Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-12-16
LOVE AND MORAL COURAGE


"But why dOn't you like him, Agatha ?"
"0h-because %
What philosopher ever solved the mys-
terry of this true woman's reason7 "Be-
cause" means ten thousand things that
pretty, dimpled lips don't choose to put
into shape-it means they know why per
fectly well themselves, but Won't tell and
not all the coaxing Of curiosity can get it
out Of them.
And 30 pretty Agatha Mil.e played with
q knot OF scarlet roses, whose velvet petals
glowed in her belt.ribb0n, and lifted up
her soft haEel-brown eyes with prevok>
iDgly absent, unconscious look
But, Agatha" pursued Ruth Ellen
wood, stopping for a moment in her oecu.
patton OF braidine and arranging Ayaths's
beautiful waves of auburn gold hair. I'm
sure I've heard you say, again and again,
he was such pleasant partner at balls and
parties, aDd-oh. Agatha, don't jerk your
head so, or I,shail have to braid all these
strands over again"
Ntnsense-that's no test az alltn said
Agatha, pettishly, the peachlike crimson
mounting her cheek what can YOU tell
about young man, from q mere ballroom
acquaintance? Any enc cGn be agreeable
enough to held your bsquet, or bring YOU
an ice-cream that lie il be knows enough
not to tread en- yaur toes in she polka. nor
to step on your hounces IN promenade"
81 know it," said Ruth, "but tho uues-
ticn is"-
But the question is, INTERRUPTED the
imperious young beauty, show de know
that Mr. Fiiz Aubyu, silver tenrued az he
is to me. with his homage and eompli-
-
mother and sister? How do | know that
Mr.. Jenning, who has the whole diction-
ary at his finger ends does not cheat his
laDdlady? What means have of ascer>
tanning that young ST. Siuons, " Tho is such
graceful walizer and agreeable small
talker, does not finish his evening in a
drinking saloon Oh, Ruth, we have tests
for ascertaIning spurious dollars and couu-
serfeit bank notes. but how on earth are
We to know counterfeit husband, until he
is tied to our aprun-strings for life ?"
She laughed as she sprang up to look
fOF her bonnet. but the ling eye lashes
dropped low with very suspicious mois-
ture.
"Well," oa;d Rnth earassinylv nott;rc
Agaths's tiny hand, "I'm very, very thank
fol that Providence didn't make me O
(, ndency to awake suspicion and distrust.
But, Agatha, in spite of all you have
-aId feel firmly convinced that Chas.
Stanton is noble fellow"
Very likely" said Agatha, lightly "but
here is FIrz Aubyn. with those splendid
white horses of his, so give me shawl"
And whittier are your footsteps to be
directed to-day ?"
"Oh, we are going to that private view
of pictures - in street, you know"
And Agatha swept out of the room with
the imperil port Of a young queen.
The white lustre Of moonlight pouring
down through the circular dome Of the
frosted glass. gave a hfe-like glow to the
supurb paintings whose glded frames lit
orally covered the walls Of that vast suite
| of apartments. Here and there groups OF
| absorbed dilettanti moved with subdued
whispers aud brandished opera-g'asses, al
| if it were forbidden thing to speak above
ones breath in the presence of those fail
| landscapes and elastic scenes from histo-
| ry's page.
Directly in front of enc of the finest
works of art stood pair who had uucon-
sciOusly been the object Of many curiou:
glance ard whispered observation Of the
other sigbI-seers-a tall, stylish-lOoking
young man, with an old lady leaning on
bis arm, whose antique dress Of snuffcoior
ed 5ombazine and oddly-shaped beaver
bonnet occssioned good many covert
smiles aud halfconcealed filters from the
various observers.
20, by the way, Miss Mime" said Fitz
Aubyn, as, in their progress around the
room, this couple gradually came in view
''you haven't seen the greatest curiosity oil
all. yet"
"Wheres" said Agatha, raising her OPP
era glass.
You are mistaken-it don't hang On
the walls" returned Fitz Aubyn, laugh.
ing. Look little nearer the earth, il
you want to see Stanton and his fossil
aunt"
Agatha turned her head accordingly
| without remark-she smiled little, how
ever, which was all that Fiiz Aubyn wan.
ted.
SHOULD you suppose any mortal youth
would have the courage to bring sueh 9
last century specimen to place like this
where be might know he would meet al
his fashionable acquaintance Upon m,
word, l believe he'll take her to the operi
nexti See him carrying her morocco bas
and cotton umbrella Don't he reminC
you of Don Quixote 10 bis youthful days =
Probably she has money to leave one o
these days." said Agatha, the distrustfu
element uppermost in her mind for th,
moment.
mot a red cent know, for I've in
quired. She is lin reduced circumstances
that's She term believe-but Stanton i
very fond Of her, nevertheless. She ha
come up to town from the backwoods for
few days and"-
lie paused abruptly as the very pair il
question approached, still absorbed in pic
ture gazing.
my dear Charles" said the old lady
at length, ''you cannot imagine what ;
treat this is to mel have not seen suct
pictures as these since was child. How
thoughtful of you to bring me here"
Il knew you would enjoy it, aunt"
"And you are not ashamed of your old
fashioned relative among these gay younl
peoplep
"on the contrary, dear aunt, Tam a
a monarch while you are leaning on m.
arm"
Agatha heard it all, and she also heart
him answer, in reply to the gay ehalleng
Of some companion -
"Thank you, but don't reckon upon MI
as one of your party at the opera this eve
ming. am going with aunt, who is pas
sionately fond Of music, as you must ex
cuse me for once"
II told you J" said FitE Aubyn, in {