The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1888-11-22

long as you prererred another, or could be
satisfied with any other woman's love, you
lost all claim to minen
Oakhurst could not but feel the force OF
this direct, womanly logic; In it's clear light
how pitiful were the excuses he had framed
for himself! He felt sure that nany, oven
of the best of men, might have erred in the
same way; but this was an argument which
would have much more weight with his ewn
sex than with women Men know their own
frailties, and are therefore charitable; we-
men consider Inconsistency to be the one un-
pardonable sin, and are memorable.
He came still nearer, vainly hoping to see
some. Indication OF relenting; but the pale
face was as firm as it was sad.
Il said before, Agnes, that do not attempt
to defend my faithlessness, hardly to extern
uate it; and do not at all wonder at vour
altered temper toward me- It was cruel
blow | gave you. But my life shall show you
the sincerity of my repentance"
! She shook her head as she answered.
"When you left me, the last spark of lovr.
went out. It is hard to kindle anew fhe
dead embers. No,-when found that YOU
could be untrue, all was over,-past, present.
and future
'But consider" he said, stih more earnestly
what remains for you or me- You vii!
have the memory of this great sorrow. and !
the unending remorse. | can never love
another woman while you live, and you-rnav
say it?-will never love again Us you have
loved Is it not for your own happiness, as
it is most assuredly for mine, chat you over
look the fault, receive me again, and trust
to the lasting effect Of the bitter lesson have
learned? Forgive me, if seem too bold, ii
the desire to atone for the past makes me sue
for pardon with unbecoming zeal. IT I were
less urgent. it would be because I was not
sensible of the wrong. and careless about re-
paration.
She was silent; contending passions strove
for mastery. She had not forgotten hin.,
them He took courage and came vet
nearer
"Wil you give me your hand, Agnes, will
you?"
He reached his own toward her.
| "No,-pardon mel must not. 1t is no:
well to decide by impulse, TO b. swayed by
thrill. When my heart tells n to give y.,,l
my hand, it shall be yours. I don't wis.,, IL
be charmed out of my calmer jud-mon.
Your presence, your fiery words, o.u y,li,
will, are sufficiently magnetic"
"My dear Agnes, have been guilty OF n,A
folly, serious one, but you don't bclievn !
am incapable Of constancy henceforlh. l..
member you were away; time hung sss}:>
! on my hands; my good nature nst SO
I cept invitations which brought ~, ~
contact with woman who of all others was
most dangerous to man of ardent tempera-
ment. The friendship which began without
a thought of a nearer relation grew into an
intimacy which was not far-sighted enough
to check. In your words, T was mag.
netized, thoroughly; and when, at last,
in a scene Of imminent danger, rashly said
some things that should not have been
spoken, found myself committed irrevoca.
bly,. 1t is not too much to say that the lady
was looking for the opportunity which fate
and my own stupidity gave her. But the
spell did not last. Your face was constantly
before me like an accusing angel. I waited
only until the lady recovered from danger
GUS illness to tell her that did not love her,
and that my heart as well as my faith, was
yours. went at once to see you, and found
your father dead, yourself homeless And
from that hour I have done nothing but
search for you. Is it in vains-I can say no
more. Perhaps I have said too much. But
| implore you, Agnes, by the memory Of our
love as it was once, by all your hope Of the
future, to forgive me, and not to make my
whole life as miserable as the last few months
have been to you"
It was the last word; he felt that he had
nothing further to urge. He bent over her
chair, seized her hand and pressed it passion
ately to his lips, watching with the intensest
eagerness the effect of his appeal-There was
rustic Of silk behind him, an incoming Of
perfumes, light footstep. He started, a.
did Agnes, and beheld-Miss Irene Norcrossi
She was tastefully dressed, as usual, and she
bore herself with superb composure In
coming from the sunlight into the semi-tra
lucent gloom which pervades modern draw
lng-rooms, people are not easily recognized,
and the lady swept majestically across the
floor, and took a seat, without sign Of con-
sciousness, near the couple whose converse.
/, ton she had interrupted.
| Not so Oakhurst; it was the most danger
GUS dilemma in which he had ever been
placed, and he was thoroughly at a loss to
know how to extricate himself. Would that
| he could telegraph to Palette to come down.
SO that he could effect decent retreat. and
not leave the field in the sole possession of the
T., enemy The silence was becoming embarrass.
ing. He was about to make some excuse fo1
departure, when the lioness fixed her ewes
upon him-her glance sparkling with mali.
cious joy. A servant entered to say that
Mrs. Norcross was engaged for few minutes,
that she wished to know the name Of her
visitor.
"Miss Norcross," she replied, sand please
tell her will wait"
Agnes remembered the name, and now
shared fully in Oakhurst's embarrassment
She watched him, therefore, keenly, while
the lady began:
"Oh Mr.. Oakhurst, is it your Why didn't
you speaks Is it not worth while to keep
memory of the old disappointment Let by
goes be bygones. Besides, see you know
the remedy for heartbreak; If you can't sue
coed where you would, you may try else
where. And you seemed to be getting on
very well when came in"
"Miss Norcross," he retorted, Indignantly,
"there is as little need of your ironical condo
lence as OF your uugenerous insinuations."
What an impatient fellow! and SO sensi
tive, too! The wound is not healed, then.
Pray introduce me to the Zerlina in our lit
tie opera. AS I know you so well, can
give her some excellent counsel about man
Ss / MI 1 + r.