Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-04-08

Isabefs only reply to this extraordinary
proposal of marriage was faint cry OF
astonishment, followed by a sudden tremb-
ling that shook her from head to foot.
Hardyman put his arm round her with
gentleness which his Oldest friend would
have been surprised to see in him.
Take your time to think Of it." he said,
dropping back again into his usual quiet
tone. IF you had known me little better,
you wouldn't have mistaken me, and you
wouldn't be looking at me now as if you
were afraid to believe your own ears What
is there SO very wonderful in my wanting to
marry you! / don set up for being a saint.
When L was a young man | was no better
and no worse) than other young men. I'm
getting on now to middle life. | don't want
romances and adventures; | want an easy
existence with a nice lovable woman who
will make me a good wife. You're the wo-
man, | tell you again. | know it by what
I've seen of you myself, and by what | have
heard of you from Lady Lydard. She said
you were prudent and sweet tempered and
affectionate: to which | wish to add that you
have Just the face and figure that | like, and
the modest manners and the blessed absence
of all slang in your talk which | don't find
in the young women | meet with in the pres
ent day. That's my view of it. / think for
myself. What does it matter to me whether
you're the daughter of a duke or the daugh-
ter of dairyman? It isn't your father |
want to marry; it's you. Listen to reason,
there's a dear. We have only one question
to settle before we go back to your aunt
You wouldn't answer me when | asked it a
little while since. VIII you answer now! DO
you like me:'
Isabel looked up at him timidly.
I'm my position, sir,' she asked. "have |
any right to like yous What would your re-
lations and friends think if | said Yes!'
Hardyman gave her waist a little admoni-
tory squeeze with his arm.
What! You're at it again! A nice way
to answer man, to call him sir, and to get
behind his rank as if it were a place of refuge
from him. | hate talking of myself but you
force me TO it. Here is my position in the
world: | have got an elder brother; he is
married, and he has son to succeed him in
the title and the property. You understand
so far! Very well! Years ago | shifted my
share of the rank whatever it may be- on
to my brothers shoulders He's thorough
good fellow, and he has carried my dignity
for me, without once dropping it, ever
since. As for what people may say, they
have said it already, from my father and
mother downward, in the time when took
to the horses and the farm. If they're the
wise people take them for, they won't be at
the trouble of saying it all over again. No,
no. Twist it how you may, Miss Isabel,
whether Pm single or whether I'm married.
I'm plain Alfred Hardyman and everybody
who knows me knows that | 90 on my own
way and please myself. If you don't like
/, +lo 4 I
ever had in my life; but say so honestly, all
the same"
Where is the woman in Isabers place
whose capacity for resistance would not
have yielded little to such an appeal as
this!
II should be an insensible wretch" she re-
piled, warmly, ''if didn't feel the honor you
have done me, and feel it gratefully
docs that mean you will have me for
husband." asked downright Hardyman.
She was fairly driven into corner; but
(being woman) she tried to slip through his
fingers at the last moment.
"Will you forgive me" she said, 'if | ask
for little more time! I am so bewildered, !
hardly know what to say or do for the best.
You see, Mr.. Hardyman, it would be dread
full thing for me to be the cause of your Civ
ing offense to your family. | am obliged to
think of that 1t would be so distressing for
you Il will say nothing of MYSELF if your
friends closed their doors on me. They might
say was a designing girl, who had taken
advantage of your good opinion to raise her
self in the world. Lady Lydiard warned
me long since not to be ambitious about my
self and not to forget my station in life, be
cause she treated me like her adopted daugh-
ter Indeed-indeed, | can't tell you how |
feel your goodness and the compliment-the
very great compliment-you pay me. My
heart is free; and if / followed my own in
clinations-" She checked herself, conscious
that she was on the brink of saying too much.
tWill you give me few days." she pleaded,
''to try if can think compOsedly of all this?
am only girl, and feel quite dazzled by
che prospect that you set before me-"
Hardyman seized on these words as offer
ing all the encouragement that he desired
to his suit
"Have your own way in this thing, and i'm
everythingl' he said, with an unaccustomed
fervor of language and manner. 81 am so
glad to hear that your heart is open to me.
and that all your inclinations take my part"
Isabel instantly protested against this mis-
representation of what she bad really said:
"Oh. Mr.. Hardyman, you quite mistake
men
He answered her very much as he had
answered Lady Lydiard when she had tried
to make him understand his proper relations
toward Isabel
.sNo. no: don't mistake you. l agree to
every word YOU say How can l expect
you to marry me, as You verv properly re-
mark unless l give you day or two to
make up your mind? It's quite enough for
me that you like the prospect If Lady
Lydard treated you as her daughter. why
shouldn't you be my wife? 1t stands to
reason that you're quite right to marry a
man who can raise you in the world. like
you to be ambitious, though Heaven knows
it isn't much can do for you. except to love
you with all my heart Still. it's great
encouragement to hear that her ladyships
views agree with mine
''They don't agree, Mr.. Hardyman." pro
tested poor Isabel. ''You are entirely mis-
representing"
Hardyman cordially concurred in this view
of the matter. 'sYesl yes / can't pretend
to represent her ladvship's language: or
yours either; am obliged to take my words
as they come to me. Don't disturb yourself:
it's all right understand. You have
made me the happiest man living. L shall
ride over tomorrow to your aunt's house
and hear what you have to say to me. Mind
you're at home. Not day must pass with
out my seeing YOU. / do love you, Isabel
do indeedp' He stopped and kissed her
heartily "Only to reward me-" he ex-
planned, ''for giving you time to think"
She drew herself away from him-reso
lutely, not angrily. Before she could make
a third attempt to place the subject in its
right light before him the luncheon bell rang
at the cottage. and servant appeared, evi-
IDENTIFY sent to look for them.
''Don't forget tomorrow. Hardyman whis-
pered. confdentially ''rll call early, and
then go en- to London and get the ring.''
CHAPTER XVII
Events succeeded each other rapidly after
the memorable day, to Isabel, of the lun,
cbaon at the farm