The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-10-01

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the sandwiches, and Mira Baggett TO
despatch the letter. In ten minutes the
letter was gone, and half an hour after
wards Mr.. Whittlestaf had himself
drivon to the station.
"What is it he meansp" said Mrs.
Baggett when the master was gone.
81 do not know" said Mary, who was
in truth very angry with the old
>woman.
"He wants to make You Mrs. Whit
tlestaff."
'1n whatever he wants 1 shall obey
him-if only knew how"
''lt's what you is bound to do, Miss
Mary. Think of what he has done for
you"
81 require no one to tell me that"
"What did Mr. Gordon come here for,
disturbing eterybodyp Nobody asked
him-at least, I suppose nobody asked
him." There was an insinuation in this
which Mary found it haAl to bear. But
it was better to bear it than to argue on
such a poiat with the servant. "And he
said things which put the master about
terribly"
'It not my doing"
"But he's man as needn't have his
own way. Why should Mr.. Gordon
have everything just as he likes itP ]
never heard tell of Mr.. Gordon till he
came here the other day. don't think
so much of Mr. Gordon myself" To
this Mary, of course, made no answer.
''He's no business disturbing people
when he's not sent for l can't abide
to see Mr.. Whittlestaff put about in this
way. l have known him longer than
you have"
"No doubt"
"He's a man thatL be driven pretty
nigh out of his mind if he's disappoint.
cd" Then there was silence, as Mary
was determined not to discuss the mat
ter any further. IF you come to that
you needn't marry no ono unless you
pleases." Mary was still silent. "They
shouldn't make me marry them unless
was that way minded. / can't abide
such doings," the old woman again
went on after pause. Il knows what
l knows, and sees what | Sees"
"What do you knowP" said Mary,
driven beyond her powers of silence.
"The meaning is that Mr.. Whittle-
staff is to be disappointed, after he
have received q promise. Didn't he
have promiseP" To this Mrs. Bag
gett got no reply. though she waited
for one before she went on with her ar
gument. "You knows he had; and q
promise between lady and gentleman
ought to be as good as the law of the
land. You stand there as dumb as grim
death and won't say word, and yet
1t all depends upon you. Why is it to
go about among everybody that he's
not to get wife just because a man
come home with his pockets full of
diamonds? It's that that people say;
I and they'll say that you went back from
your word just because OF few pre-
cious stones. wouldn't like to have it
said of me anyhow"
This was very hard to bear, but Mary
found herself compelled TO bear it. She
had determined not TO be led into an
argument with Mrs. Baggett o& the
subject, feeling that even to discuss her
conduct would be improperly. She
vas strong in her own conduct. and
knew how utterly at variance it had
been with all that this woman imputed
TO her. The glitter OF the diamonds
had been merely thrown in by Mrs.
Baggett in her passion. Mary did not
think that any one would be so base as
10 believe such an accusation as that
1T nigh drives me Wild" said Mrs.
Baggett. Il don't suppose you ever
heard of Catherine BaileyP"
"Never."
"And amt agoing to tell you. It's
q romance as shall be wrapped inside
my own bosom. Itwas quite tragedy
was Catherine Bailey; and one as
would stir your heart up If you was to
hear 1t. Catherine Bailey was a young
woman. But I'm not going 10 tell you
the story-only that she was no more
tit for Mr.. Whiltlestaff than any Of
them stupid young girls that walks
about the streets gaping in at the shop
windows in Alresford. / do you the
Justice, Miss Lawrie, to say as you are
such q female as he ought to look
after"
Thank you, Mrs. Baggett."
"But she led him into such trouble,
because his heart is soft, as was dread
tul to look at. He is one OF them as al
ways wants wife. Why didn't he get
one beforeP you'll say. Because till
you came in the way he was always
thinking of Catherine Bailey. Mrs.
Compass she become. 'Drat her and
her babies!" / often said to myself.
What was CompasP No more than an
Old Bailey lawyer-not TO be looked at
alongside OF our Mr.. WhittlestaR. No
more amt Mr. John Gordon, to my
thinking. You think of all that, Miss
Mary, and make up your mind whether
you'll break his heart after giving a
promise. Heart-breaking amt to him
what it is TO John Gordon and the likes
Of him."
| CHAPTER Xxx.
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