Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-13

dead, George declared with irresistible |
decision. When confronted with the
fact that they had all seen Hugh or his
ghost, he declared it to be a chance re-
semblance that Agnes was dispirited
and nervous, and when the man touched
her her disordered imagination supplied
the words she believed him to have
spoken.
George, however, being broken hearted
at the failure of his engagement, was not
to be trusted as counsellor in such
crisis. The marriage was given up.
Advertisements were put in the principal
papers for q year, imploring Hugh Glen
denning, if alive, to communicate with
his wife and family; but not word was
heard from him. Agnes naturally suf-
fered the cruelest form of suffering--sus-
pense and dread, and helpless and hope
less misery. Her past was embittered,
present she had none, and the future was
full of doubts and terrors.
Gradually, as two years, then three
years, passed; every one save herself
ceased to believe in the reality of the ap-
partition which had startled them all that
twentieth day of August. Aud at times
even Agnes herself doubted the evidence
of her senses. How could 1t be possible
that Hugh was still alive, when in all
these past eight years he had only once
disclosed himself to the sight of any of
his friends? When he mi ght come and
claim her before all the world, what pos
sible object could he have for lurking in
shadow, only caring to overwhellu her
when she made an effort at renewed ties?
George Dana naturally was not slow to
help her in these questions and doubts;
he tried, too, to inspire her with courage
that, instead of covering helpless be-
fore vague and nameless shadows in the
| darkness, she should resolutely 90 on
ana meet and grasp and defy them. BY
this time, too, she was legally freed from
her husband, even if he were alive, &C
cording to the laws of her State; more
than eight years had passed since his ap.
parent death. Agnes was at last per-
suaded to end the long suspense. She
suffered not only for herself, but for
George, whose life she was spelling, and
finally consented to marry him privately
from her sisters house in New York.
Their plans were not discussed beyond
the family circle; it was decided that the
two should quietly walk out to the city
church, and then and there be married by
a strange clergyman. Thus everything
unpleasant would be avoided, and before
consequences were faced they would be
actually met and conquered.
This plan seemed destined to brin g
the happiest results. The morning OF
the wedding.day dawnel Agnes quiet
ly ate her breakfast; then went to her
room and pat on her bonnet to go out
and be married. AS she stood at the
window drawing on her gloves a man
stopped suddenly on the pavement,
looked up and gave warning gesture,
then assembled the doorstep.
A moment later her sister entered the
room and found her sitting down by the
fire, huddling as if to warm herself.
"Why, Agnes" said she, ~ expected to
find you all ready to start. Here is a
little package which some one has just
brought for you. Unless il were secret
about the wedding, I should suppose
this was present"
''There will be no wedding" said Ag
mes in hopeless tone. II have just
seen Hugh again. It was he who brought
that. Let me see it,
She opened the little parcel listlessly
1t contained ring, mans wedding
f ring-the very one she had given Hugh
nine years before.
> Agnes has never seen her husband
. since. Whether he is alive she does no
, know; whether he died that twentieth 0
! August at sea she does not know; wheth
er the chain of contradictory circumstan
ces we have narrated we're actual an(
based upon the correct hypothesis, tina
be himself appeared twice before her il
the flesh, she does not know. Georg
/ Dana, urged by her entreaties and he
prayers, finally renowned all hope o
Overcoming her reluctance to think 9
, him again after her double warning. an
married. Agnes is hopelessly sad
; dened, changed and melancholy woman
. -Lippincoot's May.