The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-10-08


to the vacant bench and took possession
OF It 1t was placed among the thick
trees, which give perfect shade ON tle
north side OF the Park, and had Mr..
Whittlestaff searched all London
through, he could not have found q
more pleasant spot in which to make
his communication. "This will do"
said he.
"Verynicely, indeed, said John Cor.
don. e. .I U
II couldn't talk about absolutely pri.
vate business in the hall OF the club, you
know"
81 could have taken you into pri.
vate room, Mr.. Whittlestaff, had you
wished it,"
with everybody coming in and out,
just as they pleased don't believe
in priva5 rooms in London clubs. What
I've got to say can be said better s9ib do.
l suppose you know what it is that I've
got to talk about t
Hardly" said John Gordon. "But
that is not exactly true. Think | know,
but am not quite sure Of it. On such
a subject / should not like to make o
surmise unless were confident"
cts about Miss Lawfie."
81 suppose So
"What makes you supesse thatp' said
Whittlestaif. sharply .....
"You told me that yoa were sure ]
should know"
80 l am quite sure. You came all
the way down to Alresford to see her.
If you spoke the truth, you came all the
way home from the diamond fields with
the same object"
81 certainly spoke the truth, Mr..
Whttlestaf."
Then what's the good of your pre-.
tending not to knowP"
81 have not pretended. meYely said
that | could not presume to put the
young lady's name into your mouth un-
til you had uttered 1t yourself. There
could be no other. subject of converse.
ton between you and me OF which Twas
aware"
"You had spoken to me about her."
said Mr.. Whi.tlestaff.
mo doubt | had. When / found
that you had given her home, and had
made yourself as it were. father to
her.
~ had not made myself her father,
nor yet her mother. | had loved her,
as you profess to do"
my profession Is at any rate true"
"I dare say. You may or you
mayn't; ! at any ratio know nothing
about it."
"Why otherwise should 1 have come
home and left my business in South
Africap | think you may take it for
granted that love her"
I" / don't care twopence whether you
do or don't said Mr.. Whittlestaif
"Its nothing to me whom you love. !
should have been inclined to say at first
sight that man cropping in the dirt for
diamonds wouldn't love any one. And
even If you did, though you might break
your heart and die. 1t would be nothing
to me. Had you done so, l should moi
have heard Of you, nor should l have
wished to hear Of you"
There was an incivility in all this oi
which John Gordon felt that he was
obliged to take some notice. There
was want Of courtesy in the mans
manner rather than his words, which
he could not quite pass by, although he
was most anxious TO do so. ~ dare say
not" said he; "but here am, and here
also is Miss Lawrie. had said what
had to say down at Alresford, and OF
course it is for you now to decide what
is 10 be done. have neveS supposed
that you would care personally for me. "
"You needn't be SO conceited about
yourself"
~ don't know that am," said Cor
don, 'eXcept that man can not but be
little conceited who has won the love
Of Mary Eawrie."
"You think itimpossiblo that should
have done So"
Eat any rate did it before you had
seen her. Though / may be conceited.
l am not more conceited for myself
than you are for yourself Had / moi
known her, you would probably have
engaged her affections. / had known
her, and you are aware of the result.
But it is for you TO decide. Miss
Lawrie thinks that she owes you a debt
which she is bound to pay If you exact
It,"
Exact itr' exclaimed Mr.. Whittle-
staff. There is no question Of exact
ing" John Gordon shrugged. his
shoulders. 81 say there Is no question
Of exacting. The words should mol
have been used. She has my full per.
mission to choose as she may think fit,
and she knows that she has it. What
right have you 10 speak 10 me Of exact
ingP" .........
| NJ. Whittlestaff had now talked him.
self into such passion, and was ap.
parently SO angry at the word which his
companion had used, that John Gordon
began to doubt whether he did In truth
know the purpose for which the mar
had come to London. Could it be thai
he had made the journey merely with
the object Of asserting that he had the
power of making the girl his wife, and
Of proving hiS power by marrying herl
What is that you wish, Mr.. Whittle
staffp' he asked. b,
II "Wish! What business have you Ia
ask after my wishes. But you know
what my wishes are very well. ! will
not pretend 10 keep them in the dark
She came TO my house, and l soor
learned to desire that she should be my
wife. II know what love is, i do loy,
\ her still. She Is all the world TO me.
have no diamonds 10 care for; have nj
rich mines to occupy my heart; / an