The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-29

cL8u9cE W DAcs MI. Dlake IOOkcO
into her face, and was aware that there
was something to distress her. He al
once gathered from her countenance
that MIR. Wh:ttlestaf had been like tho
dog that stuck to his bone, and that
John Gordon was like the other dog
the disappointed one-and had been
turned out from the ncighbOrhood OF
the kennel. al should imagine that
MIR. Gordon has gone away. if not to
London, then in some other direction.
1t was clear that the young lady in
tended him to understand that she
could say nothing as to MIR. Gordon
movements.
II suppose l must go down to the
station and leave word for him there. "
said Mr.. Blake. Miss Lawrie only shook
her head. '.Mr. Hall will be very
sorry to miss him. And then l have
some special good news TO tell him."
Especial good news!'' Could it be
that something had happened which,
would induce Mr.. Whittlestaft to change
his mind? That was the one subject
which to her, at the present moment,
was capable of meaning specially good
tidings.
"Yes. indeed, Miss Lawrie: double
good news, may say. Old Mr.. Har-
bottle has gone at last at san Reno.
Mary did not know whe Mr.. HarbOttle
was or had been. Mr.. Harbottle had
been the Vicar at Little Arlesford, for
whose death Mr.. Blake was waiting, in
order that he might enter in together
upon the good things Of matrimony and
the living. He was man so contented,
and talked so frequently of the good
things which Fortune was to do for
HIM, that the tidings of his luck had
reached even the ears of Mary Lawrie.
THAT'S an odd way of putting it, of
course" continued Mr.. Blake; but
then he was quite old and very asthma&-
ic, and couldn't ever come back again.
Of course am very sorry for HMM
one way; but then m very glad in an
other. 1t is good thing to have the
| house in nv own hands. SO as to begfn
TO paint Mt once, ready for her coming.
Her father wouldn't let her be married
TIL had got the living, and l think he
was right, because l shouldn't have
liked TO spend money in painting and
su h like on an uncertainty. As the
old gentleman had to die, why shouldn't
tell the truth? Of course | am glad,
though it does sound SO terrible"
But what are the double good
news?"
"Oh. didn't tell YOU. Miss Forrest
| err is to come to the Park. She is not
| coming because Mr.. Harbottle is dead.
| That's only coincidence. We are not
going to be married quite at once,
straight off the reel, you know. | shall
have TO 90 to Winchester for that. But
! now that old Harbottle has gone. I'll
get the day fixed; you see if | don't.
But | must really be of. Miss Lawrie.
! Mr.. Hall will be terribly vexed if
don't find Gordon. and there no know
ing where he may go while I'm talking
here" Ten he made his adieux. but
+, turned before he had shut the door
after HIM. "Iou couldn't send some
| body with me. Mss I.awrie? l shall
be afraid of that wooden-legged man in
the stables, for fear he should get up
and abuse me. He asked me 20 get
him some Gin. which was quite unre J.
sonable." But one being assured that
he would find the groom about the
place, he went out, and the trot of his
horse was soon heard upon the road.
He did succeed in fading John Cor
don. who was listlessly waiting at the
Claimants Arms for the coming of the
four-o' clock train which was to take
him back to London. on his way, as he
told himself, to the diamond-iieldS. He
had thrown all his heart, all the energy
of which he was the master, into the
ma ner in which he had pleaded for
himself AID for Mary with Mr.. Whittlo
stat. But he felt t.ie weakness of his
positi n in that he C uld not remain
present upon the ground and see the
working of his words. Having said
what he had TO say, he could only %:
and it was not t. be expected that the
ell quence of al absent man. of one who
had declared that he was about TO start
for South Africa. should be regarded.
He knew that what he had said was
true. and at, b: ne true, it ought to
prevail: but, having declared it. there
was nothing for him to do but t. go
away. He could not see Mary again,
nor. if he did so. would she be so likely
to yield to him as was Mr.. Whittle >taff.
He could have no further excuse for ad-
dressing himself t. the girl who was
about to become the wife of another
man. Therefore he sat restless. idle
and miserable in the little parlor at the
Claimants Arms, thinking that the
long Journey which he had made had
beel takcn all in vain, and there was
nothing left for him in the world but tn
return t. Kimberley. and add more
4 a.. 4 10
..Oh, Gordon" said Blake. bursting
into the room. ..you re the very man
want to find You can't go back to
London to-day"
Cant I?"
.'Quite out of the question. Mr.. Hall
knew Your father intimately when you
were only little chap"
Twill that prevent my going back to
London?'
Certainly it will. He wants to re-
new the &C luaintance. He is a most
hospitable. kind-hearted man: and who
knows. one of the four daughters might
do, vet.
..Who is Mr. Hall?" No doubt he
had heard the name on the previous
evening; but Hall is common, and had
been forgotten.
"Who is Mr. Hall? Why. he is the
squire of Little Arlesford, and 10y
patron. L forgot you haven't heard
that Mr.. HarbotcIe is deal at last. Of
course l am very sorry for the gentle
m:ln, in one sense; but it is such a bless
in~ in another. I'm only lust thirty,
and its grand thing. my tumbling into
the liyinp in this way
Il needn't go back because Mr.. Har-
hottie is dead
But Katie Forester is coming to