St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-28

Five years had changed the girl-friend he
had left into beautiful woman, whom he
was bound to love, not by promise only, but
by keen appreciation of her worth, grown
now and ripened even as she herself. And
for weeks the task seemed very easy, while
to Agatha, increasing knowledge of her be-
trothed increased her happiness. OF surety
the course of their love promised to run
smooth, Proud Mrs. Ordes air of dignified
graduation over her sons excellent match
grew day by day; the village grew deeply in
terested in the coming wedding and the
bride-elect began to be busy exceedingly over
plans for her wide circle of her humble
friend well-doiug while she should be away.
Jestingly, Godfrey Orde would tell her he
grudged the time she spent in combinations
with Aunt Helen over the many trusts to be
left in her or the rector's hands, but the
eager confidence with which she would seek
to draw him into her projects, and her de-
light in his approval, disarmed him of any
passing chargin and left him no shadow of
excuse for complaint
They were all of them certainly very happy
perfectly content. And yet How
cloud rose on this fair sky, none knew exact
ly. Those whom it overshadowed most
acknowledged it last of all. For it was so
easy, so right of Leonine to glide into treat
ing her almost brother with the free winsome-
ness that kept her childish spite of her nine
teen years. He was of necessity almost as
often-her companion as Agatha's. She had
been fond of him long ago, and-was it not
her duty to be fond of him nova To what
precise depths this duty led her she didn't
stop to measure, until, alas? they were I'M
fathomable.
And Godfrey Orde, his word and honor
pledged to Agatha, felt himself safe to bask,
pleasantly amused, in the animated presence
of her younger sister, never finding out, till
Mays warm weeks were entered, and his
wedding fixed for the first day of June, that
he was turning traitor to his troth; that the
charm of Leonie's gay nature was stronger
than the sweet gravity of that to which he
owed allegiance. But not to himself would
he allow this possible at first.
81 Think" urged his mother anxiously
one night when they were leaving The
Beeches, 81 do think, Godfrey, as Agatha
sings no duets with you, you 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 impatiently.
''Still, l should be sorry,'' his mother ven
tured on, ''that you should seem to slight
your wife that will be. People might say you
were marrying Cor money, and Agatha doesn't
deserve that, Godfrey"
''With or without money, she deserves the
best any human creature can give her," re-
turned Godfrey warmly. ''Don't fancy 1
underrate her, mother.n And with that Mrs.
Orde had to be satisfied, though the ambigu-
Gus speech left her disquieted.
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 unsuspect-
ing Agatha pressed on them while she gave
audience to homely guests.
That hour he vowed, though, should be his
last of dalliance with temptation that was
getting too strong. Resolutely he would
avoid Leonie henceforth, resolutely devote
himself to Agatha. And so for days he did,
dulling his own spirit into utterable aching,
bewildering Agatha, who thought the two
had quarreled, and filing with pain unspeak-
able the heart that was just learning its luck
less secret.
GLOW the child frets over your leaving?''
said Aunt Helen, pityingly; and Leonie, s
sister, gazing at her, white and listless, wan
dering through the garden, wondered, with a
sudden fear, was it for that alone she sor-
rowed
A doubt, double-barbed, shot through her
mind. Guiltless herself of falsity III a single
thought, it seemed unworthy, evil, treasona
bic to two she loved. But truth or treason it
must be. Which, for the peace of all, she
must find out.
lt wanted only two days of her marriage,
and on the last evening but one her nearest
friends were gathered at the Beeches, all not
ing approvingly the close attendance Of Mr..
Orde at her side
Once only he left his, post when Leonie, who
had obstinately refused single song, sud
denly yielded and sang, not the gay air that
used to suit her best but the saddest of her
strains, with tremulous pathos that ended
in a sob. Then Godfrey Orde drew slow
ly towards her, as if scarce master of mis-
steps, and, looked down into her fever-bright
eyes with such u glance as love of Agatha had
never wakened.
Standing near, with his young hostess, 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 hel
voice." said he, and, waiting vainly for res
ponse, saw to his pain that tears were trem-
bling, too, on his companions dark lashes.
81 am tired said Miss Temple. evil
you tell Aunt HELEN to bid all good night
for me!" and turning swiftly away, abruptly
left her guests, of whom one departed soon,
sharing. If not comprehending, the pang thai
drove her into solitude.
''She was tired''-a plea that barred ali
talk with Leonie that night, all share in next
fnr no fact
Godfrey Orde, coming, as usual, early, was
met by a message only-''Would he return
towards evening2' And when he did return,
for the first time Agatha descended from her
own room and went for last hour with heI
lover.
Leonie, too restless for all company, wan
dered hither and thither; now flushed,
now pale; betaking herself at last tc
the small study" where, with her more
than 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 sc
earnest neither turned nor noticed her.
A book was in her hands: what book she
never knew. \ rose she had idly plucked
fell to the ground uncared for. As the two
passed from sight the self-control so difficult
to her impnlsiveness, forsook her utterly
Back into the room she shrank, covering
her face, with sharp cry of pain whispering,
$50 falsel so falsel Ten thousand times ]
have deserved il all. And yet ii is so hard y
While she sat shivering through her troub-
lie sunbeams sank into twilight, wood pig
cons eooed forth their slumber songs in
boughs without, and in the gloom she dares
at last, to weep-for herself; for him who,
worst pang of all, shared her great grief; fol
Agatha, before the very thought of whom shs
covered guilty..
''But she shall never, never knowr' She
cried, through her tears. IF only she can
so, and 1 can die, why, she need never
know"
ssNever know whatf'' said soft sac