The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-29
AGNES.
"Come, Miss Agnes, or your lunch'n be cold

-
room her face took on an anxious expression,
as she saw the bowed young head, and heard
the smothered sobs OF the mistress of whom
she was 30 unselfshly fond.
s'What is it, dears Did the letter bring bad
news? Tell me all about it, and maybe the
telling of your trouble'll make it easier to bear"
Agnes raised her head and looked at
Mrs. Willard in a dazed sort of way for an in
slant Then, with an effort, she controlled
herself sufficiently to speak and unburden her
mind of the sad truth which pressed so heayi-
ly upon it
"we'n soon be without home, Mrs. Will
lard The money that papa left me is all lost.
The letter is to me-"
well, Miss Agnes, you have your cousin
Ernest to look to. He will take care OF you"
A crimson flush chased away the girls pal
lor.
"Hush, Mrs. Willard Don't speak to me of
him again. he is married The news came this
morning"
''Bad luck to him, and he engaged toyou. He
is black hearted"
''No, Mrs. Willard; he's only tickle and
thoughtless. He fell desperately in love with
the pretty young thing he has married, and
ihey have made runaway match. 1 am glad
he found out the nature of his liking for me
before instead OF after our union had taken
place He had cousinly feeling for me, that
was ALL"
Agnes spoke with silent dignity which ST.
fenced her listener at once.
"Well, come and have your lunch now. l
broiled bit of chicken for you and hope 1t will
taste good, Sitting here and fretting won't mend
things bit
She succeeded in coaxing Agnes into the
dining room, and poured her cup Of fragrant
Mocha, laid the morning paper beside her plate
and then left her alone.
Agnes slipped the coffee and tasted the chick
en-. Then she glanced over the columns of the
newspaper.
An advertisement attracted her attention 1t
was this
"Wanted, housekeeper. She must bo &C
tive and good-tempered, as well as competent
to direct the domestics under her particular
charge"
81 will have to earn my living now," thought
Agnes, with sigh; "And l kept house for
papa, so why can't for some one else? Atany
rate will answer this advertisement and find
out what kind of duties are required"
She wrote note and sent it to the address
given.
The following day brought reply from Mr..
Durant requesting her to call at the writer's
house, giving its number and the name OF the
street
After long walk she reached the place.
1t was quite an imposing looking structure
A carriage was drawn up before it. and
Inverted footman ran up the steps and gave
tremendous pull At the door-bell, glancing at
Agnes curiously as he did so.
servant came to the door.
Agnes gave him her card, and he moved
noiselessly away, returning to say, please
Miss, walk into the library"
gentleman was seated at writing table,
he turned his head as Agnes entered, care
lessly at first, then curiously His eyes were
very dark and bright, and their expression was
one Of unmistakable surprise.
81 hope you will pardon me" said he, 'for
saying your youth is against you"
Agnes tried to make her voice steady as she
answered, but in spite Of her efforts it trem-
bled
Il never had any trouble with our own SER
wants, sir, so thought l might manage other
peoples but see my mistake"
81 must again ask pardon for intruding my
opinions upon you But why, may ask, have
you selected this particular kind of employ
ment?"
sit was a sudden impulse which led me to
answer your notice. Poor papa has been gone
from me whole year, and now, l have just
heard that all the money he left is lost
must earn my living some way"
81 like your spirit The taking Of such
responsible place as that of the directing spirit
of my household machinery would not be FEAST
bic; but have an invalid aunt who is about
to part with her compan1on-a lady who has
come into small property lately, and does not
need the position any longer. II you succeed
in making favorable impression upon the old
lady, who is rather queer in her way, 1t will be
a much easier employment than that of house
keeper. l will conduct you to her, and see how
the plan is likely to succeed"
Agnes modest face at once attracted the in
valids fancy and she was engaged to take the
place on the following week.
She fulfilled her duties every day, and after
several months became very much attatchedt to
her, and she had every reason to make her
journey through life as happy as it could be
while enduring so much pain.
Her death came suddenly, and was such
shock to the kind young care-taker 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 shell
tered her. When she preached tho matter to
Mr.. Durant, however, he would not listen to it,
and to her great surprise supplemented his re-
fusal with an offer of marriage.
again." he said; "but have learned to like to
see you about this lonesome old house. You
are still on the sunny side of life, and am for
ty; but will try to make you happy. Do not
answer me now. Think of what have said,
and give me my reply morrow at this time
Surprised and bewildered at the sudden prop
osition, Agnes withdrew from Mr.. Durants
presence
s'was there such thing as true love in the
world?'" she questioned horself-"that is in
mans hearty"
Her own sad experience laughter to answer,
NO"
She did not love Mr.. Durant, but she was
conscious of feeling of respect and admira-
ton for him.
He had not professed to love her.
Itwould be purely friendly union and was it
not the truest kind of marriage after all?
Thus she reasoned her CONSCIENTIOUS scru-
pies, 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 COM
panion throughout life's journey.
Mr. Durant was pleased with her candor, and
after brief delay they were married.
The young wife proved like ray of sun
shine in the grand old house. Every room
showed tokens of the change that had been in |
augurated with Its new mistress; and best Of
all, Agnes learned to love her husband, not |
with the romantic devotion which had char |
acterized the first love, and had ended so
but with calm, enduring affec- |
ton 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 |