The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-01-15

bloodred curtains, made me think of
the tower where the princes were
| strangled. / declined the assistance of
a maid, and Stevens retired, leaving me
one waxlight, which threw gigantic
shadows on the wall. My duties were
not hard or various. / was to amuse my
aunt when she bade me; be always at
her chair back, and speak only when
spoken to. fell asleep at last thinking
of poor little mammy's delight when
she should receive my first quarters
salary.
My life was an uneventful one at the
Pines. was never absent from my
aunt, but grew no more intimate with
her than at first. We had no company
slve Miss Rushton's surgeon and solic-
itor, who came once month to dinner.
sang very little, and only in secret, as
the grand piano had not been opened in
tolerate music.
One evening, when she dismissed me,
my aunt said, sternly:
"Agnes, expect the son of my dear
est friend here tomorrow. He is to be
my heir, and I caution you against de-
signing or trying to gain his favor"
"Oh, aunt - the hot blood rushing
to my cheeks.
"Be still. Do 1 not know what the
Aubreys are? But Hugh is an admirer
of beauty in woman, and L do not think
you will fascinate him. See that
you attend to my affairs, and leave Hugh
alone"
But Hugh would not leave me alone.
scarcely looked at him for a week.
Then, rs he sat recOunting adventures
to my aunt, saw that he was hand
some man of thirty, with crisp, black
hair and thoughtful, gray eyes-mag-
netic eyes, whose glances troubled me
for days, and haunted my dreams.
Que bright November day, while my
aunt was sleeping, sat in the decayed
summerhouse, at my knitting, singing
an old Scotch song nanny had sang in
happier days. A shadow fell on my
work. Hugh Kennedy stood before me.
What a sly little thing you are
And SO you are Gerald Rushton's
daughter What are you doing at the
Pines ?"
"Do you not know? Let me pass,
please"
"Why do you always fly from me9
You have a wonderful voice, which
ought to be cultivated. You should
sing more"
"Miss Rushton does not like singing;
and I am paid to keep silent"
You have a Scotch wit. Please
promise not to hide yourself away, OF
run from me again.
{" cannot"
With easy grace he stepped aside.
"Well, go. l shall find you out,
whereveEyou are.
almost had it in my heart to hate
Hugh Kennedy for his cruel pursuit of
me; vet, oh, I learned to love him go
He came into my life when it was bar
rem and cheerless, and my heart grew
around him, until felt that it would
kill me to go away. Yet go 1 must.
Ny aunt would never forgive me. She
had higher aims for Hugh. Here was
prince for Cinderella, but no god
mother. hugged my mad passion to
my bosom and fed faster and faster
from Hugh. One night my aunt's bed
curtains caught on fire, and in rescuing
her burned my hands and face terribly.
She was wheeled out on the terrace,
while Dark extinguished the flames.
When 1 came to, Hugh was holding
me in his arms, pitying my poor SCARED
hands, and kissing them passionately.
rushed from him and hid myself in
my own room, with my great Joy and
great sorrow, thinking only that Hugh
had kissed me, and that / must leave
him forever.
around poor nanny, and cried myself
still.
Hugh was in the corridor the next
morning as I came down toward my
aunt's door.
"Agnes, darling, you shall hear me
Agnes, I love you truly, as God is my
Judge I mean right by you, my girl.
Will you listen to meP
"Oh, Hugh, I cannot Let me go
let me go, if you pity me !'
"Agnes, first answer me. 1 am an
honorable man. claim the right to be
heard. Do you love me?"
He was crushing my hand in his.
His breath came in quick gasps.
Should I throw away my only chance of
heaven2 But my promise -
"You shall not go Do you love me,
Agnes Why torture meP"
Yes, yes-I love you, Hugh Let
me go now"
One passionate embrace, and 1 fed to
my aunt's room.
"You have come, Agnes, to hear me
thank you again for saving my life. But
you did me no service"
g. Oh, no, moi came to tell you,
aunt, that must go way-to ask a re-
lease from YOU"
els it Hughl If he has proven dis
honorable shall disinherit him."
"It is not that-only 1 must go
away"
"And what if l will not ?"
"Oh, aunt, you cannot be so cruel |"
She took my hand in hers-still cold
and clammy.
"You love Hugh, Agnes. Well, You
shall On hOna tn. .uorrOW IL Won uiah IL