Middletown transcript., 1880-04-03
STORY.
For the Transcript.
AGATHA.
BYLILLlE BELL

agatha Inc Wofu iO't 1oN
passionate from DaIlis Looer's lips, as
be gazed on the half ayerted face OF
AGATHA Ouiden, as they stood on the
agatha, you know that ! love you.
have I 30 hope-?' "Oh, please don'tP
She murmured, half turning from him,
and leaning her head against the pil,,
lar; then turning to him, she raised
her dark, wistful eyes to his.
"Tell me, have no hope? he said,
bending close to her ear. "Why have.
YOU said these things to me? Have
YOU not been warned that | am tri-
iier Of mems hearts, and therefore a
woman despised by her sex? Have
YOU not seen how they scorned me? ?
Ah! yes, it was too plain not to he OBJ
served better for US both, had you
needed the warning
al believe not what they say. |
came here with my heart steeled
against you. determined that | would
be one who could see without loving
uau When I found you different
from what they said, what was thetdse
of their warnings? l believe them to
be false"
'.Ah! but suppose they are not? i
will be candid with you, the one per7
son have ever met that | could trust.
You have not heard Harold DAILY de-
scribe nv life, or this regard youlhold
for me row would not be mine,5 Haere
is nothing in my past life that / would
willingly withhold from you, but there
is that in others with whom 1 am con-
nected that | cannot tell therefore,
many times it rests heavily upon me.
| could not tell if l would the number
of times the finger of seorn has pointed
at me. What rests in my past. that,
| cannot now reveal to you some
other time in years to come when we
can look calmly in each others face,
knowing that my end is not very far
off, then want to tell you how deeply
/ have been wronged, and am still
being wronged, yet they know not
what they do.
Il have some times thought it was
only by Gods infinite mercy that aq
now a rational being. Forget what
you have said 10 me, and let me go
my way, she said, turning from him
to co." Stretching forth his hand he
detained her, and looking down in her
agitated face, said:
mo, can never forget what have
said, neither can | ever forget your
words. l can trust you for the past,
will you trust me for the future
| "Don'tp she said, stretching forth
one hand, as if she would have him
say no more. while the dropping lids
hid her eyes, as she leaned YEARLY
against the pillar.
"Why should l withhold p he said,
stepping back, and searching her face
closely. "You have said you trust me
more than all others, and yet you bid
me be silent, when to tell me that you
are mine, to me, would be the dearest
trust of ALL" He was bending over
her.
! "Oh! it can never be! You don t
l know. | must not burden you with
that which is almost too much for me
to bear"
Cant you trust me, Agatha? /
do not wish even to know your past
what more proof of confidence do you
wish than that? Have you then so
little faith i'll me that you cannot let
me give you shelter in my heart p
She was silent. Why was not happi-
ness for her. She had turned 20
proudly, so coldly, from all others
how was it, that this man seemed tc
hold her with his words ? Why was it.
that her will was SO completely gone
and, his ruling her? Her head was
bent, her cheeks blanched, and from
between her pale lips came her breath
in stifed sobs, while he held both her
hands in his. The struggle was hard
but he was victorious.
Raising her eyes to his, she said
Suppose, in after years you would re.
pent this, how unhappy your life
would be? how miserably wretcheC
would mine be to me! Oh, no! Dallis
| must not drag you. down in th'
slough Of sorrow that | am in. 1t il
better that we part now The longe
we remain thus, the harder it is for u
both to do our duty. Farewell; ]" she
forced herself to calmly say, extending
: her hand to him.
No! you shall never 60 from me
. Agatha. Since you love me, hav,
a privilege to assert my right in claim
! ing you. You have said there is nj
other between US; You must trust nj
and you will never have cause to re
i pent. Only trust me, Agatha; forge
the past and live for the happiness o
our future"
"You will not repent this?" sh
murmured.
"Do not fear that, " he replied, laugh
ing and kissing her. Her head wa
resting on his shoulder, and, for th
first time in years, she was tastin
happiness and peace.
The next day found Harold Dal
numbered with the guests of Hasse
!. Glen. Dallis studiously avoided hir
at first, but finding him rather reserve
!. and his time seemingly much preoccu
J. pied with Alice Hassel, was in a mea
sure thrown off his guard, until he nc
ticed with what dominant will Agath
Z thwarted all of Harold's plans to Sc
her alone. To other eyes this was No
apparent, for being the son Of prom
= inent and wealthy lawyer of the Stax
be was looked upon as a good catcl
81 Some years back, he had been reel
LESS, and at one time it was rumore
{: that he had married a poor girl, but
in less than year afterwards, return
ing to Auburn, his steady denial Of i
n and persistent attentions to forme
lady acquaintance, this was eithe
!, over looked or forgotten. But not $
q by all. DaHis Looer seldom forge
Il ~ :. Al ..l.G1