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

whose astoniShment and Inquiries as TO the
scere OF havoc which met his ere were inter
1tude OF my own rooms
Trebiy solitary they looked to me this morn
Ing. Icouid do nothing, arrange nothing think
OF nothing but the apparition which had
greeted them over night. hour after hour
struck, and sat almost motionleSs. my mind
brooding 1ncessantly on It's one theme.
| was aroused by light tap at the door
Come IN" exclaimed; and In the next mo-
ment the person with whom my thoughts were
thus occupied stood before me. looking more
lovely than ever: slight flush which overspread
her FEATURES added to their charm.
II am disturbing yea again." she said. "out
could not go away without asking your for
giveness for the annoyance We have caused
should just have time"
"Annoyan next train ~ l echoed, con-
fusedly. but pray sit down. Miss Paken-
ham,"
Indeed" she said, II fear must not. NY
father is much better and hope will soon be
himself again, bat he has been ordered change
Immediately; / have, literally. only two min
a Ss!S 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
lact tnat she was there But 1 grasped the
small hand In my own, and, pressing it to my
seemed surprised, but, fancied, not seriously
displeased; tue added flush on her cheek was
hardly that OF anger. But there was no ii ne
to speculate as to this. Turning hastily from
me, and dealing warily this time with the
treacherous handle, she closed the door after
her and disappeared
In what direction, after weeks Of inquiry and
battling search, found 1t impossible to ascer-
tam. Not even the faintest cleE presented
itself.
low, but college tutor; established, to ali out
ward appearance, as confirmed ''dOn" But
shis TINS exterior very greatly belied my innerman.
NoC one feature or lineament OF Agnes Pakel-
nam had faded from my memory In all this
Time, no pulse in my own veins cooled down:
my love Tor her was as passionate, all-absorb-
human probability, entirely hopeless, seemed
to make no difference; there 1t was, and until
ceased TO exist Jself, every fibre OF my being
must n,a I Thrill TO IT, ! worked, amused myself,
ate. drank, slept; but these were all mechan-
1cal actions my real self was wrapped 10 hers,
tracking her, In fancy, to hundred places,
picturing what might be her interests and ptr.
SUITS, nearing her voice and seeing her image
In every object and hour of life. Very Absurd
all this. but altogether true.
There came certain Long Vacation which |
been wandering among the Dolomlte noun
talns, 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 1t was Intend
co TO DE. dfned at the Goldener Hrsch where
was located, and then was driven out OF the
pubic 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
line and warm, and | Sauntered through the
streets, returning to the porte c0che1e, 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
scene, very different in some respects and yet
very similar IN others, In past years. just so
had stood, On just such an autumn evening
much ia the same attitude, the occupant, as
now, or solitary gateway deep In shadow, on
the day when l first saw Agnes Pakenham
HOW VlVidly L recalled every incident OF our
strange meeting! With what tenfold vividness,
ard how bitterly at the same time did the
retrospect bring herself before me. How hope
sionately loved!
1 was thus occupied. when my reflections
were abruptly cut snort. More to my surprise
II f possible ole, than when first saw it, tall
captain Pakenham, strobe rapidly by me as it
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
conclergerle, aud was asking the porter some
question-the address, as / gathered of some
Ole Who had been staying In the hotel. This
was produced, and before l had decided what
to do he had regained the street, where | still
followed, In cautious but close pursuit.
keen chase once more, for the captain
walked as fast as ever; but 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 E1lf church rose, pale and gltm-
meiing in the moonlight. Then down a coun-
try lane, Swallowed with tall trees. AT las the
garden gate OF q small villa, and here tae
Gattain paused-the quarry was run home.
III ant r
with latchkey. l remained outside, IN a
tumult OF thought. Was Agnes alive? Wen?
with her father? Still heart-whole? Should
make for doing So? Would she recollect me9
Had any chance or no chance?-a hundred
similar questions. For hours l stood by the
gase Ioat,aIlng myself with speculation, and at
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 l achieved some
broken sleep.
Next morning found me again at the villa. at
me earliest moment when 1t was possible to
present myself Without improperly. The Sus-
pense was 1ntoerable, 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 incuraoIy
slow these Germans We're! Let me ring again.
My hand was On the bell; when well-remem-
Dered laugh, every tone OF which set my veins
CiASuus, cCuotu uOIu Iu6 passage INSIDE, 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
lGentlty. She knew me at once, and the flush
which had oyerspTead the fair features when
l last saw them now again uantled On cheek
and brow.
"Mr. BurchilI." she exclaimed sob, how
glad ami mean, how glad papa will be to ace
you! He has SO often talked OF our dreadful
CONDUCT and wished that he could make his
personal apologies for it,
81 saw him coming home last night STAN
nered out, ''and ventured on calling here to
inquire. hope he is quite recovered?"
Perfectly, she said; "but pray do not stand
In the passage: come into our little sitting
room, please"
Agnes was In walking dress, with a port
folio 10 her hand and / made some pretence of
healtatlng. You are going OUT said.
- III is or no consequence whatever; l was only
going 10 the Plnakothek; l have taken up paint
Ing as profession, 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.
ana In the winter we go to Rome, for must
work hard"
profession" ''woIk hard!" Could it be then
that she had formed no enlightenment: this
priceless gem still unapproprlaJed; possibly.
possibly within my own grasp? All 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 hour. Shall l show you some OF his
sketChes?"