White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-10-19
CHAPTER XIX

CHAPTER XIX
The narrative returns to South
Morden, and follows the events which
attended Isabel's marriage engage
ment
To say that Miss Pink, inflated by
triumph, rose, morally speaking, from
he earth, and floated among the
clouds, is to indicate family the ef
feet produced on the ex-schoolmis-
tress when her niece first informed
her Of what had happened at the
farm. Attacked on one side by her
aunt and on the other by Hardyman,
md feebly defended, at the best, by
her own doubts and misgivings, lisa
bel ended in surrendering at discre-
lion.
Miss Pink wrote Of the engagement
TO Moody first, reserving to a later
day the superior pleasure of inform
ing Lady Lydiard of the very event
which that audacious woman had de-
clared to be impossible. To her
aunts surprise, just as she was
about to close the envelope, Isabel
stepped forward, and consistently re-
luested leave to add postscript to
he very letter which she had re-
fused to write! Miss Pink was not
even permitted to see the post
script. Isabel secured the envelope
the moment she laid down her pen,
and retired to her room with head
ache (Which was heartache in dis
guise) for the rest of the day.
Hardyman was not a man who
yielded easily, even in trifles. In
the present case his dearest interests
were concerned in inducing Isabel
to reconsider her decision He was
still vainly trying to shake her reso-
luton when the afternoon post
brought letter for Miss Pink, which
introduced a new element of dis.
turbance into the discussion. The
letter was nothing less than Lady
Lydiards reply to the written an
nouncement of Isabels engagement
dispatched on the previous day by
Miss Pink.
Her ladyships answer was a sur.
Drisingly short one. 1t only con-
tanned these lines:
Lady Lyd1ard pegs to acknowledge
the receipt of Miss Pink's letter re-
questing that she will say nothing to
Mr.. Hardyman of the loss of bank.
note in her house. and assigning as a
gagged to be married to Mr.. Hardy
man, and might be prejudiced in his
estimation if the facts were made
| known. Miss Pink may make he1
mind easy Lady Lydiard has not
the slightest intention of taking Mr.
Hardyman into her confidence on the
subject of her domestic affairs. With
regard to the proposed marriage
Lady Lydiard casts no doubt on Miss
Pink's perfect sincerity and goot
faith; but, at the same time, she pos
itively declines to believe that Mr.
Hardyman means to make Miss lisa
bel Miller his wife. Lady l.. will
yield to the evidence of properly
attested certificate-an to nothing
else"
A folded piece of paper, directed
20 Isabel, dropped out Of this char
acateristic letter as Miss Pink turned
from the first page to the second
Lady Lydiard addressed her adopted
daughter in these words:
II was on the point of leaving
home to visit you again, when l re
ceived your aunt's letter My poor
deluded child, no words can tell how
distressed l am about you. You are
already sacrificed to the folly of the
most foolish woman living, Fol
Gods sake, take care you do not fall
a victim next to the designs of a
profligate man! Come to me instant
ly, Isabel, and l promise to take care
of you'll"
(To Be Continued)