Middletown transcript., 1871-07-15

o~hSus puraSu "hNu NiSspN-
cred his secret, for | wanted Nellie so
much for my sister in reality, and had
sometimes been foolish enough to think
tha, he preferred Hattie, because he had
often seemed pleased with her society.
That night, when the exercises were all
over, Nellie camo TO me in tho school room,
where | had gone for my books, looking
so pale that | reached out my hand to
catch her, thinking she was sick from over
cxertion Bur she put her arms around
me, whispering: agnes. dear, forgive
me cannot 60 home with you any more.
| am going with Nettie tomorrow to spend
my vacation. and when the spring term
opens | am coming bacL again to the old
college to teach music. Tell my new faith
cr and mother how love them. and that
It would be death to me to go and bid
them farewell Tell them also that | will
some day pay them for all but their kind
ness to an orphan girl. That, l can new
er repay. And, Agnes, you won't forget
me quite, will you? Il almost breaks my
heart to part with you. You have been a
dear, good girl to me, and only leave
you now because canno. longer eat the
bread Of dependence. Hush Agnes. Don't
be angry with Hattie. have apologzcd
to her for my rude speech aud forgiven
her for hers. She hurt me deeply then. .
brl 4Lc made nc see myself in my true
light--a bcggar on your fathers bounty
God has given mo talents and must put
them to some account have been very
selfish TO accept Of your kindness so long :
but | felt SO utterly alone that thought
Of nothing else AID. agnes, please don't
tell Edmund Of my intentions until to-
morrow am going early in the morning
and he will not see ne then Promise me
won't you, Agnes ~
| bowed my head in acquicscncc, so
stupiiied viii, the strange news that |
scarcely knew what was doing. until she
kissed me goodbye. and was going.
Wait. Nellie, Wait n moment till |
think what all this means, cricd but
suddenly her whole meaning came TO mc
with such force that exclaimed wildly
4" Nellie, you shal! not leave US You are
my own dear sister. What will papa and
mamma say if 90 home without you !?
Wbn, will Edmund say? Oh, Nellie, Ed
uual loves you Cone and be indeed my
sister" :"
"Ngncs, Agnes. you know not what
You say am only his sister, ha will
~, care for my leaving as much as you
do"
" Nellie. Edmund loves yon almost to
iiaia,ry read il in his eyes last night.
while you were singing. oh, please conn
home with Us =
" Don't Agnes. Oh, don't. cannot
90 could never be his wife And the
poor girl pressed one trembling hand over
her hear to cover another sai page, and
with the other held on to my desk for sup
port
Nellie. this is all tha, hateful Hattie
Lee's work exclaimed lespniringly.
mo. Agnes. it is not And please
don, tell Edmund what she said. will YOU
She loves him 50
Loves him, indeed. Don't ask me
to make such \ PROMISE, cried, angrily.
as thought of her cruel words. IL will
- to him at once aud tell him that she
has driven you from Us.
Agnes, rM sou tell him, when you
know it is SO mnch against my wishes |,
is the last promise will exact from you
Will YOU, Agnes = The sud. besccching
EYES had a look in them that | could not
resist, aud answered tcarfully, " No,
Nellie"
Thank yon, sweet sister. and now
gaod.hye. shall sleep with Ne,tic to.
night, for | cannot bear to bid you good
bye again She kissed me ,enderly. and
ERE | had time to recover from my stupor,
WAS gone from tho room cried all
night and when morning began to dawn q
slight figure crcpt softly into my'room and
pressed kiss lightly upon my aching
hrow. lay perfectly quiet. icigning
sleep, for since she must go, had deter
mined to make the parting no harder for
her than it already was; but when falt
hot tear frll upon my check. could
suppress my emotion no longer md throw
ing my arms around her | subbed wildly
=" Forgive me, Agnes could net 90
until had kissed you again ! tried hard
to pass Your door, bat couldn't until | had
looked in upon You once mere had
hoped you would be asleep Goodbye.
goodbye dear sister, Tell Edmund
goodbye, too, for me-"
covered my face then. for could no,
take las, look at her had sent good.
night to Edmund, and pleaded severe
headache ms an excuse for my not seeing
him again before retiring How dread.
ed TO meet him that morning shai
never forget the stony look that came owe,
his face when | broke the sad news tc
him.
"Oh. Agnes" said he, Il loved hei
so and thought she loved me"
:. Brother exclaimed in my excite.
ment, "Shc does love you. am sure Il
is all that but he had passed out III,
door without hearing me break promis,
that SIZE was so anxious for mo to keep
Would that he had heard me, Nellie, dear
It would have saved you many hours o
suffering. A great change came over him
lie was kind aud tender to all, but gui