Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-03-25

step, watching for Leonie's COMM,
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 n tempta-
ton that was getting to- strong. leso-
lutely he would avoid | eonie 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 quarre!ed, and filling with
pain unspeaka le the heart that Yves
Just learning its lucklcsS secret.
elbow the child frets over your leav-
ing" said Aunt Helen, pity ingly; and
Leonie's sister, gazing at her, white
and listless, wandering through the
garden, wondered, with a sudden fear,
was it for that alone she sorrowcd
A DOUBT, ble-barbcd, shot through
her mind. Guiltless herself of falsity
in single thought il seemed un-
worthy, evil, reasonable to two she
loved. But truth or treason il must
be. Which, for the peace Of all. she
must find out.
1t wan ed only two days of her mar
riagc, and on the last evening but one
her nearest friends were gathered ut
The Beeches, all noting approvingly
the close attendance of Mr. Orde at
her side.
Once only he left his post, when Lc-
onic. 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 stra rs, with tremulous pathos
that ended in sob. Then Godfrey
Orde drew slowly towards her, as il
scarce master of his steps, and as tho
notes ceased, looked down into her
fever-b bright eyes with such glance rs
love of Agatha had never wakened.
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 tear.
were trembling, too, on his compan-
ions dark lashes.
IL am--tired," said Miss Temple.
''Will you tell Aunt Helen to bid all
good night for mep" and. turning
swiftly away, abruptly left her guests,
of whom one departed soon, sharing, il
not comprehending, the pang that
drove her into solitude.
"She was tired"-a plea that barred
all talk with conc that night, all
share in next days preparations for
Al do
coming, as usual, early, was met by
message only-"Would he return
towards evening"" And when he did
return, for the first time Agatha de-
scended 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
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 so
earnest neither turned or noticed her.
4 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 TO her 'impulsive-
ness, forsook her utterly. Back into
the room she shrank, covering her face,
with a sharp cry o. pain Whispering:
$50 false! so false! Ten thousand
times havo deserved it all. And yet
it is so hard!'
While she sat shivering through her
trouble, sunbeams sank into twilight.
wood pigeons coocd forth their slumber
songs in boughs without, and in the
gloom she dared Mt last to weep-for
herself; for him who, worst pang Of
all. shared her great grief; for Agatha,
before the very thought of whom she
covered guilty.
"But she shall never, never known
she cried through her tears. IF only
she can go, and / can die, why, she
need never know"
"Neyer know whatp' said so!t, sad
voice close by; and the next instant
Leonie was in her sisters arms.
80. Agatha" she entreated, striving
to get free, ''lct me go. Don't come
so kindly TO me. Don't ask me what |
mean!
- w wv UHSWCIcu ASutHu, WIFI ~
wonderful calm on her pale face. IL
can tell you, Leonie, what 1t all means.
That two of us have nigh made terri
bic mistake. but have found it out in
time. | was slow to see it, Lono, but
/ know t now, ! have no right to
Geoifry. He loves you best"
"Agatha"--
"Hush! He belongs to you, not me.
1t has been tangled skcin for us, but
this is the only right way out OF II; and
Geo!fry sees that it is So"
"But Agatha" urged leonie, trcm-
bling between exceeding pain and m-sr-
velous Joy, "he has never said'--
"a word know he has not. Both
of you meant to be faithful to me. Per-
haps" wistful faltering in her
tender voicc-''It was my fault you
could not be. There. darling. there!'
AS Leonie wept passionately on her
bosom-''lct Godfrey come to you
(his step was sounding on the path
outside), "and thank God for all of us,
this hour is not too late"
How this extraordinary news was
received by household and wedding
guests, by poor, disappointed Mrs.
Ordc. by the whole startled parish, we
must leave to our readers imaginations.
Long before the fermcnt OF excitement
had subsidized quiet marriage had
taken place so Agatha had willcd it,
and al yielded to her-and with his
BRIDE mot portionlcss, as to his con-
trite surprise and his mothers comfort,
he discovered Godfrey Orde was
speeding away TO the far East
Till the hubbub of discussion was
last, Agatha Temple deserted the
Beeches, and, returning after weeks of
absence. brought back in her brave
serenity scarce a trace of the trial that
had driven her away.
"!conic is happy she says, and al
lows no tongue to blame her sister in
her hearing.
Perchance her home, her people,
make up to or for what she lost. Per-
chance the very power to renounce
what she did wakens mistrust as to her
fitness ever to have filled the state SHE
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