The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-08-13
CHAPTER XI.-CoSrrYuyp.


He did acknowledge to himself the
truth OF the position as asserted by
John Gordon. Had the man come but
day earlier, he would have been in
time 10 say the first word; and in such
case there would have been no reason,
as far as Mr.. Whitslestaif could sec,
why John Gordon should be treated
other than as happy lover. 1t was
the one day in advance which had Civ
en- him the strength of his position. But
twas the one day, also, which had made
him weak. He had thought much
about Mary for some time past. He
had told himself that by her means
might be procured some cure to the
wound in his heart which had made his
life miserable for so many years. But
had John Gordon come in time, the
past misery would only have been pro-
longed, and none would have been the
wiser. Even Mrs. Baggett would have
held her peace, and not thrown it in his
teeth that he had attempted to marry
the girl and had failed. AS IL was, all
the world of Arlesford would know how
it had been with him, and all the world
OF Arlesford, as they looked at him,
would tell themselves that this was the
man who had attempted to marry Mary
Lawrie, and had failed
1t was true, all that John Gordon al
legged on his own behalf. But then
he was able to save his own conscience
by telling himself that when John Cor
don had run through his diamonds
there would be nothing but poverty and
distress. There was no reason for sup
posing that the diamonds would be
especially short-livcd, or that John
Gordon would probably be a spenthrift.
But diamonds as a source of income are
volatile, not trustworthy, as were the
funds TO Mrs. Baggett. And then the
nature of the source of income offered
enabled him to say so much as q plea
TO himself. Could he give the girl 10 a
man who had nothing but diamonds
with which TO pay his weekly billsP He
did tell himself again and again, that
Mary Lawrie should not be encouraged
TO put her faith in diamonds. But he
felt that it was only an excuse. In
arguing the matter backwards and for
wards, he could but tell himself that he
did believe in John Gordon.
And then an idea. grand idea, but
very painful in its beauty, crept into his
mind. Even though these diamonds
should melt away, and become as moth
ing, there was his own income, fixed
and sure as the polar star, in the con-
solidated British three per cents. II he
really loved this girl. could he not pro-
tect her from poverty, even were she
married 10 John Gordon, broken
down in the article Of his diamondsp II
he loved her, was he not bound, by
some rule OF chivalry which he could
not define even TO himself, TO do the
best he could for her happiness? He
loved her so well that he thought that,
for her sake, he could abolish himself.
Let her have his money, his house,
and his horses. Let her even have
John Gordon. He could, with certain
feeling Of delight imagine 1t all. But
then he could not abolish himself.
There he would be subjectto the remarks
of men. "There is he" mon would
say Of him, "who has maundered away
bis mind in softness; who, In his life,
has loved two girls, and Ihas, at last,
been thrown over by both Of them be-
cause be has been no better than q soft,
maundering idiot" Thus his neighbors
would speak Of him in his vain effort to
abolish himself.
It was not yet too late. lie had not
yielded an inch TO this man. He could
still be stern and unbcnding. He felt
proud Of himself In that he had been
Stern and unbending, as far as the man
was conceHed. And as regarded Mary,
be did feel sure Of her II There was TO
Be weakness displayed, 1t would be In
himplt Macy would be true TO her
g. lt