Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-25

ner." ". .s.5. ...
"Aggie." A long pause-then, again !:
"Aggie, is he in love with yOu?' .t arch
Startled and shocked, Agnes let the work,
, fall from her hands. 1879 ..r .g
3. "Nell, how can you?" m -.r.r .-.
"Well, but, Agnes, see how odd it is
Here we are perfect strangers, with no
earthly claims upon him, and he takes as
much interest in our concerns as If he was
our father" ,. s,.tg. ......
"0h, Nelie--no, no, a thousand times no,
to your question. He, so good and noble;
and I-what am | ?" and she touched the
shoulder that rose some inches above its
natural place. ..sW l. a.....
2 "But, dear me, Agnes, he's as old as the
hills, aud as stupid as possible. Of course
he cannot expect youth aud beauty too in
so does Harold" ulrl .f
"HarOld?" a..u. Jos t,g...... ..
"There, don't9ook astonished. OF course
: you know what Harold came here for"
"But, Nellie" a. 5I ,.iy Ir-... .
Shear me out. He came to make love to
me, and propose; well, he has proposed,
and said yes and in January will be his
wife," . .s4 ar.... a. .. ..
"Nellie!" 'pfr- 4.r a7 7.,.., B.
"Why not?" and the young girls head
rose with naughty look of defiance.
not very constant" '..fr nr
''Fudge! A parcel of old maids who
want to win him and cannot, tattle for re-
venge. tell you, Agnes, am sick OF this
life" and she sprang to her feet and paced
the floor with quick steps, to and fro, ike
some beautiful wild beast, Gagged but I'M
tanned. Pm sick of drudgng over stupid
children, who can't and won't learn, sick
of hearing glorious melody tortured into
hideous sounds; sicklot being chained to
hours; sick of poverty, Obscurity and toll
Harold Granville is rich. He loves me;
h2 will take me away from this wretched
village to circle such as | once reigned
in" ' .
' "Do you love him, Helen?'
swell enough to get along. He adores
me, and that is much more to the point"
"But, -his-his-intellect"
"Oh, he is fool, | know. SO much the
better-I will rule him. You may tell old
Humdrum tonight, Agnes, and he can send
my bridal presents at Christmas" And she
left the room, singing as she went Il gay air
from Traviata. ..a .
Agnes sank into a deep reverie. Her sis
ter's questions had touched upon bitter
memories and painful present. Back,
over intervening years, her thoughts trav
eled to recall the lover of her girlhoo1. She
pictured again the frank handsome face,
heard again the tender loving voice, felt
again the tender caresses of long ago-and
then came the agony of parting. She heard
the pleading words to which she would give
no ray of hope. Loving him utterly, she
had resolved never to burden his brilliant
career by giving him an aiAng, crippled
wife; never to bear the misery of seeing
his love turned to pity; never to bear re-
proach for loving herself better than him.
He had left her, left the city, and she knew
nothing more. Was she to. have another
trial now?
Probing her heart with firm unshrink-
ing touch, she found there a respectful af-
fecton for her kind friend; sense of de-
pendence upon his advice and friendship
that it would be very bitter to lose. She
knew that it would cost her much pain to
wound him, be a sore trial to see him no
more, yet she did not love him. Too well
she knew the feeling where heart springs
to meet heart, too well she remembered
what dreams love had awakened in her
young life, to mistake this calm, respectful
friendship fer the tender passion. ,..
Yet, If Helen was right! 1t he loved
her, and was seeking to win her love, what
had she done? In her gratitude for his
Kindness, her real frankly expressed pleas
ure In his society, had she not encouraged
him to think he might win dearer place
still? sr, ..trt ,... ..,.t .. -....
3 Hot tears were coursing down her palid
= cheeks, when her hands were taken in
firm clasp, and a grave, gentle voice spoke
her name, rAgnes, are you in trouble?"
She knew the voice. and the hot blood
rushed for moment to her face; then she
said, hesitatingly: .., .n ..J .
"I-was-thinking of the past"
"You must not think too sadly" said her
friend, seating himself beside her, ''perhaps
the future may have bright days, too. /
YOU know tomorrow is Christmas, and l
have an offering to lay at your feet, my little
friend, which you may not altogether de-
spise. l have bng-" ....
"Good afternoon!" f g-.-- ......-...
Nellies gay voice interrupted him. She
> was soon followed by her lover, and the tete-
d-tete was not resumed. 1t was late before
the visitors departed, and Nellie threw her.
self at her sisters feet.
swell, old Humdrum must see how Har-
old and 1 stand, and if he don't send me
something handsome tomorrow, he's too
mean tOlive." grs.g .,.-t-.g....-.s-
20. Nellie, don't talk So"
"Was he proposing, Aggie, when came
in? Ibid not see him till It was too late to
get away, or Ishould have kept Harold in
the parlor a little while longer"
"Please, Nell" 1" l1.
"Well, won't tease you. You are the
dearest of all sisters after all, and may he
sure of che best room in my future home,
and all the love your mad-cap sister can
give you." 'lH"f 2'n'n
"Thanks, dear; but never can con sent
to be dependent upon Mr.. Granville" .,
".-tuff and nonsense. You may sew
your dear fingers of, If that will ease your
conscience. Pm sure it will be as well to
sew for me and Harold as for old Mr.. Law
renee"
"But-" 9t tt"n
"There, don't say a word. Tomorrow
I'll convince you by all the rules of logic
thatit would be barbarous cruelty to desert
me, but now am too sleepy. Good night !
BY the way, won't the old maids tongues
run9 Harold and will be served up all
over the village with pepper and sauce.
Good, night. Pleasant dreams to you,
dear" tfA afu'l, lHti.
But dreams will not come without sleep,
and sleep would not visit the cripple's pil-
low. All nightshe lay thinking of the Bit
ter task she felt snre the morrow would en-
tail upon her. Thinking of the true and
wise counsel so long offered her, of the
hours of pleasant intercourse so soon to
end, thinking, too, somewhat sadly, of a
future of loneliness, or spent in the home of
a man she could not respect, and whose
money had won her frivolous sisters hand
And of what was Mr.. Lawrence thinking
in those same long, weary hours, when he,
too, lay tossing upon asleepless couch? He
was recalling hours spent with the pale,