Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-04
Oaks aud Sketthes.
LORD kLFRED's FILTRATION.
CONTINUES from yesterday

then he said, slowly:
II have had bad news from England,
Miss Ardagh. and am called home in
haste
81 know it, Lord Alfred 1t was / who
received your dispatch at the Office. Lord
Grassgrove was the father of the lady to
whom you are TO be married, was he not?"
The young man started. Then he
grasped the girls hand that hung by her
side, and held it in both of his.
'Oh, Miss Ardagh-Agnes-I am the
most miserable Of rnenr' ne exclaimed.
Your betrothed is in trouble - you
suffer with her? am sorry she said,
softly, with her head turned aside.
.'lt is not that-you know it is not so ~
he exclaimed, passionately. 1.-The en-
gagement was made when we were chill
dren and /. caring for no one else when
my consent was asked, ratified it to please
nv father. Our hearts are not in it. Lady
Helen is Indifferent to me, but pleased at
the prospective dukedom. Agnes. do not
be angry love you, darling. and |
could not leave you without saying so,
even though my love is hopeless. Do not
be cruel-do not feign GOODNESS you do
not feel"
My lord" she said haughtily. '.you
wrong me! feign nothing do not teel
Pray, what other feeling could cherish
for the promised husband of another
woman P" And she flashed an indignant
look of seorn at him. which, however,
faded from her face when she saw the an
guish on mis-.
agnes, have never loved any woman
but you, and never can. 1t is no fault OF
mine that keeps US apart, and you might,
at least, be kind.'
Again she turned towards him in anger.
my lord, what end is served by telling
me this !? Even if your sentiments were
returned-which you seem to take for
granted is the case-you know would do
wrong to listen to such Words
Her voice was hard, even harsh, but she
trembled as though struggling to keep
down emotion of some kind.
agnes, tell me--could you love me
were free ?" he urged. dearest give
me one grain of consolation
She snatched back her hand, which he
had again clasped in his.
''You have no right to ask me such a
question. You cannot, with any justice,
accuse me of having encouraged your at
tention more than those of any other gen.
tleman."
He could not contradict her, though he
knew, and so did she. that what she said
was not the truth.
he said. bitterly.
MY lord, | have no reason to be other
wise, and you no right to expect it. You
have played with edged tools. and should
not be surprised if you find yourself
wounded. My lord. good-by."
Farewell" he said, with white.
drawn look upon his fair, girlish face that
brought tears to Agnes Ardagh's eyes, in
spite of herself. II ought, perhaps, be
glad that you, at least, can say it without
pain"
"Good-by." she said again, firmly,
though sharp pain darting through her
heart like dagger thrust denied his
words but she knew that in the GOODNESS
and hardness which he resented lay her
only safety.
"Good-by. Lord Alfred. and let me
wish you every happiness and"
''Silence !" he said. sternly. For
shame, Agnes. I did not expect insin-
cerity from YOU"
The girl gave short gasp. 1t was the
first masterful word she had ever heard
from him. and it shook her more than any
amount of tenderness could have done.
Forgive mev' she murmured, holding
out her hand. Pray forgive me | wish
that you could-that it were possible for
you to be happy-in the way-that you
wish"
She turned as though to fly as she said
the last words, but he caught her in his
arms and covered her face with passionate
kisses.
"My love my beautiful darling you
do love me then. All, parting has lost
half its bitterness
Not to me ~ she sobbed, passionately,
Withdrawing from his embrace, and cover
ing her face with both hands in a
paroxysm of self reproach and shame.
"Oh. it is you who are cruel now-cruel !
crueli"
"Oh, no! Do not think it. Do not weep
my best and dearest. will cherish your
love as the one brightness in dreary life,
and honor you above all women on earth"
'Ah. do not say such words. Forget
what have said, and if you can, forget
me also-or only think of me as one who
urged you to your duty. though failing in
her own
She drew from her bosom a ribbon,
with a trinket attached, and pressed it in
to his hand; then turned, and left him
standing there alone.
1t was the gold coin she had changed
for him at their first meeting, and on one
side was engraved her monogram.
That night Agnes Ardagh walked her
chamber floor the long night through.
Her pride and self respect were crushed,
and her heart was filed with hopeless
woe. She, too, had played with edged
tools. and the wounds were hard to bear.
Next morning he was gone.
Time passed, and autumn was treading
on summers tagging feet. when Agnes
received letter from over the sea which
surely carried the sea breezes with it. for
the first reading of it brought back the
truant color to her cheek, and the bright
ness to her eye. She showed it to her
mother, who had only expressed her
knowledge of her child's secret by iu-
creased tenderness, without word.
my ONLY LOVE-" it said. 81 am
coming back to claim you for my own.
Lady Helen has declared her belief in the
old adage, "A bird in the hand is worth
two in the bush.' has broken our unfor-
tunate engagement. and married INV
young cousin. the Duke of Warelands, of
lsx,k.. H. 4