The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-04-09
AGNES,

AGNES.
"Come, Mss Agnes, or your lunch'l be cold
~ Q stone"
Al tho kind old housekeeper looked into the
room her face took on an anxious expression.
~ she saw the bowed young head, and heard
the snothered sobs Of the mistress of whom
she was 30 unsslashly fond
"What 10 it, dear? Did tho letter bring bad
newss Tell mo all about it. and maybe the
telling of your trouble make It castor to bear.
Agnes raised her head and looked at
Ars' Willard in = dazed sort Of way for an in
stant Then, with an effort, she controlled
herself sufficiently to speak and unburden her
mind Of the sad truth which pressed so heavi-
" upon it
swell soon be without home, Mrs. VIII
lard The money that papa loft me is all lost,
Tho letter il to NO."
"Well, Miss Agnes, you have your cousin
Ernest to look to. He will take caro- OF YOU. "
crimson flush chased away the girls pal
Tor.
"Hush, Mrs. Willard! Don't speak to me Of
him again; he is married Tho news came this
morning."
''Bad luck to him, and he engaged to you He
is black heartfelt"
''No, Mrs Willard; he's only tickle and
thoughtlesa He fell desperately in love with
the pretty young thing he has married, and
they have made runaway match. I 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 mo, tia,
was all"
Agnes spoke with silent dignity which 81
fenced her listener at oncs
'Well, come and have your lunch now. I
brolled bit Of chicken for you, and hope it will
tasto good: Sitting hero and fretting won't mend
things bit"
She succeeded in coaxing Agnes into the
ginning room, and poured her cup of fragrant
Mocha, laid the morning paper beside her nlate
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. It
Wanted, housekeepcr She must be &C.
i've and gOOd-tempcred, as we'll as competent
70 direct the domestics under hcr particular
charge"
II will have to earn my living now" thoueht
Agnes, with sigh; And kept house Tor
papa, so why can't for some one else? Atanv
rate VII! answer this advertisement and find
out what kind Of duties are required"
ohe wrote note and sent it to the address
The following day brought reply from Mr.
Dnrant, requesting her to call at the writer's
mousse, giving its number and tho name of tho
street Va WIG
After long walk she reached the place
1t was quite an imposing looking structure.
"A carriage was drawn up before it. and a
nverled footman ran up the steps and gave a
tremendous pull at the door beh, CHANGING at
Agnes curiously as he did 60
servant came to the door,
Agnes gave him her card, and he moved
nnSG:lselessly away, returning to say, s'please
Miss, walk into tho library"
gentleman was seated at q writing table.
ne turned his head as Agnes entered, care
r ,ess,y a. first then euriously His eyes wero
one Of unmistakable surprise
~ hope you will pardon me-" said he. s.for
paying your youth is against YOU"
Agnes tried to make her voice steady az she
answered, but in spite of her efforts it trem-
Il never had any trouble with our own ser-
wants, sir, so =! thought might manage other
peoples; but see my mistake"
must again ask pardon for intruding my
opinions uPonyou. But why, may ask, have
you selected this particular kind Of employ
ut was sudden impulse which led me to
answer your notice. Poor papa has been gone
from mea Whole year, and now l have Just
heard That all tho money he left is lost
mus' earn my living some way"
hko your spirit Tho taking of such a
rospons ble place as that Of tho directing spirit
or my household machinery would not be FEAST
bic; but have an invalid aunt who is about
10 part with her companlon-a lady who has
come into small property lately, and does not
need the position any longer If you succeed
In making favorable impression upon the old
lady, who is rather queer in her way, 1t will be
much easier employment thanthat 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
vallds fancy and sho was engaged to take the
place on the following week.
ohe tulhlled her duties every day, aud after
several months became very much attached to
her, and she had every reason to make her
Journey through life as happy as it could DO
while enduring 80 much pain.
Her death came suddenly, and was such q
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 shel-
3ered her. When she broached the matter to
Mr. Durant, however, he would not listen to it,
and to her great surprise supplemented his re-
9usal with an offer Of marriage
.! never thought to put trust in woman
again" he said; "but have learned to like to
eee you about this lonesome old house. You
RIO still on tho sunny side of life, and am for
y; but will try to mako you happy Do not
answer mo now. Think Of what / have said.
and give mo my reply TO- morrow at this time "
Surprised and bewildered at the sudden prop
eslhon, Agnes withdrew from Mr.: Durants
presence.
WAS there such thing as true love in the
w mona she questioned hersef-that is in
., Ter own sad experience laughter to answer,
She did not love Mr. Durant, but she was
conscious of feeling of respect and admira-
ton for him.
He had not protested to love her.
ltwould be purely friendly union and was it
not the truest kind OF marriage after all?
Thus she reasoned her conscientious scru-
ples 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 q
blow which had given love It's death wound,
and to accept friendship and respect instead,
panion throughout life's Journey.
Mr.. Durant WAS pleased wit. ner candor, and
after brief delay they were married.
The young wife proved like ray Of SUM-
showed tokens of the change that had boon in
augurated with Its new mistress; and best of
oil. Agnes learned to love her husband, not
with the romantic devotion which had char
acterized tho first love, and had ended 20
dlsastrously, but with a calm, enduring affcc-
ton, which was far better calculated TO make
its object happy.
One morning while looking over some old
fashioned daguerrcotypes packed away in tho
drawer of an old cabinet, Agnes came upon
an exquisitely painted miniature Of young
girl.
The artist had depicted the sweet fsce
curving the delicate lips, dimpling the pink
cheeks, and laughing roguishly out of tho eyes
Is blue as this iax-hower blossom
Agnes fastened with her new found treas
nre to tho library, her husbands favorite
haunt
She held up the picture toward him.
"See what have found! What a shame for
sucha beautiful face to be hid away in place
which is SO seldom visited"
Mr.. Durant glanced up with preoccupied
look. but as his eye rested on the picture, with
sudden darksning of his usually calm face,
and with lowering brow, he caught it from
Agnes and threw it across the room.
Then seeing by his wifes pallor that he had
startled her, he Gained himself by q snnrema