The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-04-17
present she had none, and the future
was full of doubts and terrors.


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
apparition which had startled them all
that twentieth day of August 10 And at
times even Agnes herself doubted the
evidence of her senses. How could it
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
might come and claim her before all
the world, what possible object could
he have for lurking in shadow, only
caring to overwhelm her when she made
an effort at renewed ties? .7a5l q.
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 COVER
ing helpless before vague and nameless
shadows in the darkness, she should
resolutely 60 on and meet and grasp
and defy them. By this time, too, she
was legally freed from her husband,
even if he were alive, according to the
laws OF her State; more than eight
years had passed since his apparent
death. Agnes was at last persuaded to
end the long suspense. She suffered not
only for herself, but for George, whose
life she was spelling, and finally con-
scented 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 strange clergyman. Thus every
thing unpleasant would be avoided. and
before consequences were faced they
would be actually met and conquered.
This plan seemed destined to bring
the happiest results. The morning nof
the wedding day dawned. Agnes
quietly ate her breakfast; then went to
her room and quietly put on her bon
net to go out and be married. As she
stood at the window drawing on her
gloves man stopped suddenly on the
pavement, looked up and gave warm
ing gesture, then ascended 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, "I expected
to find you all ready to start. Here is
a little package which some one has
brought for you. Unless it were secret
about the wedding, / should suppose
this was present"
"There will be no wedding" said
Agnes, in hopeless tone. al have just
seen Hugh again. 1t was he who
brought that Let me see it"
She opened the little parcel listlessly.
1t contained a ring, a mans wedding
ring-the very one she had given Hugh
nine years before.
Agnes has never seen her husband
since. Whether he is alive she does
not know; whether he died that twen-
tieth of August at sea she does not
know; whether the chain of contradic-
tory circumstances we have narrated
were actual and based upon the, correct
hypothesis, that he himself Appeared
twice before her In the flesh, she does
not know. George Dana, urged by her
entreaties and her prayers, finally re-
nounced all hope of overcoming her
reluctance to think of him again after
her double warning, and married:
Agnes is hopelesslv-saddened, changed
and melancholy woman.