Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-11
GALES a,ro Sktttbes.
A CURIOUS DISPOSITION.
Continued from Yesterday. }

she said in a way that seemed to dismiss
the subject.
George betook himself to his own room
and Lewis took his place by Agatha. Il
suppose | am to congratulate he said
with a careless disregard of Nannie's in
| functions.
You do not seem very enthusiastic. =
responded his sister calmly. recalling his
secretly-heard exclamation upon first
| learning the news.
II can't help it if DON'T he answered
| half-impatiently. You know how proud
We are of you. Gath, and we can't be ex
pected to think any man good enough
She smiled.
| lie went on recklessly: Il don't be-
| lieve you knew what you were doing.
/ You don't love Peters, you only pity him,
just a you used to pity the Senator and
/ all the rest. This crooked little cur
mud 4eon Why, he is older than George.
and cross-eyed"-
She sprang up in a rage: Lewis, you
have SAID quite enough. Never speak 50
again to me; forbid it -
| Then she sought her own chamber and
threw herself upon the bed.
Mamie came to her after awhile My
poor darling Why are you feeling so
! bad ?"
| Lewis 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.
| Peters was to come that evening.
| He arrived early Mamie endeavored
| 10 be gracious, but soon excused herself,
leaving Agatha to her lover. the boys hav-
| ing both gone out. And Agatha with
Lewis cruel criticism still ringing in her
ears, felt as il IN dream. Fortunately
/ Peters made no inquiries As to her broth
crs' opinions OF the marriage Miss Nan
ME had congratulated him as though all
were satisfactory.
Agatha accepted his alteration quite pas
| sively. and at last. when he had cone.
retired to her own room to pity him and
weep for hun. and tell herself how much
she loved him.
But as the winter slipped away the en-
| ga@ement was announced. and having re
manned unbroken, Agatha's brothers even
| began to feel resigned.
The quiet. intense devotion of Norman
| Peters was touching. He worshiped his
betrothed to him she was very goddess.
If thought Mamie, with sottened
regret, ''if he were only not quite SO small .
If he were only halfinch taller, to be of
even height with Agatha
Meanwhile poor Agatha was fretting
herself to death. \ thousand little heart
less sarcasms and glances of ridicule. to
which Peters. in his great happiness, was
utterly oblivious, were constantly 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 real
ized the depth of his devotion. She en-.
dcayored to rise above morbid sensitive
ness telling herself that she was deter
mined to stand by him. But she grew
thin, and her face wore IA hunted express
sion Mesdames Becker and Fortescue
cow began to circulate pretty little stories
about her-ingenously constructed but
untruthiul romances.
Nothing very bad. for Agatha was
n woman to whom no doubtful mist
could cling for moment; but wills
pers of "coquetry." delighted hopes. =
''girli.h folly" and last resort which.
blown from lip to lip on the dubi-
Gus breath OF friendship. came at last to
grew more pale. Stormy Lewis. however.
one day confronted Miss Fortescue in the
hall before his sisters room.
Il can tell you madame, that you must
discontinue your talk of my sister" he
cried angrilv.
Agatha came out. "Oh. Lewis. dear"
He took her by the arm. $50 back
Cath I've matter to settle with this
LID IN hot tniScbiaf 81. hau
been trying to work, and intend the talk
may not admire -
and fled.
Il was sorry tor her." said Agatha {:
she looked so guilty and. helpless
II declare | haven't much patience
with vou.' 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 Won pity him. For Gods sake.
| why didn't YOU pity some one suitable
She trembled with excitement and pas
sion.
Lewis. il you have the least particle
Of love or respect for me- YOU will never
| NItih 81 'ip itNt a>Otlltth anu
il would Kill me il anything should break
the engagement :"
Lewis quit her presence crestfallen.
The days slipped by. There had been
no dav 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
telt it a sin to oppose. and so Agatha
dragged her off through the fitting sun
shine. the moodiness. the chill or the storm
Of the spring-time. until one last morning
1t had been raining for three days, aud
so steadily that the sidewalk flags were
cleaned and whiteped.
Agatha said they should not he ham
pered with carriage. and they took u
ear for mile or SO. alighting to walk 4
few squares to another line. The storm
had abaied. and the rain was but listless
drizzle.
Agatha slipped and slid once, and Nan
ME gave frightened exclamation.
| .'My oyerShoes are useless" said the