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

You have done, for however much may dis
agree with the net IL is a noble one | am
thinking Of the man who could drive such a
bargain with any woman. You say that you
nave promised 70 marry him should he ever
be IN position TO claim L. What do You
mean by that As you have told me 50 much
you nay well tell me the rest"
he spoke clearly and with voice of au
rbority, but his bearing did not seem to jar
upos ida
II meant" she answered. humbly, "that
beiiexe-of course / do not know IL an,
right believe that Mr. Cossey is In sons
waF entangled with lady, in short witt,
ArS Quest. and that the question Of whether
on not he comes forward again depends upol,
her"
upon my word" said the colonel, ''upon
my word the thing gets worse and worse.
never heard anything like IT,. and for money.
too. The thing Is beyond me-
al any rate" she answered, there IL Is
And now, Col Quaritch. ono word before
60 ina. IL il difficuls for me 20 speak without
saying too much or too little, but ! do want
you to understand how honored and how
grateful feel for what you have told mo to
night am 50 little worthy Of all you have
given me-and 10 be honest, cannot feel a.
panied about IL as | ought to feel Il is
feminine vanity, you know. nothing elsa 1
ann sure that you will not press me- to say
more"
mo" he answered, $40 think that 1
understand the position But, Ida, there Is
one thing that must ask-you will forgive
rne " ! am wrong IN doing 50, but all this II
very sad for ina II IN the end circumstances
should alter, as ! prny heaven that they may .
or II Mr. CoSey's previous entang dement's
should prove too much for him, will you
marry me, idaF
She thought for moment and then rising
from tho seat. gave him her hand, and said
simply
IVES. will marry you"
He made no answer, but lifting her hand,
touched II gently with his lips.
'.Mesnw hilc," she went on, IL have your
promise. and ! am sure that you will not
befray IL, come ~hat may"
mo-" he said, II will not betray it."
And they went In.
la the drawing room they found the squire
poxxliIg over n sheet Of paper, on which
were scrswled some OF Georges accounts in
figures. which at first sight bore about as
much resemblance TO Egyptian hierogly
phics as they did 10 those IN use day
'.Hailoor" he said, there you are. Where
on earth have you becnf'
I've have been looking Mt the castle In the
moonlight" answered Ida, coolly. at is
beautiful"
"Um-ah," said the squire, dry ly. "a have
mo doubt that IL Is beautiful "but isn't the
grass rather dampi Well, look here" and
he held up the sheet Of hieroglyphics. per.
hap, you can add this up Ida, for IL is more
than ! can, George has bought stock aud
! NIL sorts Of things at the sale today, and here
~ his account. three hundred and seventy
tuo pounds he makes II. but make Il four
hundred and twenty, and hang me il | can
! find out which liz right IL Is important that
these accounts should be kept straight Most
important. and cannot get this stupid fellow
! 10 do It,"
Ida took the sheet Of paper and added it
mp, with the result that shc discovered both
totals to lie wrong. Harold, watching her.
could not help wondering at the nerve OF the
woman who, after going through such a
serene as that which had just occurred, could
deliberately add up long rows Of BADLY
written figures.
And this money which her father was ex
pending so cheerfully was part OF the price
for which she had bound herself
With sigh he rose and said good night
ard went home with feelings almost too
mixesi to admit OF accurate description lie
hal taken q great step IN his life. and 10 %
certain extent that step had succse,ied lie
mad not altogether built his hopes upon sand
for from what ida had said and still more
from what she had tacitly admitted, It was
necessarily clear to him that she did more OF
less regard him a man would wish Ia be
regarded by woman whom he dearly loved
THIS was great deal, more. indeed. than he
had dared Ia ielieve, but then, as h usually
the case IN this imperfect world. where thing
Ir.4t, ~.
Mt skies and seyens. came the other side OF
the shield Uf what use To hin was IL t.
have won this sweet wouans love OF what
use Ia have put this puIe water of lawful hap
piness To his hIs IN the desert land ~ his
lonely life. IN order to the cup that held
it shattered al a blowf To hun The story OF
the aIoney luan-In consideration of which
As IL were, Ida had put herself Ia pawn as
tbs E@yptlnns usssi ~ put the munimIes OF
1elr fathers ~ tawH-was almost lncresli
bic To person Of his simple and honor
ubie nature II -eemcl prepnsterous and un
heard oil thing that any man calling himself
gentleman shunki tni u tcs~Sibie Ia sin. w
low a. TO take such advantage OF a womanS
'tire Het'sSslty and honorable desire To save
tier father from misery and her race from
rum. AMI 10 extract from her "a promise OF
marriage IN consideration OF value received
Putting aside his overw helnIing personal in
ten,~t IN the matter, It made his bloed boil 10
think that siIch a thing could lie And yet IL
was, and. what was more he believed be
Knew Ida well enough u be convinced that
she would not shirs the bargain If Edward
''ussey came forward 10 claim his bond il
would ne paid down To the last farthmg /,
was a question of E:DOOU, the happiness of
his life and of idas depended upon a sum OF
money IL the money were forthcoming
Casey could not claiu MS nesh and blood
but where was Il to come FRONT lie himself
was worth terhaIs EiO,UOO. or with the com
mutation value Of his pension, possibly
twelve, and he had not the means of raising
"A farthlng more. He thought the position
over TIL he was tired of thinking and then
with heavy heart alsd yet with a strange
gio" OF Happiness shining through his grief.
ike sunlight through q gray sky. at last be
went To sleep and dreanle,l that Ida had gone
from him aud that he was once more utterly
alone ia the world
n A Iurst ~