Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-07-20
TWO MEN,


Very few women, under the eircumstsn'
ces. would have waited long Knowing the
most wealthy and respectable bachelor Of
their list ofsequaiutanees waiIedin the Parlor
below to lay an offer Of heart and fortune al
their feet, together with social position and
intellectual Accomplishments, they would
not have long tarried looking out upon the
dreary street, wondering what was best,
But Agatha Redwing was a womanly
woman, and romantic woman, with a
heart.
There was another man in the case, OF
rather the memory Of man, memory that
had embirtered her life for three years: a
memory that rose up strong and dehan;
now. when she wanted most to put II away
and begin new life.
But there IL stood at the gateway Of this
new life thai looked so tair and tut OF
promises. and barred the entrance with It's
Shsdowy arms, and said:
DO not enter, for will haunt your foot
steps and blight the taireSt blossom IN your
Eden with longing and regret.
A slight sound disturbed her trance-hkc
revere. and with sigh she turned toward
tie door.
Il must 20 down she said; and when
he speaks will tell him the whole story.
Will leave the rest with him. Ii Is the only
way
So when Colonel Egber; took her hand
and led her 20 seat, and sitting beside her
told her Of his love and reverence. and
asked her 10 0e his wife, she answered
frankly:
Il thank sou sincerely, Colonel Ego"rr
fJr what you have hOnOred me by 5eslo"n-
"a mans love and homage. But before
answer want Won 10 listen to the one 70
nance of nv life. Let me tell YOU Of m.
past
Colonel Eg6ert made an impatient ge>t
IRE with his hand.
Your past is nothing to me he said,
i, Is your present and future ak for,
II Was a manly answer. but Ind mol
spring from wholly unsel6sh sources. III
was iGtuitiye enough to know that what sh.
mad 10 tell related to some other man, aui
though IN his heart he was braced enOugi
10 be satisfied with his present and future
knowing that there had been past he
Shrsnk from hearing the details OF the past
IN which he had no part.
But insist upon telling You, she said
Let there he NO stumbhng-blOcSs - tril
over in our future.
The word our, a. it fell from her lips
thrilled him with such hope that he fell al
most blinded oy Joy for a momen, and slcs
with happiness For this man was terribly
in earnest. terribly in earnest for the hrs
time in thirrv-hye years Of life. and. ike al
strong emotions which come late in life, 1
had mighty hold on him.
go on he said, simply, and she began
"Six years ago, when was but eighteen
was not, as now, a teacher in tie public
school; was the loved and Petted child o
ambitious parents. Ny home was pleasan
and there was every appearance OF prosper
~ and plenty. ! never paused to q leSior
whether this appearance was deceItul D
not took the beautiful wardrobe m!
mother supplied me with, and went int,
society and danced away the long swee
nights, and eNulted in my youth aud hap
piRess.
Il was sought after and admired As ar,
all bright ioyouShearted girls in NV posi-
ton. and among the crowd Of imie > va
one lover
Guy Wilson became NV accepted suite
soon after nv nineteenth birthday he wa
the son of proud mother, the last Of ;
proud race, and as elegant in appearance
and manners as Chesterfield
For one year we were constantly togeth
er. and then he left me for n EprOpea'
tour.
After he went away strange things o.
Cured. saw my father looking harrassr
ard worn, nv mother worried and alarmed
looked about me TO discover that m.
fathers finances were in a helpless comb
ton and bankruptcy imminent.
distressed al the thought Of NV own eN
travagance. sought to make amends b,
earning something through NV own efforts
bat all the avenues Of labor seemed over
crowded
AT last ! succeeded in obtaining al
agency for pictures shall never forge
the terrible Struggle with nv pride betOr,
accepted rhe work. But | conquered It
and tor weeks walked the streets had :,
lately trod in pride peddling nv wares from
door TO door. at the very house where ] ha'
few months before been the queen Of ball
and receptions.
1t was cruel and bitter lesson but
conned it TO the end People were kind II
money way, and / earned enough TO sup
port the family during nv fathers illness
Then be died. and my mother soon followed
and found the old home unbearable, anC
left all behind ne and came here TO th'
work that was protfered.
An this time Guy Wilson was in Europe
His letters were full Of tenderness and love
vet tinged with wounded pride at tn,
thought OF nv changed position and lahors
ought to have been conSiderate, and bOrn'
all, Knowing how he was reared, and wha
an influence his mother who was with him
had upon him.
But felt hurt and wounded, and on
day, in a moment Of anger, wrote him
note, saving simply Under the eircum
stances, yOn must desire your freedom whicI
is granted you and sent it to him.
From that day to this I5have heard n,
word from him. | know not II he IS Twin,
or dead: but to forget him, or the love
bore for MIN, is utterly impossible. II
came FIRST INTO my life, and | mast keep I'll
place be once held sacred to his memory.
And if he should come to you to-da
and ask to be reinstated in favor again, wha
rAsn? asked Colonel Egbert, quietly, lOoS
ing not at her, but beyond her.
Il you'd not listen to him, she al
.swersd ouickly. "He never even reptile
to nv noe. he WAS glad ofh freedom, an
could never -ust or believe in him again
/ must always love him, vet | respect 70
greatly, Colonel EgblHrt, lam tired OF oa'
Ting with life, and If yb.a want me- kno"
ing all this"
II want your love- be san Out
cannot have that, want YOU withC u It.
have never loved any woman. neN,er 2e
Sired any woman for my wife before; al
Would rather know / should never see the
sun rise again than to know I could never
win you for my own. This sounds foolish
and Wild, but it is true Agatha. God
knows l would do anything, risk anything,
10 make you love me ever so little. But II
WON cannot love me, | VIII be content
Z -. l,..a unrf a nd an On