Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-26

Die, WY nnu JUST returned 70 college, and
scere OF havoc which met his ere were inter
minsble. buried myself once more in the sol
itude OF my own rooms
Ing. IcoUh do nothing. arrange nothing. think
OF nothing but the apparition which mad
greeted them over night. hour after hour
struck, and sat almost motionless my mind
broodfng tncessantly on its one theme.
| was aroused by light tap at the door.
Come In exclaimed; and In the next mo-
thus occupied stood before me. looking more
lovely than ever; slight flush which overspread
her FEATURES added to their charm.
- am disturbing yea again." she said. "out
could not go away without asking your for
gtveness for the annoyance re have caused
you. We leave by the next train, but found
should just have time"
annoyance! next train ~ / echoed, con-
fusedly. but pray sit down, Miss Paken-
ham,"
Indeed" she said. II fear must not MY
himself again, bat he has been ordered change
or scene and occupation. aud we are to start
lmmedlately; l have, literally, only two min
1teS. Say, please, that you kindly forgive
She held out her hand as she spoke. with
sweet smile. | had no words to answer her;
could ask nothing, realize nothing, except the
1act that she was there. But 1 grasped the
small hand In my own, and, pressing it to my
Ups, Kissed lC; pasSionately and fervently. Sue
seemed surprised, put ! fancied, not seriously
dlsp tue added flush on her cheek was
hardly that OF anger. But there was no Il ne
TO speculate as to this. Turning hastily from
me, and dealing warily this time with the
treacherous handle, she closed the dool after
her and disappeared,
In what direction, after weeks Of inquiry and
battling search, l found 1t impossible to ascar-
tam. Not even the faintest cleE presented
itself.
V.
some years passed by. / was not only fel-
low, but college tutor; established. to ali ont
ward appearance, as confirmed ''don." But
this exterior very greatly belied my innerman.
NOT one feature or lineament OF Agnes Paken-
nam nam ma nad 5aded from my memory In all this
Time, no pulse In my own veins cooled down:
my love for her was as passionate, all-absorb-
ing. intense, as ever. That it was, In all
human PROBABILITY, entirely hopeless, seemed
10 make no dif1erence; there It was, and until
ceased 10 exist myself, every fibre OF my being
must thrill to 1t. worked, amused myself
ate drank. slept; but these were all mechan-
ical actions; my real self was wrapped in hers,
tracking her, in fancy, to hundred places
picturing what might be her interests and ptir'
suits hearing her voice and seeing her image
all this. but altogether true.
There came certain Long Vacation which l
1 p not, as heretofore. pass In college. L had
tains and returned by The Tyrol and Munich,
where spent three days-the "Glyptothek''
and "Pinakothek" might have occupied as
many weeks; on my last day, as It was Intend
was located, and then was driven out OF the
public room by the preparations for that eight
o'clock "abendsmahl," at which the German
appetite shows to such incredible advantage
1t was late In the season, but the evening was
fne and warm. and l sauntered through the
streets, returning to the porte cOChere, where /
amused myself by watching the arrivals for
the ensuing repast- These were complete at
last and the gateway, which had been occupied
by numerous knots OF takers meanwhile. was
again deserted.
But found myself still lingering there: some
thing In the surroundings brought back TO me
a scene, very different In some respects and yet
very similar In others, In past years. just so
mad stood, On just such an autumn evening"
much ia tie same attitude, the occupant, as
now, OF solitary gateway deep In shadow, on
the day when l first saw Agnes Pakenham.
HOW wildly | recalled every incident OF our
strange meeting! With what tenfold vvidness
ard how bitterly at the same time did the
retrospect bring herself before me. How hope
lessly lost she was to me; and yet, how pas
sionately loved,
l was thus occupied. when my reflections
were abruptly cut snort. More to my surprise
II possible, than when L first saw 1t, tall
Captain Pakenham, strobe rapidly by me as IL
had done on that former memorable occasion,
and turned the corner into the main court of
the hotel.
Not, however, to disappear this time. fol.
lowed instantly, and found that he entered the
conciergerie, aud was asking the porter some
questioning address, as l gathered, of some
ole who had been staying In the hotel. This
was produced, and before 1 had decided what
to do he had regained the street, where | sim
followed, In cautious but close pursuit.
a keen chase once more, for the captain
walked as fast as ever; but a more successful
one. Through main streets and by-streets.
past palace and cathedral, theater and museum.
Out into the superb Au, eventually, where the
stately Maria Hill church rose, pale and gllm-
neing in the moonlight. Then down coun-
try lane, Swallowed With tall trees. At lasU the
garden gate OF small villa, and here tae
CAPTAIN paused-the quarry was run home
Sp2 ha yar{Ia aa1
with latehkey. 1 remained outstd9, ia
tumult OF thought. Was Agnes alive? Well?
With her father? Still heart-whole? Should
] Re allowed to see ner? What excuse could /
make for doing SO? Would she recol!ect me?
Had l any chance or no chance?-a HUNDRED
similar questions. For hours l stood by the
gate, torturng myself with speculation, and at
the same tine inteLtly watching every Win low
Of the house IN the hope Of seeing her passing
figure
No such gsod fortune occurred. however; one
Dy one The lights were eXtlnguished, and | re.
turned 10 the hotel, where achieved some
broken sleep.
Next morning found me again at the villa. at
tne earliest moment when 1t was possible to
present myself without improperly. The sus-
pense was 1ntolerable, and was determined TO
see Agnes, II she were there IL not, to discover
when and where she could be seen. Would the
servant never answer the door? How incuraOly
slow these Germans We're! Let me ring again.
My hand was On the bell; when a well-remem.
Dered laugh. every tone OF which set my veins
CthS IuB, CCuOcu IOIu tuo passage lQSlUo, In
the next minute Agnes herself stood before
me.
how lovely she was now! how changed. and
yet now entirely the same! ripened into wo-
manly beauty, but with the same grace the
same innocence, the same underplaY OF merry
thought. And there was one further point OF
lCentlty. She knew me at once, and the flush
which had Oyerspread the fair features when
L last saw them now again mantled On cheek
and brow.
mi. BurchlH!'' she exclaimed. sOh. how
giaa ami mean, how glad papa will be to see
you! he has so often talked OF our dreadful
conduct, and wished that he could make bis
personal apologies for it."
." saw him coming home last night" starn-
nered out, 'and ventured on calling here to
inquire. hope he is quite recovered?n
Perfectly she said; but pray do not stand
ID The passage: come into our little sitting
room, please"
Agnes was In walking dress, with port
Ioilo ln her hand, aud made some pretence of
healtat1ng You are going out said.
1t is OF no consequence whatever; l was only
going TO the Pinakothek; have taken up paint
Ing as procession, for our means are as limited
as ever, and go there to the ladies' studio every
day. we have taken this house for six months
and In the winter we go to Rome, for must
work hard
Profession" .'work hard!" Could IL be then
that she had formed no engagement: this
priceless gem still unapproprlated; possibly.
possibly Within my own grasp? AL this flashed
through my thoughts in less than one second
Papa Is out" she continued, as she ushered
me into the room; "but ne Will be back in half
an lOur. Shah I show Won eorpa Of IN,