Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-12

sister, she had worked and played her way
from childhood up to now, and thence,
with door fast locked, she watched two
figures pace across the lawn, intent on
speech so earnest neither turned or noticed
her.
A book was in her hands; what book
she never knew. A rose she had Idly
plucked fell to the ground uncared for.
As the two passed from sight the self-con-
troll, so difficult to her impulsiveness, for
sock her utterly. Back into the room she
shrank, covering her face, with a sharp
cry of pain, whispering, 80 false so
false Ten thousand times have deserved
it all. And yet it is so hardf'
While she sat shivering thorough her
trouble, sunbeams sank into twilight, wood
pigeons cooed forth their slumber songs
in boughs without, and in the gloom she
dared at least to weep-for herself; tor
him who. worst pang of all. shared her
great grief; for Agatha, before the very
thought of whom she covered guilty.
"But she shall never, never know -
she cried. through her tears. ''lf only
she can go, and can die. why, she need
never know"
Never know what ?" said a soft, sad
voice close by; and the next instant Leo
ME was in her sisters arms.
80. Agatha" she entreated, striving to
get free, .'let me go! Don't come so
Kindly to me. Don't ask me what mean !"
Watt" answered Agatha, with won
derful calm on her pale face. 81 can tell
you, Leouie. what it all means. That two
of us have nigh made terrible mistake,
but have found it out in time. was slow
to see it Lono, but know it now. have
no right to Godfrey. He loves you best"
Agatha -
Hush He belongs to you. not me. 1t
has been a tangled sken for us, but this is
the only right way out of it; and Godfrey
sees that it is So
But. Agatha" urged Leonie, trem-
bling between exceeding pain and mar
veous iov. he has never said'-
"A word. | know he has not. Both
of you meant TO be faithful to me. Per-
haps," with wisttul faltering in her
tender voice-'it was my fault you could
not be. There, darling, there - as Leonie
wept passionately on her bosom-''let
Godfrey come to you (hs step was
sounding on the path outside), land thank
God for all of us, this hour is not too
late -
How this extraordinary news was re-
ceived by household and wedding guests.
by poor. disappointed Mrs. Orde. by the
whole startled parish, we must leave to
cur readers imaginations, Long before
the termeut of excitement had subsidized a
quiet marriage had taken place so Agatha
had willed it. and all Welded to her-and
with his bride (not portionless. as, to his
contrite surprise and his mothers comfort,
he discevered) Geotfrey Orde was speed
ing away to the far east
Till the hubbub of discussion was past,
Agatha Temple deserted The Beeches.
and, returning after weeks of absence,
brought back in her brave serenity scarce
a trace of the trial that had driven her
away.
"Leonie is happy = she SAYS, and allows
no tongue To blame her sister in her hear
ing.
Perchance her home, her people make
up to her for what she lost. Perchance
the very power to renounce what she did
wakens mistrust as TO her fitness ever to
have filled the state she missed. Or per-
chance (and this way run many wishes)
it may be dawning on her thar woman
hoods fair crown is vet waiting if she
will but wear it, that in her hands lies all
the happiness of man who has loved her
from the first moment he saw her, and
that the sure response stirring within her
own heart promises her yet a glad future
as John Murray's wife.