The Van Buren press., 1876-06-27
II love you Just as you are"

ly. "Ilose you just as you are"
That was pleasant, but not what want.
ed to hear. #1 7t eitap
But do you not wish were as hand.
some as-as Miss Huntingdon. for in
stance 2" 1 persisted. Think how
bright and laughing her brown eyes are (!
And what q gypsy color rises In her cheek
when she is excited She looks sHatne
sometimes fa3 Ola
"She does indeed" said Dr. Richard
son, smiling but am not salaman.
der. ! have no wish that you should re.
semble her Miss Huntingdon Is too
Too excellent for this world p cried
that lady's laughing voice outside. She
had Just entered the hail. and stopped ]
moment at the parlor door. "Good- a.
ternoon, DR.. Richardson. II the patient
up stairs better 70 day am on my way
to see her. shall not take you with me
Agnes, In order to earn DR.. Richardson. !.
good opinion over again--for once be
had q good opinion OF me- She look
ed up at him sidewise and laughed She
was wonderfully pretty this afternoon
all sparkle and glow. ss-y8 tl.t
There was an instants. but only an in.
stant's odd constraint in DIR. Richard SOM Z
manner; then he said. quite gravely,
/" You have not forfeited my good opin.
ion, Miss Huntingdon.
The truth is, DR.. Richardson" said
Miss Huntington. her face all lighted with
with saucy. inward laughter" the truth
is, you owe me debt Of gratitude deeper
than you ever can repay. Tell me now
frankly, if 1t were not for me, would you
be at this moment the happy man you
are ?
Frankly. would not"
DR.. Richardson was very serious. Ey
Ell Miss Huntingdon seemed to veil some
feeling under her gay manner. was
troubled auI
Why do you two talk In riddles 2"
] asked; :" Do not you both know that
have no talent for guessingr'
AT least you shall not cultivate IL lust
now, DEAR said Miss Huntingdon. "Dr.
Richardson will tell you when am gone.
| must go to your aunt. It does her
good to scold me- She turned away
and moved step or two, and then look.
ed back with changed face "Agnes," :"
sue said, wistfully, "woald you mind
kissing me2 ...I...
Mind kissing you What a question,
but yon are not going away immediate.
ly2"
"Oh. ! don't know Perhaps had
better bid you goodbye now" She
kissed me twice. Good bye p she said
Absolutely the spark in her eyes was
quenched in dew /" Agnes" she said,
with an odd sort Of half-lsughing seri-
BUSINESS. If you should ever come to
think that Ananias Was moral charac.
ter in comparison with myself, it would
be impossible for you to love me any
mare. would II not2 Bat lot me assure
Then she lef: Us,
"What can she mean, dear 2" asked,
turning in wonder to DR.. Richardson.
He led ME to the chair had quilted,
and placing me there again, stood before
me.
"Agnes. she means me to confess to
you something that you need never have
known. And yet, perhaps, it is better
that you should. She means that once
loved her"
He went on talking for few minutes
but l do not know what he said
My hands were cold, and objects be
fore my eyes were blurred She had de.
ceived me. 1t was to her and to him
had listened that eyneing so long ago
He had loved her l, who heard him de
clare it, knew the depth of sincerity in
the voice that told her SO. Had he sought
my love only as solace for tho wount
she had inflicted Friend and lover--wer,
both to fail me.
Have you nothing to say. Agnes
Why do not you answer me ?"
Wait for me one moment" replied
hearing my voice, but hardly recogniz
ing it, ~ will answer you when / re
turn"
left him abruptly, going slowly VI
stairs, my heart feeling broken. l got
the ring and came down again, not tremb
ling at all, quite quiet, with that dreadful
calm which accepts despair. In the blnt
jealousy of theimoment it seemed impos
sible that he could really love me, having
once loved her.
at is usual, l believe" l said, will
some sort of a smile, to break an en-
gagement by returning a ring. Woul'
you like that ours should be broken so
This is your ring is it not ?"
"What do you mean, Agnes Wher
did you get this rlng!" cried DR.. Rich
ardson, in great surprise.
~ was in the alcove there the nigh
that Miss Huntingdon threwit away.
found it in the garden next morning,
heard all that you both said. But sh,
has deceived me. She said when aske,
her that this ring was never hers. Ant
you have deceived me; you told me tina
you loved me-" ..zua
In another moment the sob in my voic
would have given place to miserable
childish tears. But DR.. Richardson fold
ed me in his arms and kissed me, laugh
ing That comforted me more than an,
words could have done.
Poor trusting little one" he cried
The whole world is in conspirac,
against you, is it not? shall play m
role to the end, however, and say that
love you forever And cannot you for
give Miss Huntingdon Is not she righ
when she says that owe my happines
to her And she may have told the stor,