Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-04
rContinucd from first page.

he thought while Maude ran in haste 10
find Mrs. Stotford.
OF course Agatha was at once put to bed
and the family physician was sent for.
When he heard all the circumstances of
the case, saw Agatha's unnatnraliy bright
eyes. felt her quick pulse and listened to
her incoherent wanderings. he conld not
disguise from the family his appreheB-
sions Of brain fever.
ut was critical case he said: but
If she could get nights sleep the dan
ger might be averted.''
About the small hours. Agatha wan
derings ceased and heavy sleep fell upon
her and saved her.
II was three O'Clock IN Chri-tmas-elay
when she awoke. The bells were ringing
for afternoon service. At first she thought
it was Sunday morning and that she had
slept late. Then she began to wonder at
her strange feeling, a. if she had been
bruised all over. and the sense Of blended
weakness and clearness in her head. Then
very gradually. yes. very gently, too. she
remembered all the events of the preced-
ing day and accepted them as one too weak
to feel surprise. There were two great
ftcts-Singleton was dead and she was
free.
At the expiration of week Agatha once
more appeared in her little sitting room.
The friends who saw her said that saint
ly resignation had beautifed her face.
The truth was she had settled with her
own conscience very satisfactorily and de-
cided that she was in no remotesi way
chargable with SiDgleton's death. She
had certainly flirted no more during her
engagement than many other women do.
and it was Singleton's own fault it he had
deceived her by keeping from her what he
really felt, and so prevented her from be-
having differently. "No-it was his own
morbid senstiveness that had driven him
To his own rash act.
In her heavy mourning and with her
face so pale-for she really had been i'll
she looked far more Interesting than of
old.
When the summer came she was clad
To escape from London. Seaside and hill
side brought her the balm. She conclud-
ed tina. without even a speciality life might
be good thing. She returned to town
bright and beaming. do not think that
Singleton's ghost haunted her, even on
the day before Christmas.
The next summer she fulfilled her natur- |
al calling by marrying. The bridegroom,
however, was not Reginald. He pro-
posed. indeed, but she took three months
to consider. During that period of proba- |
ton, she met the son Of a very rich pict- !
ure-dealer. As was natural for a painter, |
Mr.. StOtford iurthcrcd this alliance; and
the young man, if not quite so handsome
rs Reginald was very much richer. Like !
u dutilul girl she obliged her father rs he |
had before obliged her. Reginald. must
confess. found speedy consolation. II is |
not the handsome Reginalds of the world I
who die for love.
The reputation for nobility which had |
been purchased bv her engagement to |
Singleton never quite fors0ok Agatha.
''Ah." said her romantic friends. her |
life was really over when that poor fell
low died. She married just to please her
father
OF course there were not wanting I'M
feeling people to make irreverent remarks /;
but Of such persons we have nothing to
say She lived as TRANQUILITY as such
women do. If she had no vivid joys in
her days. she had no keen pains As
time wore on. sometimes. in the dead
watches of the night. or in the glare af a
crowded theater, she would su idenly be
confronted with the past from which she
had escaped and meet the look of sad, be-
seeching eyes-eyes sad. but never re-
proachful. At such moments she would
feel suddenly faint and grow dizzy but the
evil moments passed and save in these
rare visions. she was never disturbed by /
the memory of her first engagement-l
Scri6ners Nogaziac
~ sbp a IA