Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-03
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trees. Now and thep the sleet was driven
mp vehemently against the window.
She was sitting in a low easy-chair,
drawn.close to the fire, her feet resting
on the fender, her head lying back on a
velvet cushion, her small hands sparkling
with rings clasped on her lap. She looked
the very embodiment Of Incidence and
comfort.
Singleton was standing with his arms
resting on the mantlepiece.
Agatha" he said. little nervousiy,
II want to ask something OF you"
do you? o. she said, YEARLY; ''well
what is it?''
II want to stay with you tonight until
eleven
80. not tonight she said, perhaps
with more protestation in her voice than
she was even aware of. My head aches.
and want to 90 to bed and zee if can't
get warm there
.sOnly this once, dear" he entreated.
She Ipade no reply.
Forgive me, Agatha; / was selfish
brute. You aren't too angry 10 say good
night. are you?'
ouc tOutQ IOt IdIl W sec tfIS CiAoit pS
made to hide the culver of pain in bis
voice, and CHANGING up she saw in his eyes
such look OF pleading that even her not
very susceptible heart was touched.
There. there, you needn't CO." she
said. Il spoke to you more Grossly than
! should have done. Half an hour long
err won't kill me; and if you will be vexed
with me cant help it."
.Vexed with you?'' he said, kneeling
down beside her. How do You think
that could ever be?''
Then he put his arms around her and
and drew her head on his shoulder.
For the next half hour: there was com
plete silence between them. Inside the
fire fiickered and held low converse with
itself, and outside the unsuitable wind
walled on. When the clock struck eleven
he arose and Agatha arose, too.
Thank YOU" he said, for letting me
stay. ! know you won't be sorry for it.
hereafter And rs he stood there. hold
ing both her hands in his. she saw again
in his ewes that strange, pleading look.
Aren't you happy" she asked. You
seem as sober as il Judge"
Gould man who believes in your love
be other than happy"
At the door he turned back. drew her
close to his heart once more and kissed
her again. long and lovingly. Then he
went.
..Gone ut last" she thought. with sigh
Of relief. as she heard the hall door close
behind him. Then she went straight to
bed.
Miss Stotford was not IN early riser.
Before meeting the outside distractions Of
the day she pursued the first delivery Of
letters over morning coffee in her own
room. This mornings mail brought her
many seasonablc cards, but oddly
enough. ONLY one letter. She was familiar
with the delicate, almost feminine hand
writing-it was from Singleton. Shortly
after their engagement he had been much
addicted to the habit of posting her let
ter before going to bed, but latterly he
seemed TO have broken himself of the
practice. Indfferenily ut first, yet with
ever increasing interest. she read;
HARLEY STREET. ~ December, l u. IN.
my DARIING-I wish this letter to be
rs little of shock as possible. On the
9lth of May last, seven months ago to-day,
you told me that you loved me. That you
were sincere then in thinking so. that you
even try to think so now. do not for
moment doubt. indeed. l believed in
your love most implicitly till your return
from switzerland. Then a doubt of it
grew into my mind. watched YOU care
fully and watched my own heart carefully
too" ("Now for the jealousy" thought
Agatha. rs she settled herself more COM
fortably for u further perusal.) Il know
something of the human heart, and know
how n woman appears when she is really
in love with a man. At length my doubts
grew into an unalterable conviction that if
YOU had ever loved mc-if. indeed. you
had not from the first. out Of the verv no.
bilitv of Your nature, mistaken pity for
love-the feeling. unconsciously perhaps.
to Yourself, was dying out. Only great
love on your part could ever have rend-
cred possible the life YOU would have led
rs the wife of man so unfortunate rs
am. But | do not offer to tree YOU"
(Agatha's heart dropped little). for I
know your exquisite sensitiveness would
suffer from mistaken sense that you had
failed toward me. know you would re-
pudiate all could say i; for in your noble
desire TO build up a ruined life, you would.
for once, be capable of deception. But,
Agatha. my love. what would il he to me
to see YOU slowly fading before my eyesP
Yet am a weak man. and, il You held
the cup to my thirsty lips. could they help
drinkingp No do not offer you your
freedom; give 1t to you-my Christmas
gift. When you read this letter shall be
SO far away from YOU that no pain and no
joy can follow me.
Continued Tomorrow
II is a lamentable fact that thousands re-