The Van Buren press., 1874-08-18

father on his death bed that would new
er marry any man who had no profession
or trade. one whose hands were soft and
white, who, should wealth take wings
knew not how.to labor, either menta ly oI
physically, for his bread. You may think
me pcculisr-perlaps unkind-hut you
mot ill my idea Of true manhood as
long AS YOU neglect to develop youi
mind We are not placed here to lead ,
butterfly existence
Frightened at having said so much,
Agnes hid her lace in her hands Ralph
sprang up like one awakened from Il
dream Few thoughts went hurrying
through his brain. Reared in afiluence,
with every wish gratiicd, this aimless,
inactive lie had become part Of his ma
ture He was thoroughly awake now
all his dormant energies were springn NJ
into life. He would never again be the
lie drone he had heretofore been Agnes
stole glance at him and wondered a;
the transformation He was standing
! erect. his head thrown back, his reaIl,
fac features lilup Nv an expression sli,
1iN never seen tltTe utiOTt
Agnes, he said, US h. bent over hcl
and touched revereutly The braid Of hel
brewn hair, Agnes. you have spoken ths
truth am living like a poltroon upo.
the fortune my father amassot Tor ~
Liule teacher, your words shall not b.
ia vain When ! come to you again,
will come more worthy of YOU. or | vii
never come. Let me hpt kiss this hand
it is all TIE pledge ask. Indeed, hay
no right Ia ask any pledge. Gently
feyerently, he raised her hand to his lps
and then walked quietly away
Five years the s1sso.ls came anl went
aud with them came changes To Agnes
home Her mother WAS dead-she was
all aloHc
No word bad ever come directly from
RAJ yh. She bad heard Of him in the hus,
city as rising young arcldlect. He
checks glowed when she heard his praise
although she believed he had forgotter
her For year she had been teaching
in II distant city, whore she received ,
bete salary,
Five years from the time we first me
hcr she returned to her native village tC
visit her friends and her mothers grave
She was walking slowly along th'
green laue that led from the village Gem
elery, unmindlul of the yiolets and but
Lcrcnps that raised their tiny heads anc
looked pityingly up AT. her
She was very lonely this bright sprinf
morning, There were traces Of tears
upon her face and her lips uuivered like
those OF u ereyed child. This was hsl
moment Of weakness; she would b'
strong again 10y and by.
A gentleman was coming up the lane
A stranger. she thought. Unconsciously
she found herself admrng his tall, man
| ~ form and llln, resolute tread. Per
| laps it was the contrast with her Owl
weakness that attracted her attention an'
drew forth admiration.
He came nearer, paused and held on
his hands, saying simply. Agnes &!
Ralph. she replied, and placed he
| hands in bis.
:" have come. = he said, "as prom
ised. ! Trust Tam more worthy Of yot
than when we parted Two years ago
the emergency you torosaw came. MJ
fortune was all swept away. Thanks t.
you, was prepared for lhe trial car
earn our daily bread now, have a snu.
lite home. viii you come, Agnes =
., Ralph, it will he Ike in heaven, '
she sad, ANA they went down the greet
lane together
liz alcr years Ralph used to say, wher
his friends remarked his devotion to hi
wife, IL ought to love my wife better
than most men, for she made man 0
me.