Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-11-27
~ CHAPTER XXI.
rHr cRrrr p.prj

= go = AoAidHCo. MI. w nJtleStan told
nhaseHszass he looked at the man, that
ne was such hero as ought to be hap
Ply In his love. Whereas of himself
ne was conscious of a personal appear
ance which no girl could be expected
to adore. He thought too much of his
personal appearance generally, COM
planning to himself that it was mean:
whereas in regard to Mary Lawrie, it
may be said that no such idea had ever
entered her mind. lit was just be-
cause he had come first" she would
nave said if asked. And the she"
alluded to would have been John Cor
oon. He had come first, and there
fore | had learned to love him - It
was thus that Mary Lawrie would have
spoken. But Mr.. Whittlestaff, as he
looked up into John Gordon's face, felt
that he himself was mean.
GU got my letter, Mr.. Gordon?"
YeSs got it last night
Ehave come up to London because
stnere IS something that want to say to
you. 1t is something that can't very
Well put up into letter, and therefore
have taken the trouble TO come to
town" As he said this he eudeavored. no
doubt, to assert his own dignity by the
look which he assumed. Nor did he
intend that Mr.. Gordon should know
anything of the struggle which he had
endured.
But MIR. Gordon knew as we'll what
MIR Whittlestaff had to say as did MIR.
Whlttlestaff himself. He had turned
the matter over in his own mind since
the letter had reached him, and was
aware that there could be no other
cause for seeing him which could bring
MIR Az hifflaSfeff 70. I D,,1
few days since he had made an appeal
to MIR. Whittlestaff-an appeal which
certainly might require much thought
for its answer-and here was MIR. Whit
tlestatf with his reply. 1t could not
have been made quicker 1t was thus
that John Gordon had thought of it as
he had turned Mr.. Whittlestaff's letter
over ia his mind. The appeal had
been made readily enough. The MAX
ing OF IT had been easy; the words to
be spoken had come quickly, and with
out the necessity for moments pre-
meditation. He had known It all, and
from a full heart the mouth speaks
But was It TO have been expected that
man so placed IS had been Mr.. Whit
tlestaf, should be able to give his reply
with equal celebrity? He, John Cor
don, had seen at once, on reaching
Croker's Hall, the state in which things
were. Almost hopelessly he had made
his appeal to the man who had her
promise. Then he had met the man at
Mr.. Halls house. and hardly word
had passed between them. What word
could have been expected? Montagu
Blake, with all his folly, had Judged
rightly in bringing them together.
When he received the letter John Cor
don had remembered that last word
which Mr.. YYhittlestaff had spoken to
him in the squire's hall. He had
stheught of the appeal, and had resolved
ito give. an answer to it. It.was an APP
peal which required an answer. He
had turned it over in his mind. and had
at last told himself what the answer
should be. John Gordon had discov-
cred all that when he received the let
te-. and it need hardly be said that his
feelings in regard to Mr.. Whittlestaff
were very much kinder than those of
Mr.. Whittlestaff to him. go
'.Perhaps you wouldn't mind coming
out into the street." said Mr.. Whittle-
staff. Il can't say very well what I've
got to say in here -----------
.Certainly," said Gordon; 81 will 60
anywhere
green there. and there is some shade
among the trees.o Then they went out
of the club into Pail Mall, and Mr..
Whitilestatf walked on ahead without q
word. mo: we will not 90 down
there he said, as he passed the en-
trance into ST. James Park by MARI
borough House, and led the way
through st. James Palace into the
Green Park. '.Well go on till we
come to the trees; there are seats there,
unless the people have occupied them
all One can't talk here under the
blazing sun-at least, can't" Then
he walked on at rapid pace, wiping
his brows as he did so. ssYes, there's q
seat. I'll be hanged if that man isn't
going to sit down uponait. What a beast
he IS. No, can't sit down on seat
that another man is occupying. l don't
want any one to hear what I've got to
say. .Therei Two women have gone
a l;ttleSfarther on. Then he hurried
to the vacant bench and took possession
of it. 1t was placed among the thick
trees, which give perfect shade on the
north side of the Park. and had Mr..
Whittlestaff searched all London
through, he could not have found
more pleasant spot in which to make
his communication. "This will do"
said he. -
..very nicely, indeed. said John Cor
don.
Il couldn't talk about absolutely pri-
rate business in the hall OF the club, you
II could have taken you into a pri- |
ste room, MIR. Whittlestaff, had you
shell it.n
fsYith every body coming in and out,
as they pleased. i dom. believe
arrats rooms in London clubs. What |
3D. COS to saw can be said better sab do. !
/ suppose you know what it is that I've |
got to talk about" - - = !
..Hardly," said John Gordon. ssBut !
that iStnot exactly true. L think know, |
b.H am not quite sure of it. On such |
asubject Ishould not like to make a
surmise unless were confident"
..It's about Miss Lawrie.
al suppose So"
..What makes you suppose that?" said
Nhittlestaf. sharply.
.sJou told me that you were sure I
sdotIld know. ''e rs. = ! q = s.7a-
$50 am quite sure. You came all
tha.wav down to Alresford to see her.
II xou spoke the truth, you came all the
way home from the diamond-fields with
the same object.
Il certainly z Y spoke the truth, Mr.
Then what's the good of your pre-
fcndinr not to know?n
al bo,a not nretendefi. merely said