The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-04-21
VOLUME 4.

"No," Agnes retoried; TOR 1t was
your vanity that was in fanlt. Only such
overw helming self-conceit "a yours conld
have led you to think that your address
es would be acceptable TO one whom your
bold, coarse looks and speeches terrified
30 greatly that she dreaded TO encounter
you"
ado YOU dread me still, fair Agnes?"
be asked, trying to take her hand.
/ mo, sir, ! despise you? None hut
/ the most unworthy of men would have
prosecuted me as you have done ever
since.I have been a wifer'
"You take peevish tone, my beauty;
but shall soon teach you to alter a."
he told her, insolently. "The amiable
husband is absent, and so is the dragon
away, and shall have plenty of time
TO bring you TO your senses before any
one can interfere to prevent my tri-
umph!" >
But Agnes, in retreating from him,
had drawn near the table. on which lay
the pistols Mr.. MacFarlane generally
carried with him when on a journey;
and as the villain Cayley would have
| clasped her in his arms, she snatched
them up, and presented them.
Keep back, sir, or dread the conse
quences; for. as surely as stand here, ]
will shot you if you take another step
towards me!'
He grew very pale, although he
laughed at the threat.
"Pooh, sweetingl-put down your
dangerous toys. Believe me, they are
as yoursw
"You forget that 1 am soldiers
daughterp she answered, cooking the
pistol she held in her right hand; ''the
daughter of a brave man, who taught me
to think my honor more precious than
my life!"
"But, remember, oh, valorous fairI'
he mockingly went on, that your weap-
on might miss, and leave ME unhurt
What them" .........
"Why, then, she bravely responded,
81 have another, which, pointed at my
own breast, will save me from your foul
touchr'
"You could not do this, foolish one!'
exclaimed Cayley, uneasily.
Il could, and will - said the undaunt-
ed wife. 81 will never give Allan Mac
Farlane cause for the cruel doubts he
entertains Living or dying, am his
-fondly, faithfully his!-and, if he re-
fuses TO own 1t now, he shall know it
when am no more.
Her speech ended with a shrek; for
Cayley thinking he saw an opportunity
of springing upon and disarming her,
bounded forward, and clutched her in
his arms. But not before she had kept
her word, and fired. The next minute,
Cayley lay senseless at her feet.
She had saved her honor; she had re-
venged herself; but she was a woman as
well as a heroine, and the pain of
knowing that she had shed the blood of
fellow creature we'll nigh maddened
her.
There were voices in her ears, calling
her murderess; and, snatching up
cloak that lay by, she threw up the sash,
leaped from the window, which was,
fortunately for her, at no great height
from the garden; and muffiing herself in
the wrapper as she went, fed into the
| darkness.
Far and wide they sought the fair wife
of Allan MacFarlane; but none conld'
or would, tell what had become of her
Sometimes it was supposed she had
thrown herself into a pond or river; but
no signs of her having done this were
discovered.
Worn with grief and fatigne were the
lineaments of the husband. thus sudden
IL strangely bereayed as, late one even
ing, he rode into the courty ard of Swim
ton House, and craved the hospitality of
its owner for one night, more on account
of his horse, which was dead beat, than
his own excessive fatigue.
Sir John received HIM with his Gus
tomary cordially; but Lady Swinton =
welcome was constrained She had low
ed and pitied Agnes too sincerely to have
much sympathy with the man who,
by condemnine her too hastily, had
wrought her misery and his own.
When refreshments. had been set be-
fore her guest, the Lady of Swinton, in
somewhat stately fashion, withdrew to
her own parlor; but, in few minutes
Allan MacFarlane followed her thither,
for his soul was Ill at ease within him,
and he could rest nowhere.
"Hate me if you will ~ he groaned;
"yet pity me, too, for have suffered
greatly: When l welded my poor love,
her own lips assured me she was free to
give me her heart Think, then what
felt when a stranger burst into my room,
r as ] was dressing to hasten TO her, and
! assailed me with reproaches for having
robbed him of the girl who had promis-
: ed to be his"
"Had You told Agnes this -" Lady
, Swinton began.
i Gay, had ] done so, all might have
: been we'll; but was smarting under the
e belief that both father and daughter had
s deliberately deceived me, and ] was toe
proud to tell one so tickle how bitterly
e felt her perfdyP
: "You do not. doubt our poor Agnes
9 now?"
!: "No; for was the unseen auditor o
: her interview with Cayley."
r Lady Swinton started.
r "You were! And yet went not to hel
d aid?"
e "Hear, before you condemn me! lie
g me tell you all the occurrences of tina
II evening"
: II know already" the lady said, will
o bitterness, "that you left your wife with
h out one kind word or caress"