The Red Cloud chief., 1884-07-25
CHAPTER v.-CoNrINUED.

Not a word had been spoken to her on
which she could found a fair hope. But
size had never been so certain Of her
Ioye-of her love as a true, undOubted
and unbeatable fact, of ar unchange-
able fact-as she was now. And why
should this poor old woman, with her
many years of service. be disturbed?
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 a thriving
lover. Care seemed to be on his face;
nav, present almost visibly on his very
shoulders. She 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 90 PORTLAND
starve, 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 for
her own falsehood. He would not let
her starve. He would get some place
for her as a governess. And she was 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
com tortable mistress OF his house. She
would not admit the plea of starvation
3 even to herself. 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.
But what did that matter? 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
f, 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 he? She turned
10 the glass, and wiped her eyes with
the sponge, and brushed her hair, and
then went across the passage to MIR.
Whittlesta!f's library.
She knocked ut 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. 10y knocking at
the door?"
81 think one knocks when one wants
n 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 l was. You must COP
and GO now like my very second self.
Then he came forward from the desk al
which he was Won't to stand and write.
and essayed to put his arm round hel
waist. She drew back, but still he was
not startled. &. 1t was but 4 cold kiss
gave you down below. You must kiss
me now, As a wife kissesfher husband. "
Never"
..What,' Now he was startled.
.'Mr. Whittlestaff, pray-pray do moi
be angry with me-"
What is the meaning of it?:"
Then she bethought herself-how she
might best explain the meaning. L
was hard upon her. this shaving to ex
plain it, and she told herself, very fool
ishly, that it would be better for her tt
--begin with the story of Mrs. Baggett
She couft more easily speal
of Ms. Baggett than of John Gordon
But Unjust be remembered, on her be
hall, hat she had but a second to think
how sic might best begin her story
Il haze spoken TO Mrs. Baggett abou
Your wishes"
..Wdln'
.'Shehas lived with you and YOU
family from before you were born"
'.Shes S an old fool. Who is going tt
hurt heb And, if i: did hurt her, arr
YOU andt to be put put of our cours,
because IL her? She can remain here
as long S she obeys you IS her mis-
treSs."
s'She stys that, after so many years
she can Mt do that"
.'She skll leave the house this very
night, if khe disturbs your Happiness:
and mind What! is an old woman
like that ! tell her master when hi
may and MEN he may not marryP
did not thik you had been so soft"
She couli not explain it all to him
all that shdhOugbt upon the subject
She could ut say that the interference
of any dom&tic between such q one q
John Gord4 and his love-betweeI
him and hertz she were hsppy enough
to be his lov(would be an absurdit.
too foolish b be considered. They
that happy tp. would be following tn
bent of humal nature, and would speal
mo more thanh soft word to the o.,
woman, if a sit word might avail any
thing. Their bve would re a thing to-
sacred to ADM of any question from
any servant. s&noSt from any parent
But why, in TIN matter. was not Mrs
Bagcett S happiness to be of as mucI
consequence a5Mr. Whittlestaff s-es
pecially when II own peace of min;
Law in the same Erection as Mrs. Bag
gets? ''She SIS that you are onl
up troublt for yourself in this
thatf is true"
mis- wrath and spok
Md showed her a
had not dwell
\ad babe her no
he had bee
him as on
ppelled I
her. /"
ing to
NIX I
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