Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-05

her, and see how the plan is likely to
succeed.
Agnes modest face at once attracted
the invalid's fancy, and she was en-
gagged to take the place on the follow
ing week.
She fulfilled her duties satisfactorily,
and after few. months she became
fondly attached to the feeble old lady,
and found real pleasure in trying to
make her life as happy as it could be,
while enduring SO much pain.
Her death came suddenly, and was
such shock to the kind young COM
panion that at first it put all other
thoughts out of her mind.
Then she awoke to the knowledge
that she must leave the hospitable home
that had sheltered her.
When she preached the matter to
Mr.. Durant, however, he would not
listen to it, and, to her great surprise,
supplemented his refusal by an offer of
marriage.
81 never thought to put trust in wo-
man again" he said; ''out | have
learned to like to see you about this
lonesome old house. You are still on
the sunny side of life, and | am forty.
But will try to make you happy Do
not answer me now. Think of what
| have said, and give me my reply to-
morrow at this time
Surprised and bewildered at the sud-
den proposition, Agnes withdrew from
Mr.. Durant's presence.
Was there such q thing as true love
in the world? she questioned herself;
that is, in mans heart?
Her own sad experience taught her
to answer: NO"
She did not love Mr.. Durant. but she
was conscious Of a feeling of respect
and of admiration for him. He had
not professed to love her. 1t would
be purely a friendly union, and was it
not the truest kind of marriage, after
all?
Thus she reasoned down her con-
scientious scruples, and at last made
up her mind to tell Mr.. Durant that if
he would take her for his wife knowing
that her heart had once received blow
which had given love its death wound,
and to accept friendship and respect
instead, she would be to him true and
faithful companion throughout life's
journey.
Mr.. Durant was pleased with her
candor, and after q brief delay they
were married.
The young wife proved like a ray of
sunshine in the grand old house. Ev-
cry room showed tokens of the change
that had been inaugurated with it's new
mistress; and best of all, Agnes learned
to love her husband; not with the ro-
mantle devotion that had characterized
the first love, that had ended so disas-
trously, but with calm, enduring af-
lection, which was far better calculated
to make its object happy.
One morning, while looking over
some old-fashioned daguerreotypes
packed away in the drawer of an old
cabinet, Agnes came upon an exquis-
itelv-painted miniature of young girl
The artist had depicted the sweet
face with smile curying the delicate
lips, dimpling the pink cheeks, and
laughing roguishly out of the eyes, blue
as the fax-tlower blossom.
Agnes fastened with her new-found
treasure to the library-her husbands
favorite haunt
She held the picture towards him.
See what [ have foundi What
shame for such beautiful face to be
hidden away in place which is so sell
don visited. -
Mr.. Durant glanced up with a pre-
occupied look, but as his eyes rested
upon the picture, with sudden dark
ening of his usually calm face, and
with a lowering brow, he caught it
from Agnes and threw it across the
room.
Then, seeing by his wife's pallor that
he had startled her, he calmed himself
by q supreme effort, and said:
cit is through your ignorance of my
past, Agnes, that you have given me
such a wound. That picture represents
my daughter, Grace.
Her very existence cost the life of
her fair young mother; and when / at
last forgave her debt, and gave her the
warmest place left in my benumbed
heart, she deserted me for stranger,
and again | was left desolate.
''She proved an migrate. Never
mention her to me again, Agnes. /
have learned to depend upon your love
and sympathy. Do not disappointme "
Agnes stood for an instant in mute
surprise, longing but not daring to
plead for forgiveness for the discarded
child of whose existence she had now
heard for the first time.
1t seemed so cruel for her to be en-
jOying the beautiful home of her noble
hearted husband, while his daughter
was an exile from it.
But Agnes had the rare gift of pa
tience. SO she said nothing until She
could see the way clear not to iniure
the cause of the absent one. But from
the time when her husband first dis
closed to her the carefully guarded Sc
cret at heart, she determined to event
ually effect reconciliation.
BY inquiries she learned the whole
bitter truth. Grace Durant had fallen
in love with the son of Mr.. Durant's
bitter enemy. and hopeless of gaining
her fathers consent TO their marriage,
had yielded to the entreaties of her
young lover, and had made clandes-
tine match with him.