The Red Cloud chief., 1884-08-22
CHAPTER X.-CoSTIxrvn

came down into the road. s.Oh. Mr..
"ordon. good-morning, sir. You find
US IN rathc. a disturbed condition this
morning. am sorry | did not think
of asking you TO come to breakfast.
But. perhaps, under all the circum-
stances. it was better not. That dread
ful man had put us sadly about. He is
the unfortunate husband OF nv hardly
less unfortunate housekeeper."
Yes, Sir, he is nv husband, that's
true, said Mrs. Baggett.
81 IN very much attached to my wife.
1t YOU knew all about it, sir; and I
wants her TO come home with me.
service amt no Inheritance: nor vet
am wages, when they never amounts
TO more than twenty pounds 4 yea
Its thirty, you false, ungrateful
beast said Mrs. Baggctt. But Mr..
Nhlttle>ta:f had led the way into the
Garden. and John Gordon had followed
h,m. Beior they reached the hall
dor. Mary LawIie had met them.
'Oh, Mr.. Whittlestan"' she said, sis
IT not annoying? that dreadful man
"i;h the wooden leg is here, and co.
icctin~ a crowd round the place. Good
SoTnin%, Mr Gordon. IL is the Door
woman nc'cr-do-wcIl husband. She is
herself so decent and respectable that
she viii he greatly harrassed. What
= "an w do, Mr.. Whittlestalf, Can't we
= :rt 4 poiiccman?' In this way the con-
:crsat.on WAS lei away To the affairs of
Scrgeant and Mrs. Baggett. to the in
r..aElc distress OF John Gordon. When
We remember the kind of speeches
which Gordon intended to utter il must
lie admitted that the interruption was
provoking. Even if Mary would leave
Them together, IT would pc difficult TO
'all back upon the subject which Cor
don had at heart.
BUt john Gordon could not ~postpone
lis moment. He could not 90 on resiI-
ing indefinitely at the Claimants Arms
iill he could tnd a proper opportunity
Tor assuring MIR. Whittlestaff that il
rouid not he his duty to marry Mary
i.awric. He must rush Al his subject,
, let the result be what 1t might. He
Dad no hopes As 10 a favorable result.
Was it natural that Il man should give
mp his intended wife, simply because he
was asked? Gordon's present feeling
WAS AN anxious desire To be on lOard
the ship that should take him again To
the diamond fields, SO that he might be
4 at peace, knowing then, as he would
know. tina he had lett Mary Lawrie be-
hird forever. At this he al
most rcpcntcd that he had not left
Arlcs:ord without any further attempt.
Blu there he was on Mr.. Whittle-taff's
ground. and the attempt must be made,
If only with the oh ,ect of iustifying his
coming.
Miss Lawrie." he began, eff YOU
would not mind leaving me and MIR.
NhittleStaff alone together for 4 few
minutes, | will be obliged t. yOn."
Tins he said with soicmnity. SO that Mr..
J Nhittlcstaf drew himself up, and looked
hard and stiff. as though he were de-
termined to forget Sergeant Bageett
and ali his ~pcccadilloes for the moment.
"Oh, yes; certainly; but" Mr..
Whitticstal! looked sternly at her, As
though he bid her 90 ut once. ''lou
must believe nothing rs coming from
me unless il ONE from out of my W
mouth" Then she put her hand upon
his arm. a> though half embracing him.
.'You had better leave us, perhaps"
said MIR. WhittlcStaif. And then she
went.
INoS ti' iIo!iftIIt Hdl tblllt, anu
John Gordon felt the difficulty. 1t had
not bcen leSsened by the assurance Civ
"a by Miss Mary herself that nothing
MAS t. be taken as having come from
her unless il was known and heard To
have 80 come. And yet he was thor
oughly convinced that he was altogeth-
er loved by her, and that had he APP
pearcd on the scene but n day sooner,
she would have accepted him with Al
her heart. .'Mr. WhitttesiaT. he said,
Il want to tell you what passed yester-
day between me and Miss Lawrie."
AS il necessary" he asked.
Il think il is"
AS far Is | am concerned. l doubt
the necessity. Miss Lawrie has said a
word TO me As much l presume. rs she
feels To be necessary"
Il do not think her feeling in the
matter should be a guide for YOU or for
me. What we have both Of us to do is
10 think what may be best for her. and
to effect that as far as may be within
pur power
"~Certainlv," said Mr.. Whittlestaff.
but probably YOU and differ mate
rally as to thinking what may be best
for her. As far rs | understand the
~matter. you wish that she should be
YOUR wife. | wish that she should be
mine. | think that as my wife she
1would live n happier life than she could
DO as yours: and As she thinks also"
Here Mr.. Whittlestaa paused.
but does she think sop
You heard what she said ''u>t now"
Il heard nothing as TO her thoughts
of living" said John Gordon. Nor
in the interview which / had with her
yesterday did | hear a word fall from
her As to herself. We nave GOT to form
our IDEAS as 90 that rom circumstances
which shall &c .ainly not appear by her
own speech. When You speak against
me-
Il have rot said a word against You,
sir"
Perhaps You imply" said Gordon.
not stopping TO notice Mr.. Nhittle-
staff angry n .'periiaps YOU imply
that my life may be that of 4 rover, and
aS such would not condace to Miss
Lawrie's happiness"
Il have implied nothing"
TO suit her wishes L would remain
altogether in England. | WAS very
lucky, and am not = man greedy of
great wealth. She can remain here,
and | will satisfy You that there shall
be enough for II Joint maintenance"
What do L care for YOUR mainte-
nance. or what does she? Do YOU know,
s;r. that You are talking to NE about a
lady whom | intend TO make my wife.
who is engaged to marry me? Good
hess gracious me-"
Il own. sir, that it is singular"
Very singular, indeed. lneyer heard
nf such a thing. 1t seems YOU knew her