Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-10-16

When the time arrived for going to
the dinner, Mr.. Whittlestaf took Mary
IN the pony eariagewith him There
IS always agroom about there" he
said. $50 we need not take the bow. ,,
His object WAS, as Mary In part under
stood, that he should b able to speak
what last word he might have to utter
without having other ears than hers to
listen to them
Mary would have been surprised had
she known how much painful thought
Mr.. Whittlestaff gave to the matter. To
her it seemed as though he had made
up his mind without any effort, and was
determined to abide by it. He had
thought it well to marry her and hay-
inc asked her. and having obtained her
consent, he intended to take ADVANTAGE
of berspromise. That was her idea of
Mr.. Whfbtlestaf, as to which she did
not at all blame him. But he was. in
truth. changing his purpose every quar-
ter of an hour;-or not changing It. but
thinking again and again throughout
the entire day whether he would not
abandon himself and all his Happiness
TO the romantic idea of making this Girl
supremely happy. Were he 10 do SOL
he must give up everything. The world
would have nothing left for him as to
which he could feel the slightest inter-
[ est. There came upon him at such mo-
ments insane ideas as to the amount of
sacrifice which would be demanded of
him. She should have everythine-his
house, his fortune /; and he, John Cor
don, rs being part of her, should have
them also. He. Whittlestaff, would
abolish himself as far as such abolition
might be possible The idea of suicide
was abominable to him-was wicked.
cowardly and inhuman. But il this
were to take place, he could wish TO
cease to live. Then he would comfort
himself by assuring himself again and
again that of the two he would certain
IL make the better husband. He wis
older. Yes; it was a pity that he
should be so much the elder And he
knew that he was old of his age,-such
one as girl like Mary Lawrie could
hardly be brought to love passionately.
He brought up against himself all the
hard facts rs sternly as could any
Younger rival. He looked at himself In
the glass over and over again, and al
WAYS gave the verdict against his own
appearance. There was nothing to
recommend him. So he told himself
Judging of himself most unfairly. He
set against himself as evils little points
by which Mary mind and Mary ludg-
ment would never be affected. But. in
truth, throughout it all he thought only
of her we fare. But there came upon
him constantly an idea that he hardly
knew how to be as good to her as he
would have been had it not been for
Catherine Bailey. To have attempted
/ e 4
trouslv, He was a man to whom to
have Jailed once in such a matter was
almost death. How should he bear IL
| did endeavor to think only of her wei
fare. You won't find it cold, my
| dear ?'' he said.
Gold! Why, MIR. Whittlestaff, it's
quite hot"
81 meant hot. I did mean to say hot :"
i've got my parasol.'
| |'Ohi-ah!-yes SO / perceive. &c
on, Tommy. That foolish old woman
| will settle down at last, think TO
this Mary could make no answer. be-
| cause, according to her ideas, Mrs.
Baggett's settling down must depend on
very civil of Mr.. Hall asking US in this
| way"
Il suppose it is a.
because you may be sure he haa
heard of your former acquaintance With
him."
-.Do you think so9''
ssNot doubt about it He said as
much to me in his note. That young
clergyman of his viii have told him
| everything. .Percontatorem fugifo nam
garrnlus idem est I've taught you
Latin enough to understand that. Bat,
Mary, if you wish to change your mind,
this will be your last opportunity" His
| heart at that moment had been very
tender towards her, and she had re-
solved that hers should be very firm to
HIM.