Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-10-08

But not to himself would he allow this
possible at first.
II think, urged his mother anxiously
one night when they were leaving The
Beeches, q do think, Godfrey, as
Agatha sings no duets with you. Won
would be wiser to sing fewer with
Leonie."
"And why ~ said her son shortly.
well, Agatha-may not like it.
Other people may-at least, they do
notice it"
Agatha is entirely above any
wretched jealousy" said Mr.. Orde i'm
patiently.
"Still, [ should be sorry" his mother
ventured on, "that you should even
seem to slight your wife that will be.
People might say that you were marry
ing for money, and Agatha doesn't de-
serve that, Geoffrey."
with or without money, she deserves
the best any human creature can give
her," returned Godfrey, warmly.
Don't fancy [ underrate her, mother.
And with that Mrs. Orde had to be sat
isfed, though the ambiguous speech
left her disauieted.
Still, he meant to be--nay, he vowed
he would be- loyal; and, strong in self
trust, went next day to The Beeches,
and found himself listening for Leonie's
step, watching for Leonie's coming,
made infinitely glad by the dangerous
hours music which unsuspecting
Agatha pressed on them while she gave
audience to homely guests.
That hour he vowed, though, should
be his last of dalliance with tempta-
ton that was getting too strong. Reso-
lutely he would avoid Leonie hence
forth, resolutely devote himself to
Agatha. And so for days he did, dull
ing his own spirit into unutterable ach-
ing, bewildering Agatha, who thought
the two had quarreled, and filling with
pain unspeakable the heart that was
just learning it's luckless secret.
"How the child frets over your leav-
ing!" said Aunt Helen, pityingly; and
Leonie's sister gazing at her, white and
listless, wandering through the garden,
wondered, with sudden fear, was it for
that alone she sorrowed!
A doubt, double-barred, shot through
her mind. Guiltless herself of faIsity
in single thought, it seemed unworthy,
evil, reasonable to two she loved. But
truth or treason Unjust be. Which, for
the peace of all, she must find out.
1t wanted only two days of her
marriage, and on the last evening but
one party of her nearest friends were
gathered at The Beeches, all noting ap-
provingly the close attendance of Mr..
Orde at her side.
Once only he left his post, when
Leonie, who had obstinately refused a
single song, suddenly yielded and sang,
not the gay air that used to suit her
best but the very saddest of her strains,
with tremulous pathos that ended in
sob. Then Godfrey Orde drew slowly
toward her, as If scarce master of his
steps, and, as the notes ceased, looked
down into her fever-bright eyes with
such a glance of love as Agatha had
never awakened.
Standing near, with his young host
ess, was the rector, looking ten years
older than when he came to Wynford.
People said the place couldn't suit him.
Your sister sings with tears in her
voice" said he, and, waiting vainly for
response, saw to his pain that tears
were trembling, too, on his companions
dark lashes.
81 tired" said Miss Temple.
will you tell Aunt Helen to bid all
good night for me?" and, turning swift
~ away, abruptly left her guests, of
whom one departed soon, sharing, if not
comprehending, the pang that drove her
into solitude.
She was tired"-a plea that barred
all talk with Leonie that hight, all share
In next days preparations for the fes-
tive morrow. Geoffrey Orde, coming,
as usual, early, was met by message
only-"Would he return towards even
ing?" And when he did return, for
the first time Agatha descended from
her own room and went for last hour
with her lover.
Leonie, too restless for all company,
wandered hither and thither; now
flushed, now pale; betaking herself at
last to the small Study" where, with
her more than sister, she had worked
ana 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
control, SO difficult for her impulsive-
ness, forsook her utterly. Back into
the room she shrank, covering her face,
with sharp cry of pain whispering,
$50 falsel SO false! Ten Thousand times
[ have deserved it all. And yet it is so
hard"
While she sat shivering through her
trouble sunbeams sank into twilight,
wood pigeons cooed forth their slumber
songs in boughs without, and in the
gloom she dared at last to weep--for
herself; for him who, worst pang of all,
shared her great grief; for Agatha, be-
fore the very thought of whom she cow
cred guiltilv.
'But she shall never, never know!n
I'll