Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-02-02
CHAPTER III.
STRUGGLED.

.. ..... CHAPTER Ill.
"Roterss temper is hsugh,y and jeal-
Gus. yet, Agnes. my boy is noble, and
these are his only faults, br. am sure
you will be happy together" and Mrs.
Trevors smiled as she stopped down
aod kissed my cheek. bu, ! felt strange,
unde6nable dread chill my very SOUL
Il passed away directly, though, when ]
went into the ball, and met Robert. he
looked so brigh, and handsome; and as
we walked together upon the piazza. and
| listened to the pleasant, tender words
his rich voice murmured in my ear,
quite forgot my momentary uneasiness.
And we were happy. Yes! my happi-
ness was sweet and perfect. and in il,
remembered no, .ha, | had once been a
wsnderer in the desert.
Doctor BIysh paused a. tie foot of the
stairs. and when came near him saw
tina, his usually smiling face wore a
grave look. 4a
"Now Agnes said he, laying his
broad hand upon my shoulder, .'don'
get frightened. child, if l tell you little
BIZ of sad news"
1 tried to be calm, bu, my heart began
to beat very qulckly-why, l scarcely
knew. -
81 have just come from the Grange
this morning. and Doctor B. hesitated
for moment, but i. was only moment;
for, directly he cleared his thros, and
went on. "Agnes, dear, your friend,
Mr.. TrevOrs, has not been well for a
long lime; he has had reason to fear an
affection Of the lungs. and his symp-
toms have of late become more alarming
ard decided. This morning, DR.. Gra-
ham and held consultation. and we
advised him TO spend the winter in some
warmer climate. So. if Mr.. Treyors
leaves you soon--bui, Agnes, poor child.
how white you are.' ..-.
| did not ans wer The old doctor; my
fingers seemed to get stiff and nerveless.
and The roses l held in my apron fell
suddenly TO the Aoor-a strange. choking
sensation came over me, and leaned
heavily upon the balas,rade. Doctor
B. thought l was going to faint, and he
opened the hall door and turned to call
Margaret, but the fresh breeze swept in
aud seemed 10 give me sudden strength,
80 checked him.
IL am not sick. doctor, only frighlen.
ed" ] gasped: $50 please, do no, call
any one."
IL was 100 rough, too hasty, Agnes.
in telling you all; but DON. lose heart.
the danger 10 very far off yet. Now.
60 in she library, and lie down upon the
sofa for awhile; you look pale and weak,
even YETI" then the kind old doctor went
UP stairs, and / walked mechanically in
to The library. As ga, there. l began 10
ponder over all Doctor b. had told me
! remembered. oh, yes! rememberedy
too well. the brigh. red spots which had.
flushed Roberts cheeks for many weeks.
and the annoying. tedious cough which
be could not conceal; and once bad
heard him complain Of pain in his
breast. bu, he had spoken Of all these
things lightly, saying be had only cold,
which would coon pass away. Aud
now recalled Elsy's anxious glances,
and Mrs. Trevors' .Toubled tohe. when
speaking one evening Of her husband
He had died with consumption; and she
added, with a sigh. lha, she sometimes
feared Rober. had inherited his fathers
constitution.
f! understood none Of these things at
the time: then | rested in unsuspeclIng
peace; now the ruth burst upon me
with stunning force. Rober,, in his
deep love for me. had kept this whole
matter carefully concealed from my
knowledge. but had grown wise with
fearful haste. l had not seen Roser. for q
day or Two. the weather had been stormy.
bu, he had written play ful. afsc.lona,e
notes, speaking lightly Of his cold. and
blaming Elsy and his mother for keeping
him q. home. There lay the notes in
my wri,ing-desk; picked them up. and
read them one BY one, and when ! had
finished, pres sed my hancs over my
eyes. and sat as one 10 great-sorrow-
mute aud mo,ionless. The anticipation
Of woe is ofien-sin,es greater than the
woe i,sslf and my forebodings upon
,hs. wretched morning were bitter indeed.
AAnc.~. nlusk 81