Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-11-15
CHAPTER xviii

IN FAWN
Al last Ida spoke. apparently with great
effort.
SIT 10 sitting In here" she said, ..let us nc
out" and she rose, took up shawl that lay
beside her ON q chair. and stepped through
The French window into the garden 1t was
a lovely autumn night, and the air was al
still as death, with just Il touch OF frost in it
Ida threw the shawl over her shoulders
and followed by Harold walked on through
the garden, till she came to the edge of the
moat, where there was a seat Here she sat
down and fxed her eyes upon the hoary bat
Elements OF the gateway, now clad In q
solemn robe OF moonlight
Harold looked at Der and felt that IL be
had anything 70 say the time had come for
him TO shy IL, aud that she hni brought him
there in order that she might 10 able TO listen
undisturbed. 30 he began again, and told
her that he loved her dearly II am some
seventeen years older than you. he went on,
land suppose that the ms~a active part OF
my life lies in the past. alin /. lot know H.
putting other things aside, you would care "a
marry so oil q man, especially as | am not
rich. indeed, | feel It presumptuous ON my
part, seeing what you are and what | am, 70
ask you 10 do 90. And yet, Ida. | believe II
you could care for ms that. with Gods bless
ing, we should be very happy together.
have led lonely life and have had little 70
do with women--once, many years ago, was
engaged, and the matter ended painfully, and
that is all But ever since | first saw your
face in the drift I've years and mors ago, IL
has haunted me and been with me, and then
| came 70 live here and have learned TO love
you, heaven only knows how much, and |
should be ashamed TO try TO put IL into words,
fg-xfs.,f
wrapped up In you, and | feel as though,
should you see mo no more, should never be
a happy man again." and he paused and
looked anxiously at her face, which was set
and drawn rs though with pain.
II cannot say YES Col Quaritch," shs
answered. at length. In tone that puzzled
him, IL was 70 tender and 50 untitled to the
words
II suppose" he stAmmered. ~ suppose that
you do not care for mot OF course, have
no right 10 expect that you would"
"As | have said that | cannot say yes,
Col Quaritch. do you not think that had
better leave that question unansweredFa she
replied, In the same soft notes which seemed
TO draw the heart out of him
~ lido not understand, he went on "WhyF'
"WhyF she broke In, with q bitter little
laugh, ''shail tell you whyi Becaupe am
In pawn Look" she went on. pointing TO
the stately towers and the broad lands bs-
yond, ''you see this place, ! am security for
IL, | myself In my own person Had 1t not
been for me II would have been sold over our
heads after having descended In our family
Tor all thess centuries, put upon the market
and sold for what it would fetch, and my old
father would have been turned cut to die,
Tor It would have killed him So you sec
did shat unfortunate women have often been
drives 10 do, | sold myself body and soul;
and got good price too--thirty tAousamA
Of tears and began 70 sob a. though her heart
wouId hreak
For moment Harold Quaritch looked on
bewiidered not in the least understanding
what Ida meant, and then be followed the
impulse common 20 mankind In similar cir.
cnmstanees aud took her In his srma She
did not resent the movement, indeed, shs
scarcely seemed 20 notice it. though, TO tell
the truth. for moment or two. which 20 the
colonel seemed the happiest Of his life. her
head rested on his shoulder.
Almost instantly, however, she raised L.
freed herself from his embrace and ceased
weeping.
AS | have told you 50 much" she said, II
suppose that had better tell you everything.
know that whatever the temptation" and
she laid great stress upon the words. under
any conceivable circumstances-indeed, even
u you believed that you were serving me in
50 doIng-l can rely upon you never 70 70
veal 10 anybody. and above all 10 my father,
what | now tell you" and she paused and
looked up at him with eyes in which the
tears still swan
'Of course you can rely upon me, be said
Every we'll am sure that | shall never
have 70 reproach you with the words. win
tell you have virtually promised TO marry
Mr.. Edward cossey should he at any time
be in a position 10 claim fulfillment OF the
promise ON condition OF his taking up the
mortgages on HonhAm. which he haa done
Harold Quaritch took a step back and
looked al her In Mortified astonishment
"WhatF' be asked
YES, YES" she answered, hastily, putting
up her hand as though TO shield herself from
= blow u know what you mean, but do
not think too hardly Of mo II you can help
IL IL was not for myself | would rather
work for my living with my hands than take
; price, for there Is no other word for IL Il
was for my father. and my family too | /
could not bear to think Of the old place going 4
70 the hammer, and | did IL all In minute. /
without consideration, but, +" and she set her |
Taco. "even as things are. believe should .
10 Il again, because think that no woman