The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-03-22

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.
sand l don't know how to do It," she
continued, unmindful of the reproof.
Had you been any other than-than-
what you are. could not have made 1t.
I have been very wicked; very wrong. l
have let things 60 on, suffering you to be-
lieve that l would-that was going to
marry you; and find cannot do So"
A dead pause. Sir Everard thought
that he had never seen any one 20 con-
fused; SO painfully agitated.
II do not understand you," he said.
But I think you had better sit down"
he added, gently leading her to the sofa,
on which he took a place beside her.
1T is your coming home which has
awakened me-" she continued, scarcely
knowing what she spoke. Indeed, did
not mean to do wrong, or to act dishon-
orably; but when you came yesterday
evening-then---I found-that I 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. Il found did not love you;
that It would be wrong to myself, and
doubly, doubly wrong to you. II 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. 1t
Is what am now trying to ask you to
do. Oh, Sir Everard." she added, burst
ing into tears, II do like and esteem you
very much and it nearly breaks my heart
to have to say this"
"You must forgive me II repeat that
do not understand you," he said, in
low, kind tone, land your last words less
than all. You like and esteem me- but
you {, not love me? am quite content
to take the esteem and the liking Mary /;
to trust that the love will follow"
ut never WILL" she almost vehemently
answered, lifting her eyes to his for a
moment in her eagerness. 1T cannot do
So"
"You love another
"Oh, forgive me-" she whispered ut
was not willingly done: it seems to have
come on without my having been aware
of it. He did not know it, either-until
last night when you came. At least-at
least-he had never spoken of it."
You have betrayed yourself, 1 sus-
pect, unwittingly. You speak of Mr..
Baumgarten Why did you accept me?"
w ind oh p,,t
did not know that l was doing wrong.
liked you very much, admired and
respected you; you were so different, so
superior to the frivolous men we mostly
meet. 1t is true did not love you, and
even then l knew that lked-only liked,
mind-Charles Baumgarten; but l
thought it would all come right in the
future. l was acting in a species of
dream or bewilderment, which was the
effect your offer had upon me. had
taken a wrong view Of your frequent visits
to us. l fancied you came for the sake
of Gertrude Baumgarten."
Gertrude Baumgarten ~ he repeated
in curious information. Gertrude would
not 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 not
care for him; and when he asked her to
be his wife she refused. After it was all
over-I mean when l had accepted you
and we were away, and on our return
home again, an idea came over me that ii
was you Gertrude had really cared for.
was not sure and l judged it better not
to continue the train of thought; but this
l know-Gertrude has never been quite
the same girl since. l suppose I ough,
not to tell you this fear l am forget
ting myself in more ways than one"
Everard Wilmot paused. do you
know, Mary" he said, that this commu
nication in regard to yourself places me
in very painful position"
II 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 it moi
be better to tell the simple truth to DIR
Dynevor? do not suggest this to aver
unpleasantness to myself, but"
ut is the very thing that must not bt
DONE" she interrupted, in agitation
| buuiusuilcu Is as YET lOO poo
to ask for me, and papa would go wild a
the bare idea of it.. He. of course, con
siders it most drsirst le thing-oh, par
don me for havin. Il ray all this-tha
l d-should-become Lady Wilmot
and l dare not tell him l object.
thought if you could do it-as if the OBJ
lection came from you-you would not b,
afraid of him, for he could not be harsl
and peremptory with you. as he would
with me. l know it is great boon tt
ask of you," she added. her eyes film:
again, buff you knew how unhappy
how perplexed l am-perhaps you would
not refuse to help me-"
You forget one thing" he returned, il
low tone, that the odium of being re
fused had far better fall upon me thar
upon you. The world is not generous il
these matters, but l can fight it better
than you cam
Il forget all things" she answered
"but the bare fact before me-that
must not marry you, and dare not con
TESS to papa the true cause. The worlt
can only say that you repented of you
engagement to me. Let it be 500
Sir Everard was silent. He knew tina
the worlds ability to say it would no
prove so pleasant as she thought. Il mus
have time to consider this he said. ris
will i,