upon
her. she had thought of il day and night
But she had thought altogether of the
past. and not Of the future. MARI had,
in truth. not thought of her answer.
though she had said TO herself over and
over again why it should not be so.
Have you no answer to give me?''
ne said.
'-0h, Mr.. Whittlestaf, Won have Sc
startled me-" This was hardly true.
He had not startled her. but had brought
her to the necessity OF knowing her own
mind.
If you wish to think of it YOU shall
take your own time" Then If was de-
cided that week should be accorded
to her. And during that week she
passed much of her time in tears Mrs.
Baggetr would not leave her alone. To
give Mrs. Baggett her due. it must be
acknowledged that she acted IS best
she knew how for her masters interest,
without thinking of herself. II shall
90 down toPorismouth. I'm not worth
thinking of, l amt There's them at
Portsmouth as II take care of me. You
don't see why / should 90. l dare say
not; but I'm older than you, and see
what you don't see. I've borne with
YOU as q miss, because you've not been
upsetting; but still, when Eve lived
with him for all those years without
anything of the kind, it has set me hard
sometimes. As married TO him, ]
wouldn't put up with you; so tell you
fairly. But that don t signify. 1t aim
YOU as signifies or me as signifies. 1t 5
only him. You have got To bring YOUR
self TO think of that What the mean
ing of your duty TO your neighbor. and
dong unto others. and all the rest of it?
you ANT got to think just of your own
self; no more haven l.
There's them st Portsmouth as'Il
take care of me, no Doubt Don't YOU
mind about me- [ amt srninr 10 have