Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-03
1850 q
NO. 2S5.
Gales ano Skettbes.
MISS srOrFoRD's SPECIALITY.
(Continucd from Yesterday J


Surely, there is plenty of time for
that" she said. I've can settle about il
in October. when I come back from Switx.
erland.'
1t was just at the end of August when
Mr.. Stotford took his family abroad tor
their summer holiday. George could not
leave London just then. but he said to his
betrothed:
Don't mind for me. darling. The
memory o: your love will keep ME happy.
and know YOU want a change; you have
been looking quite pale lately. And then
You will write To me-
Perhaps Agatha would hardly have al
lowed TO herself how glad she was to get
away; but to u perfect cold nature like
hers persistent ''spooning' was heavy
lpricc to pay. even for the pleasure of hav-
ing produced a great effect.
In Switzerland the Stotfords made the
acquaintance of family by the name OF
Gardiner. Agatha and Miss Maude Gar
diner struck up an intimate friendship. al
ter the manner of young ladies'. The
elder members OF the two families found
little in common. for the Gardiners.
though people of good social position
were not overweighted with brains but
Maude suited Agatha. and Maude's broth
er, Reginald. was fine, handsome young
fellow. Very pleasant were the noun
taineering expeditions the three made to-
gether. and three more intrepid spirits
could hardly have been found
| OF course, she at once told Maude all
the particulars of her engagement. and
Maude was enchanted. She had never
heard of anything So beautiful.
"lou are going to build up his ruined
life," she cried.
| II hope SO. dear"
| And You must let me see him rs soon
as we get back 10 London"
| go. yes; we must all be the best of
friends
| Ii was a cold day toward the end Of
October when the Stotfords and the Gar
diners returned together to London.
Mauda had not long to wait for her intro.
duction Ia George Singleton. for he was
on the platform, ready 10 greet his be-
| trothed.
us it not noble of Agatha P' asked
Miss Gardiner of her brother. when they
had parted from the Stotfords.
"The fellow has been rather hard hit
by fate but he has his compensation. GER
| tainly," Reginald answered, with a frown
on his face, as he turned away from his
family to 60 TO dinner at his club
| or course. Singleton dincd that evening
with the Stotforls and when he and
Agstha were alone together in her little
sitting-room, he was very affectionate--
| ''oh. more affectionate than cvcr,"-as
Agatha thought, ruefully.
| The marriage day was at last fixed for
early in January. From the first have
been frank with you about Agatha. ]
have not at any time strven 10 enlist your
affections for her, nor will even make
any further claim for her on your respect
must frankly own that the nearer her
marriage day came. the more she shrank
from the prospect of it.
As Singleton's wife she could not hope
even to make the sensation she had Gre
ated as his betrothed. The pleasure of
producing her effect had been great, but
she had obtained it on credit. She had en-
ioyed it to the full /; and now the time for
paving the price was drawing nigh. What
wonder if she rebelled
At times she almost thought of throw
ing herself on Sngleton's generosity.
which she well knew would not fail her.
and begging to be set free from fulfilling
her obligation.
But what of all her admiring friends
How could she bear to step down from the
pedestal of saint, whercon their homage
had placed her. and become the com.
monest OF all common things-a woman
who found herself utterly unequal to the
sacrifice she had undertaken 10 make (?
No; this humiliation was more than she
could endure.
But surely every woman before being
bound to one man for life. has her right to
her need of homage from others-in n
word, to have her flirting. And if Singleton
would but be jealous-if he would quar-
rel with her on this account--whv, then
surely the fault would not be hers
Maude was her most intimate friend
and she could not see much of Maude
without seeing good deal Of Reginald.
to.
Besides. she liked Reginald, aud her
friendship with him as well as with his
sister was fact to which George must
speedily make up his mind. So one nigh.
she said to him
"Oh. I shan'i see you tomorrow eve
ming: Maude is coming"
MAY not look in after she comes?',
..Oh, YOU may come in if you like. but
you would not see me alone because Reg
inald is coming Tor her. and they'll be
sure to stay late
The next evening. then p
'.Oh, I'm going there"
Then may call for you, may not?''
YES. but not before eleven. please
We are going to the theatre
We'll, dear. ] hope you'll enjoy yonr-
SELF
II il had been difficult to draw declar-
alton Of love from Singleton, it was vet
more impossible to elicit from him any
expression of jealousy.
His attention and devotion remained
undiminished. and he preserved the ut
most serenity of temper under circum-
stances which might easily have ruffled the
sweetest nature.
Only Agatha noticed the change, and
that was that he talked less about their fri-
ture than he had done at first For this
she could not help being grateful to him.
The day for their marriage. however. was
drawing near and work on the trousseau
had begun.
| TEE night before Christmas, they were
alone together in Agatha sitting-room. A