Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-28
With the exception of myself"

" lCu UllS SACOplIOII VI lily oSll'
Exactly so, my dear Sholto; with
the exception of you, and l don't want
to rivet the shackles faster round your
feet by speaking of you to her. lprom-
Use you, though, that if you haven't
found out your mistake BY the middle
of July, and still wish me to call ON and
cultivate her, I will do So When do
you think of marrying?''
when does Sir Andrew think he can
secure me post that will enable me to
marry?'
'sholto, are you in earnest ab-ut
thfs?"
II am; my honor is pledged" he
said, grandiloquently.
''Then it's useless for me to fight for
Mrs Cumberland against Sir Andrews
wishes. I should have liked Lena for
my sister-in-law better than this un-
known young lady, who will be per-
fectly useless to me-and you. But if
you have made UP your mind she
paused and shrugged her shoulders.
why bring about a crisis?" he
asked. 'Wlhy not wait as you suggest
for the end of the season, before taking
definite action, and in the meantime
why should you not call on Miss
Laugherne? There is nothing Of the
limpot about her She can easily be
detached-a cool look would do it-and
in the meantime why not please Sir
Andrew, secure me the appointment
and give Capt. Kelly no just oppor-
tunity for saying that I have behaved
like a cur and cad"
81 shouldn't like that to be said OF
you, Sholto. I couldn't bear to hear
enc word against you she said with
real tears dimming her eyes; but you
see want to get the best can out Of
! the money for which I've married.
know what will satisfy myself for my
| self. and I know that I shall achieve
it. But 1 want to get the best | can
| for YOU. too. and know that the best
| can never be got unless you marry
money, too, and you can do this with
out sacrificing particle of feeling, for
I'm sure you are in love with Mrs.
! Cumberland"
Am II" he said, obviously, and
he took considerable credit to him
self for not telling his sister of the
doubt that had assaulted his mind
during his last interview with the
pretty widow in the utterly incongru-
Gus Harrow road lodgings. He coulo
not account for and did not attemp. tC
analyze the feeling or the causes which
had conduced to it. But whenever he
thought of Mrs. Cumberland the rec
objection that she. a free and indepen
dent woman, had Systematically ex-
Guided him from her own house, and a
the same time had made appointment!
% meet him in a surTeptitiouS way il
the shade. as it were, rose up warn
ngly before his minds eye. TIL
specter had neither form nor sub
stance But it was there and he wa
oppressed by it. In order to escap
from it he went more frequently to Sc
Patrice than he would otherwise hav'
done. There were no specters il
Capt. Kslly's house. The atmospher
t was far too clear and pure to affrr,
them the food sustenance which i
t necessary for the creation and ex
: istence of even the least tangible o
2 ghosts
So while he was seeking distractio,
; under the cloak Of doing his duty
Patrice was stepped in a sense Of sue
unutterable content and happiness a
is the portion only of those who trIl
and earnestly believe that they are a
we'll beloved as they are loving. Sh
7 never troubled herself about Lad
: Gwenap's neglect. 1t was Sholt
whom she was going to marry, not hi