The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-19

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though. ike sons village maiden. sh'
had gone about in tears bewailing her
self tina. some groom or gardener hat
been faith!ess But sitting thus for tn,
first mile, she choked herself to keeI
down her sobs.
MARY" at last he whispered to her
''Well, Mr.. Whittlestaff?''
'Mary, we are both of US unhappy
81 am not unhappy" she said. pluck
ing up herself suddenly. ..Why do you
say that l am unhappy"
You seem SO. l at any rate am un
happy
What makes you SOP"
II did wrong to take you to dine in
company with that man.
ut was not for me to refuse to CO.
mo; there is no blame to you in it;
nor is there blame to me. But IL
would have been better for US both had
we remained away" Then he drove
on in silence, and did not speak anoth-
er word till they reached home.
"Well.' said Mrs. Baggett, following
them into the dining-room.
What do YOU mean by 'well?'"
''What did the folks say to you al
Mrs. Halls? l caa see by your face
that some of them have been saying
suinmat.'
Nobody has been saying anything
that [ know of" said Mr.. Whittlestaf.
'.Do you 60 to bed" Then when Mrs
Baggett was gone. and Mary had list.
lessly seated herself on a chair, her
lover again addressed her. II wish I
knew what there is in your heart"
Yet she would not tell him; but turned
away her face and sat silent. Have
you nothing to say to me?"
"What should l have to say to you?
have nothing to say of that of which
, you are thinking"
"He has gone now. Mary"
''Yes; he has gene"
"And you are contented?" 1t did
seem hard upon her that she should be
called upon to tell iic-to say that
which he must know to be leland TO
do SO in order that lie might be en-
Outraged &c perSevere in achieving his
own OF. ect. But she did not quite I'M
derstand him. Are you contented?"
he repeated again.
Then she thought that she would tell
the lie. If it was well that she should
make the sacrifice for his sake, why
should it not be completed? If she had
to give herself to him, why should not
the gift be as satisfactory rs it might be
made to his feelings? 'Yes: | am con-
tented"
And you do not wish to see him
again?'
Certainly not, as your wife,
"iou do not wish it at ALL" he re-
Joined, whether you be my wife or
otherwise?"
al think YOU press me too hard"
Then she remembered herself, and the
perfect sacrifice which she was minded
to make. mo; l do not wish again to
see MIR. Gordon at all. Now. if YOU
will allow me, will 60 to bed am
thoroughly tired out, and l hardly know
what am saying"
''Ies; you can 60 to bed" he said.
Then she gave aim her hand in silence,
and went OF to her own room.
She had no sooner reached her bed
than she threw herself on it and burst
into tears. All this which she had to
endure-all that she would have to bear
would be, she thought too much for
her. And there came upon her a feel
ing of contempt for his crdelty. Had
he sternly resolved to keep her to her
promised word, and to forbid her all
happiness for the future-to make hel
his vile, let her heart be AS it might
had he said: You have come to my
house and have eaten my bread and
have drunk of my cup, and have then
promised TO bcc me my wife, and now
you shall not depart from it because |
this interloper has come between u.s."
then, though she mi ht have felt him |
to he cruel, still she would have re.
spected him. He would have done, as
she believed. As other men do. But he
wished to gain his object, and yet not
appear to lie cruel. 1t was so that she |
thought of him. "And it shall be as .
ne would have it, she said to herself. |
But, though she saw far into his char
acter. she did not quite read it arIght.
He remained there alone in his Ii
brary into the late hours of tie night
But he did not even take up book
with the idea of solacing his hours He,
too, had his idea of self-Sacrifice, which
went quite rs FAR as hers But yet he
was not as sure as was she that the self
sacrifice would be duty. He did not
believe. as she did. in the character of
John Cord n. What if he should give
her up to one who did not deserve her
to one whose future would not be
stable enough to secure the happiness
and welfare OF such woman as was
Mary l.awrie! He had no knowledge to
guide him, nor had she;-nor, for the
matter of that, had John Gordon him
self any knowledge of what his own fu-
lure might be. OF his future Mr.. Whit
tlestaff could speak and think with the
greatest confidence. 1t would be safe,
happy and bright. should Mary Lawrie
his wife. Should she not do so,
t must be altogether ruined and con-
ound ed.
He could not conceive it to be posi-
Die that he should be required by duty
o make such a sacrifice: but he knew
If himself that if her happiness, her
rue and permanent happiness, would
equire it, thea the sacrifice should be
made.
CHAPTER XVI.
MRS. BtGGEKT's PHILOSOPHY
The next day was Saturday, and Mr..
' hittlestaff came out of his room