The Portland daily press., 1874-10-31
VII.

81 Pair Of Blue Eyes," dc.
[coNCLUDED.I
VII.
Her life was certainly much pleasanter now.
The old man treated her wei, land was almost
silent on the subject nearest his heart. She
wasSobliged to be very stealthy in receiving
letters from Oswald, and on this account was
bound to meet the postman, let the weather
be WHAT it would. These transactions were
easily kept secret from people out of the
house, but it was most difficult task to hide
her movements from her uncle. And one
day brought utter failure.
SLOWS this-out already, Agatha2" he
said, meeting her in the lane at dawn on a
foggy morning. She was actually reading a
letter just received, and there was no dis
guising the truth.
''pve been for letter from Oswald"
swell, but that won't do. Since he don't
come for ye, ye must think no more about
him."
but he's comm in six weeks. He tells me
all about it in this very letter."
"What-really to marry you?" said her
uncle increduously.
"Yes, certainly"
''But hear that he's wonderfully well
off,
'sOfcourse he is; that's why he's coming.
He'll agree in moment to be your surety for
the debt to Mr.. Lovill''
elias he said sop
"Not yet but he will"
''1'll believe it when see him and he tells
you SO. 1t is very odd, fhe means so much,
that he has never wrote line to me-"
I'VE thOught-you would force me to have
the other at once if he wrote to you," she
murmured.
''Not I, if he comes rich. But it is rather
a 'cock-and-bull story, and since he didn't
make up his mind before now, can't say I'll
be much in his favor. Agatha, you had bet
ter not say word to Mr.. Lovil about these
letters; it will make things deuced unpeas-
ant If he hears of such goings on. You are
to reckon yourself bound by your word. Os-
wald won't hold water Pm afeard. But I'll
be fair. If he do come, proves his income,
marries We willy-nilly, I'll let it be, and the
old man and must do as we can. .But bar
ring that-you keep your promise to the let
ter"
ssThats what it will be, uncle. Oswald
will come"
write you must not. Lovill will smell it
out, and he'll be sharper than you will like
lis not to he supposed that you are to send
love-letters to one man ash f nothing was GO
ing to happen between We and another man.
The first OF Novemberis drawing nearer ev-
cry day. And be sure and keep this secret
from LOVll LOT your own SAKE"
The more clearly that Agatha began to per-
ceive the entire contrast of expectation, as to
issue between herself and the other party to
the covenant, the more alarmed, she became
She had not anticipated such narrowing of
courses as had occurred. A malign influence
seemed to be at work without any visible hui
man agency. The critical time drew nearer,
and, though no Ostensi5le preparation for the
wedding was made, it was evident to all that
Lovill was painting and papering his house
Tor somebody's reception. He made a lawn
where there had existed nook of refuse; he
bought furniture for woman's room. The
greatest horror was that he insisted upon her
taking his arm one day, and there being no
help forsit she assented, though her distaste
was unutterable. She felt the skinny arm
through his sleeve, saw over the wry should
ers, looked upon the knobby feet, and shud-
dered. What is Oswald should not come the
time for her uncle's departure was really get
ting near. When she reached home she ran
up to her bedroom.
On recovering from her breads little Aga
tina looked from the window. The deaf lad
John, who assisted in the mill, was quietly
glancing toward her, and q CLEAN of friend
ship passed over his kindly face as he caught
sight OF her form. This reminded her that
she had, after all, some sort of friend close
at hand. The lad knew pretty well how
events stood in Agatha's life, and he was al
ways ready to do on her part whatever lay in
his power. Agatha felt stronger, and resolved
10 bear up.
Heavens! how anxious she was! 1t &C.
tually wanted only ten days to the first of
November, and no new letter had come from
Oswald.
Her uncle was married. and Frances was
in the house, ana the preliminary steps for
pmlOr9tiOO tn OuQnnSland had hoop oil
Agatha surreptitiorsy obtained newspapers,
scanned the Indian shipping news till her
eyes ached, but all TO no purpose, for she
knew nothing either of route or vessel bv
which Oswald would return. He had men
toned nothing more than the month of his
coming, and she had no way of making that
single scrap. of information the vehicle for
obtaining more.
SIN ten days, Agatha" said the old farm
er. "There is TO be no show or fuss of apy
kind; the wedding will be quite private in
consideration of your feelings and wishes.
Well go to church as if we were taking a
morning walk, and nobody will be there to
disturb you, Tweedledeev' He held up his
arm and crossed it with his walking stick. as
ifhe were playing the fiddle, at the same time
cutting caper.
to marry you, even th-th-though NAV wish
to ever SO mucb," she faltered, shivering.
Il have promised him, and must have him
you know, and you have agreed to let me-"
Yes, yes" said Farmer Lovill, pleasant
". But that's misfortune you need not
fear at all, my dear; he won't come at this
late day and compel you to marry him in
spite of your attachment to me. But, alb,
it is only joke to tease me, you little rogue
Your uncle says So"
Agatha, come, cheer up, and think no
more OF that fellow" said her uncle when
they CHANGED to be alone together. "'Tis
ridiculous, you know. We always knew he
wouldn't Gomez
The day passed. The sixth morning
came, the noon, the evening. The fifth day
came and vanished. Still no sound of Os
wald. His friends now lived in London and
there was not soul in the parish, save her
self that he correspondent with. or one to
whom she could apply in such delicate mat
ter as this.
1t was the evening before her wedding day.
and she was standing alone in the gloom of
her bedchamber looking out on the plot in
front OF the mill. She saw white figure
moving below, and knew him to be the deaf
miller lad, her friend. A sudden impulse
desperate attempts during the last two DAYS
to like the old man, and, since Oswald did
not come, to marry him without further re-
sistance, for the sheer good of the family of
her uncle, 10 whom she was indeed indebted
for much: but had only got so far in her
efforts as not to positively hate him. Now
Righteousness came unsought. The lad
knew her case, and upon this fact she acted.
Gliding down stairs, she beckoned TO him,
and, as they stood together in the stream of
light from the open mill door, she commune
Gated her directions, partly by signs, partly
py writing, for it was difficult to speak to
MIN without being heard all over the arem
;ses. WI 'Ho Pioni'
ne looked in her face with glance of con-
iederacy. and said that he understood it all.
Upon this they parted. ~ dill
The Old man was at her house that evor-
ing, and when she withdrew wished SJv 1V her,
good-by "for the PRESENT. with e . der nel
smiles of meaning. Agatha had retired e eer1a
leaving him still there, and when She rasch9yii
her room, instead of looking at the new dross |
she was supposed to be going to wear on the
morrow, busted herself in making up small |
bundle of ordinary articles of clothing. Then |
she distinguished her light, lay down upon
the bed without undressing, and waited for a /
preconcerted time.
In what seemed 20 her the dead of night,
blIt which cl JoJ =, /