Iron County register., 1882-10-05
his secretly-heard exclamation. upon first

his secretly-heard exclamation upon first
learning the news.
"I can't help it if don't, he an
swered, half-impatiently. "You know
how proud we are of you, Gath. and we
can't be expected to think any man good
enough"
She smiled.
| He went on recklessly: 81 don't be-
| lieve you knew what you were doing.
You don't love Peters, you only pity
him, just as you used to pity the Senator
and all the rest. This crooked little
curmudgeon! Why, he is older than
George, and cross-eyed''-
She sprang up in a rage: "Lewis,
you have said quite enough. Never
speak so again to me; forbid it,"
Then she sought her own chamber
an,, threw herself upon the bed.
Mamie came to her after awhile.
'sMy poor darling! Why are you feeling
so badp"
"!.ewis has been saying such awful
things!'
'.And are you quite sure you have
made no mistaken"
"Quite sure.''
She rose and arranged her toilet; Mr..
I6UGTS WIS 10 COIlc Cildt evening.
He arrived early. Mamie endeav-
ored to be gracious, but soon excused
herself, leaving Agatha to her lover, the
boys having both gone out. And Agatha,
with Lewis cruel criticism still ringing
in her ears, felt as if in dream. For
tunately Peters made no inquiries as to
her brothers opinions of the marriage.
Miss Mamie had congratulated him as
though all were satisfactory. ..
Agatha accepted his alteration quite
passively, and at last, when he had gone,
retired to her own room to pity him and
weep for him, and tell herself how
much she loved him.
But as the winter slipped away the
engagement was announced, and, hav-
ing remained unbroken, Agatha's BROTH
ers even began to feel resigned.
The quiet, intense devotion of Nor
man Peters was touching. He wor-
shipped his betrothed; to him she was
very goddess.
ened regret, .sif he were only not quite
SO small! If he were only a half-inch
taller, to be of even height with
Agatha!'
Meanwhile poor Agatha was fretting
IIC1 SCIl W uCttlu. n tLIOuSIiIO IItoiC
heartless sarcasms and glances of ridi-
cule, to which Peters, in his great hap
piness, was utterly oblivious, were con-
stantly stabbing her. Night after night
she passed in wakeful agony, the idea of
breaking the engagement never once
occurring to her. She was sure she
loved him, and she realized the depth of
his devotion. She endeavored to rise
oh y,po,.biI fa1Iincr hor-
self that people would cease their cruel
ways when they saw that she was deter
mined to stand by him. But she grew
thin, and her face wore hunted ex-
preston. Mesdames Becker and For
tescue now began to circulate pretty lit
tie stories about her-ingeniously con-
structed but untruthful romances.
Nothing very bad, for Agatha was
woman to whom no doubtful mist could
cling for moment; but whispers of
'scoquetry,'' "blighted hopes," "girlish
folly'' and s'last resort" which, blown
from lip to lip on the dubious breath of
friendship, came at last to vex the ears
of the Fosters. Agatha only grew more
pale. Stormy Lewis, however, one day
confroted Miss Fortescue in the hall be-
fore his sisters room.
St'iA WILL Jous AhiSNesAS3 eh~o yoo
must discontinue your talk of my sister,"
he cried, angrily.
Agatha came out. "Oh, Lewis,
dear"
He took her by the arm. s'Go back,
Gath. I've matter to settle with this
lady. She knows what mischief she has
been trying to work, and intend the
talk shall cease, or | will take measures
she NAV not admirei,'
Without word Miss Fortescue turned
and fled.
"I was sorry for her," said Agatha;
s'she looked so guilty and helpless"
"I declare, | haven't much patience
with you," exclaimed her brother, ''to
think that you would defend her, and
she every day assailing your good name.
But all your ways of late are provoking.
You are going to marry man you don't
love, because you pity him. For heav-
ems sake, why didn't you pity some one
suitable'-.
She trembled with excitement and
passion.
"Lewis, if you have the least particle
of love or respect for me, you will never
speak so again. I do love Norman, and
it would kill me if anything should break
the engagement
Lewis quit her presence, crestfallen.
The days slipped by. There had been
no definite date fixed for the wedding,
nor was the subject discussed by the
family.
None but Mamie knew the terrible
tremor in which the girl existed. She was
ever moving about, her hands constantly
occupied. Day after day, rain or shine, the
two women were out of doors. They
had always an errand, usually one of
mercy. Mamie, however disinclined,
would have felt it a sin to oppose, and
SO Agatha dragged her off through the
fitting sunshine, the moodiness, the
chill, or the storm of the spring-time,
until one last morning.
1t had been raining for three days,
and so steadily that the sidewalk flags
were cleaned and whitened.
Agatha said they would not be ham
pered with carriage, and they took
car for mile or so, alightfng to walk
few squares to another line. The storm
had abated, and the rain was but list