The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-02

ewes and he wondered very much why Miss
Carroll was so naughty immediately after
and never offered HIM her band at parting.
He did not know that Agnes Carroll had
been on the watch to measure the soul OF
her admirer, and that again her ideal lifted
itself to an unapproachabe height above
him. He did not know, he never knew,
that after ttiat speech his star set from the
heaven OF Agnes CarrolPs vision. Unfor-
tunate Percyl He was handsome, well con-
nected and we'll to do in the world; but he
had rever known what 1t was to go supper
holl0w-eyed with hard study and unremit-
! ting toil-and so, as Agnes bitterly repeated
to herself she could not love him.
Perhaps il would be well for her to hunt
up some beggar, and bestowe her hand and
fortune on him. Anything to get rid OF her
senseless folly about Harry Morton, who had
probably never thought OF her once since
their paths had so widely diverged; and Ag-
mes strove to put her troublesome thoughts
tOfight by taking her work TO the sick mans
room and sitting down by the window, and
sewed and read by turns, or talked to the
nurse who was there, until the shades of
night came on and the dinner bell sum-
moned her down stairs That night the doc
tor pronounced his patient out OF danger,
and Agnes went no more to the sick room,
but resumed her old round of duties. and in
her busy life nearly forgot him, until her
uncle introduced the subject.
'.My dear" he said, 81 have been talking
to the stranger Invalld, and find that he is
quite a gentleman. He has studied law,
and don't know but that shall take him
into the office. Besides, he is from Ash
VILE"
"Ashyille?' repeated Agnes, with sudden
interest. II should like to know about some
of nv old friends IN Ashville; wish you
would ask him to dinner, uncle, If he has
anything to wear. Such a wretched looking
object as he was / am anxious to see how
much a good bed and care and food have
done for him. 1t was certainly a strange
plight for a gentleman. Has he told you
his story?'
''No, he only said he came from Ashvllle,
and was In search Of employment. He was
robbed on the way here, and says that he
should, doubtless have died had we not
found him as we did. 1 believe l will ask
him to dinner"
Accordingly, when Agnes came to the par
lor before dinner, she found the stranger
there; her uncle was with him, and as Agnes
entered he said:
my dear; permit me to present Mr.. -.
Upon my word" he exclaimed, II never
asked your namel"
ut is Harry Morton. 1t may be that your
niece remembers me-"
Agnes looked into his face. and laid her
cold hand in his. She did remember him,
for the long beard and unkempt locks were
gone, but, OH how changed! Thin and pale
he had always been, but he was ghostly now
"A mere shadow OF the Olden man.
Agnes had never in her widest imagina
lions, dreamed that her first love would be
cast helpless and broken down at her feet;
she always had pictured him as rising
ed for his goodness and talent; and now he
stood before her failure, his life work yet
untouched. She drew her hand away, and
coldly-kind she sat down to entertain him.
She went to dinner in a sort of dream.
and listened to the story he tod in daz d
way 1t was certainly pitltul tale: and Mr.
Carroll promised to help him, which he did
by taking him into his Office as managing
clerk, and letting him sit at his table and
converse in his parior.
And Mr.. Morton was gentlemanly, and
kept his place, never presuming on his old
acquaintance with Agnes-never seeking to
build the old friendship between them.
Percy Bell and Fanny came 10 see Agnes
often, and Agnes returned their visit. She
was quite as friendly to Percy Bell now as
before the entrance of Harry Morton upon
the scene; and that gentleman's hopes were
again in the ascendant, and he certainly
made an agreeable contrast to the ghostly
hollow eyed clerk, whom Agnes rarely rec
ogniZed. So affairs went on until Harry
Morton had regained all his original good
looks, and had made himself indispensable
to his employer.
One night Agnes gave a large party. 1t
was her twenty-sixth birthday, and she
laughingly told her friends that il was the
inaugural ball of her old maidenhood, and
she meant 1t TO be a success. And a successit
was. Fanny and Percy Bell were there, and
so was Harry Morton.
Agnes unbent on the occasion and danced
&Aov. a.
more that evening, and devoted herself to
her guests.
Just before supper she came across a gen.
tleman in the shadows of the deserted draw
ing room, and tapping him on the shoulder,
she playfully said, "And whom do 1 find
playing the wall fiower?"
She started back ere the words were fiu-
unuiterable agony toward her, and she saw
that it was Harry Morton.
Miss Carroll" he cried, 81 love lady
who is as far above me as yOn cold moon is
above me now, and my heart is breaking"
why do you tell me tAis?' she said, re-
treating haughtily, as he sought to take her
hand.
"Aggie Aggiel" cried Fanny Bell at the
door. "Will you show Percy those engray-
Ings you told me aboutT'
And Agnes hurried of, and Harry Morton
turned to his silent contemplation of the
cold heavens at the long window.
Tomorrow" he said, 81 leave this house
forever
1t was three o'clock before the last guest
had departed, and the house was still. Mr.
Carroll had gone to his room long ago, but
Harry ,dorton still stood at the window and
watched the stars.
By and by he drawing room door I'M
closed, and he saw Agnes come and throw
herself upon the sofa, and, taking the cush
ion under her head, began to weep violently.
There was no light in the room save that
which came from an open crate, but he could
see that Agnes had not removed her evening
dress, and wondering what could be the mat
ter, he was about to make his presence
known, when he was conscious of a stealthy
step in the hall. In a moment the room
door Enclosed and man entered. Morton
could See that he was muffi ed TO the eyes and
carried dark lantern; and then, as Agnes
became aware of the intruder's presence, she
started up with terrific shrek and rushed
into the music room, and covered in the
shadows. The man with the lantern stood
- 4 4