The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-10-15
CHAPTER XIII.

way. one cOulu not ruSn OUT 10 Rreet
him, as she would have done had his
absence been occasioned by any other
cause. But he had no sooner taken his
place IN the library than he sent for
her. He had been thinking about it all
the way down from London, and had in
some sort prepared his words. During
the next half-hour he did promise him
self some pleasure; after that his lie
was to be altogether blank to him.
He would go. To that only he had
made up his mind He would tell
Mary that she should be happy. He
would make Mrs. Baggett understand
that for the sake of his property she
must remain at Croker's Hall for some
period to which he would decline To
name an end. And then he would go.
"Well, Mary" he said, smiling, $50
have got back safe"
EYES | see you have got back"
Il saw a friend of yours when was
up in London" ..s
81 have had letter, you know, from
Mr.. Gordon"
''He has written, has he? Then he
has been very sudden"
'He said he had your leave TO write. "
That is true. lie had. thought
that perhaps he would have taken more
time to think about it.
81 suppose he knew what he had to
say" said Mary. And then she blushed,
as though fearing that she had appeared
to have been quite sure that her lover
would not have been so dull.
II dare say"
81 didn't mean that knew"
"But you did" fs.
"Oh, Mr.. Whittlestaff! But / will
not attempt to deceive you. If you left
it to him, he would know what to say
Immediately" ..... r.r
"No doubt--no Doubt"
"When he had come all the way from
South Africa on purpose TO see me, as
he said, Of course he would know. Why
should there be any pretence on my
partP" ,.oI !.
"Why, indeed?" .s... .p.,.
"But | have not answered him-not
as yet"
"There need be no delay ......
al would not do it till YOU had come.
may have known what he would say
to me, but | may be much in doubt what
l should say to him. .....
"You may say what you like" He
answered her Grossly, and sha heard the
tone. But he was aware OF it also, and
felt that he was disgracing himself.
There was none of his hali-hour of Joy
which he had promised himself. He had
struggled so hard to give her every
thing, and he might, at any rate, have
perfected his gift with good-humor.
''You know you have my full permis-
sion," he said, with a smile. But he
was aware that this smile was not pleas
ant--was not such q smile as would
make her happy. But it did not signify.
When he was gone away, utterly abol-
ished, then she would be happy.
Il do not know that | want your per-
mission"
mo, no; l dare say not"
"You asked me to be your wife"
"Yes; | did"
"And | accepted you. The matter
was settled them
"But you told me of him-even at
first And you said that you would al
ways think OF him."
"Yes; | told you what knew to be
true. But | accepted you; and de-
termincd TO love You with all my heart
with all my heart"
"And you knew that you would love
him without any determination.
al think that | have myself under
more control. | think that In tme-in
a little time--I would have done my
duty BY YOU perfectly"
"As howp"
Loving you with all my heart"
"And nowP" II was hard question
to put to her, and so Unnecessary
"And nowP'
"You have distrusted me somewhat.
l begged you not TO go to London.
begged you not to 60"
"You can not love two men, She
looked into his face, as though implor-
ing him to spare her. For though she
did know what was coming-though
had she asked herself she would have
said that she knew-yet she felt her
self bound TO disown Mr.. Gordon as her
very own while Mr.. Whittlestaff thus
tantalized her. mo; you can not love
two men. You would have tried TO
love me and have failed, You would
have tried not to, love him, and have
failed then Also" mel.ir..I .U
Then / would not have failed. Had
you remained here, and have taken me,
l., should certainly not have failed
then ''urll r,Ior .og I.lo' -.. .
81 have made II easy for you, my
dear;--yery easy. Write your letter.
Mako 1t as loving as you please. Write
asI would have had you write to me,
could II have been possible. Oh, Maryl
that ought to have been my ownl oh,
Mary! that would have made beautiful
for me my future downward stepsv But
itdis not for such purpose that
young life such as yours should be Civ
en- Though he should be unkind 10
you, though money should be siTarce
with you, though the ordinary troubles
Of the world should come upon you,
they will be better, for you than the
ease might have prepared for you. 1t
will be nearer TO human nature, / at
any rate, shall be here II troubles comet
or II | am gone, that will remain which
relieves troubles. You can 90 now and
write your letter. eAfsalt. aluot sl.
She could not SPEAK D word as she
left the room. II was not only that her
throat was full of sobs, but that her