The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-08-27

away five months-and never wrote Z,
me. One evening L caught glimpse
of her at the opera, as the audience was
leaving the theater. met her brother
in stage the next day. ''Oh yes," he
said, in answer to my question, ..Agnes
has been back several weeks" leave
you to judge how you would have acted
in my place. was hurt more than
can tell. wrote her note telling her
that in view of the way she had left the
city and her silence from that time on,
l should wait to hear whether call
from me would be welcome. This was
her reply. OF course, 1 did not 60 to
see her-I have never seen her since. -
"And up to that time." said, chad
J GU suspected no change of feeling?"
"Nothing. She was always her own
sweet, loving self, and in thinking of
her since / have never been able to re-
call an impatient or angry word.''
Had you ever given her occasion for
any?" was my very natural question.
"Not that 1 know of. You have al
ways found me a pretty good-natured
sort of fellow, jerks. easy to get along
with. haven't you?''
"Tell me-" I said, ignoring the ques-
ton, "why you were not married
long ago. 1t is ten years at least since
your engagement to Miss Kingdom"
"Oh, as to that" was his answer,
''you know l would never marry unless
l could support my wife in luxury. For
long time my practice was not suffi-
cient for that. Then was in Europe
couple of years, working up those Gov
eminent cases"
"And travelling good deal, too," I
interrupted, enjoying yourself pretty
well on the whole, recollect."
"Oh, yes, enjoyed it, certainly"
"And after your return?'
"Then l got into politics, a good
way beyond my depth, as soon as I got
home; ran for Representative that year.
though wasn't elected. But the ex-
element had fatal fascination for me
me no time to think of anything
else"
There was a long pause. We heard
the town clock strike one. The fire was
dying out slowly.
"Why don't you say something,
Jenks?" Sydney asked, impatiently.
because if I say the only thing I
can say-the thing I really and truly
believe, doubt if you ever want to hear
me speak again, Sydney Meredith"
go on" he said. shortly, ''it's all
right"
II think" I said, "that from first
to last you have utterly failed to appre-
ciate the woman who was faithful to
you for so many years. She has always
filled a secondary place in your life"
"You do not know how l loved her."
"That is just what I do know" I
said, 'tyou never loved her as well as you
loved yourself, and everything you have
told me only proves the fact. In her
greatest need of you you failed her the
most completely. When it became your
turn to feel the slight, the omission, the
ignoring whatever you please to call
it-you were disagreeably surprised.
What reason had you to expect any
thing else? You went to see her every
week or ten days, you say. Why, for
month it was doubtful whether she lived
or died. DO you think that she felt
that her life or death mattered much to
you?''
Chow did you knowr' he asked,
quickly.
had not meant to tell him, yet there
was no reason why should not.
"Imet her afterwards-in Colorado"
"And she told you"
"Nothing. l was her physician.
saw for myself"
''And you love her, Jenks?''
The words were great cry. My face
had told its own story, as it had done
once before.
''Hopelessly," I answered, ''she will |
never know it. Agnes Kingdom is a
who will never love twice. She
illed in your life the place of neglect
I'd, disappointed woman, until the posi-
ion grew intolerable. Don't wonder at |
what she has done. Ionly wonder she
lid not do it years BEFORE
The fire had died out. There were
'nly ashes in the CRATE, as in the lives
# these two-a patient, loving woman,
IN unappreciative, selfish man.
did not see Sydney Meredith again
or two years, though we corresponded
With our old irregu1arity. At the end
# that time, while making vacation
Quincy through Switzerland. caught
light of the face of Agnes Kingdom at
he window of diligence, on the road
rom Chamouni to Geneva. She did
lot see me. It was just as well so.
Three days later I encountered my old
riend Meredith in London en- route for
liverpool.
"Jenks, old fellow" he said. heartily.
you gave me the lesson of my life!
is hard to teach an old dog new tricks,
ut I've done pretty well, believe. 1
Vrote to Agnes Kingdom the day after
ur last talk together-I leave you to
magine what I've been writing