Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-03-08
The Minister'S Wife
By MRS. HENRY WOOD


could only see one way out of the dilem-
ma-to throw herself on the generosity
of Sir Everard; but she shrank from the
prospect of doing this, and when she rose
in the morning she was as much perplexed
as when she had gone to rest.
The subdean was engaged that evening
to a clerical dinner, and Miss Dynevor
departed with her nieces. They had
scarcely gone when Sir Everard Wilmot
entered. And now came Mary's task.
She did not know how to begin It, She
was absent and agitated. Sir Everard
could not fail to observe her strangeness
of manner. "What is the matterT he
inquired.
A strange, wild rush of red illumined
her cheek, and she clasped her hands
tightly one over the other; so tightly as
to cause pain, had her mind been at ease
then she got up and stood by the fire ;
all in the effort to nerve herself to her
task it must be done. Now, or never.
II have a communication to make to
you, Sir Everard-"
"Sir Everard !" he interrupted, stand
ing near her.
And l don't know how to do it," she
continued, unmindful of the reproof.
Had you been any other than-than-
what you are, l could not have made it.
I have been very wicked; very wrong. L
have let things go on, suffering you to be-
lieve that / would-that l was going to
marry you; and 7 find 7 cannot do So"
A dead pause. Sir Everard thought
that he had never seen any one so con-
fused; so painfully agitated.
II do not understand you," he said.
But l think you had better sit down" "
he added, gently leading her to the sofa,
on which he took a place beside her.
at Is your coming home which has
awakened me-" she continued, scarcely
knowing what she spoke. Indeed, l did
not mean to do wrong, or to act dishon-
orably but when you came yesterday
evening-then-I found-that could not
marry you. Let me tell you ALL" she
resumed, gathering some courage now the
ice is broken, as nervously sensitive peo-
pie will do. 81 found did not love you
that it would be wrong to myself, and
doubly, doubly wrong to you, if l fulfilled
my engagement and married you and
lay awake all night, thinking what ought
to be my course. / did not dare tell papa
he is very severe; and decided to
tell you; to ask you to give me up. Il
is what l am now trying to ask you tc
do. Oh, Sir Everard," she added, burst
ing into tears, ~ do like and esteem yor
very much and it nearly breaks my hear
to have to say this"
"You must forgive me IL repeat tha
do not understand you," he said in 6
low, kind tone, "and your last words less
than all. You like and esteem me- but
you do not love me? / am quite content
to take the esteem and the liking, Mary
to trust that the love will follow"
1T never WILL" she almost vehemently
answered, lifting her eyes to his for q
moment in her eagerness. 1T cannot dc
So"
You love another -
"Oh, forgive me-" she whispered at
was not willingly done; it seems to have
come on without my having been aware
of it. He did not know 1t, either-unti
last night when you came. At least-at
least-he had never spoken of it."
You have betrayed yourself, l sus
pect, unwittingly. You speak of Mr.
Baumgarten! Why did you accept me p
why, indeedl' she murmured. "Bui
did not know that 1 was doing wrong
l liked you very much, l admired and
respected you; you were so different, SC
superior to the frivolous men we mostly
meet. 1t Is true l did not love you, and
even then l knew that liked-only liked
mi mr. hor I'll =
thought 1t would all come right in the
future. was acting in a species OF
dream or bewilderment, which was the
effect your offer had upon me. 1 had
taken wrong view Of your frequent visits
to us. l fancied you came for the sake
Of Gertrude Baumgarten."
Gertrude Baumgarten" |" he repeated
In curious intonation. Gertrude would
uot have cared for me. Nonsense, Mary
She was rapt in that Italian prince-who
had more money than brains"
Mary shook her head. "She did moi
care for him; and when he asked her to
be his wife she refused. After it was all
over-l mean when l had accepted you
and we were away, and on our return
home again, an idea came over me that il
was you Gertrude had really cared for. /
was not sure; and l judged 1t better not
to continue the train of thought; but this
| know-Gertrude has never been ouite
the same girl since. suppose I ought
not to tell you this; l fear l am forget
ting myself in more ways than one."
Everard Wilmot paused. "Do Won
know, Mary" he said, that this commu-
nication in regard to yourself places me
in a very painful positionY
Il can only throw myself upon your
generosity; only plead for your forgive
ness"
You wish me to understand that you
and Mr.. Baumgarten are irrevocably at
tached to one another? Then will 1t not
be better to tell the simple truth to DR..
Dynevor? do not suggest this to avert
unpleasantness to myself, but"
1T Is the very thing that must not be
DONE" she interrupted. In sojta t;on