Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-09-13
means untried to find her. Did She leave nc


hand.
DEAR RoRERr-Don't be offended. ! can
not eat the bread of idleness now that your
fortune is gone and your salary stopped. II
/ need your assistance, you will hear from
me. Comfort your mother, and believe that
| shall be happier earning my own living.
We shall meet in better times. God bless
you both for your indness to one who had
no claim upon you! Agnes
"Ihe dear ~creaturei9 said Mrs. Jameson,
taking the note and kissing it.
why did you let her trunk go, mother.
You might have detained the man who came
for it, and sent for me. / would have fol
lowed him TO the end of the earth"
II don't know, my son. l was confused.
/ hardly knew what happened. / shook 50
that sat down, and Bridget must have got
it,
Tears ran down her checks, and her hands
trembled so that her fork dropped.
"Neyer mind, dear mother. Pray, be calm.
/ don't wish TO disturb you"
There was "A ring at the door. A gentle
man wished to sec Mr.. Jameson. Rising
fromthe table, he went into the parlor.
"AIr. Jameson, ? began the stranger, in an
agitated manner, do you know anything
of a young lady named ~Feld-Agnes Fields"
"Yes, " replied Jameson, with equal excite
ment, II know her well. What of her.
Where is she. Have you found hergo
Found herF' said the other with surprise.
is she not heresp
"No-sie left this morning"
"And left no word where she was goingF'
"None.n
LET me beg Of you not to trine with me.
Did she not hear my voice, my step, and at
tempt to excuse herself through youf'
"Sir!7 exclaimed Robert.
II beg pardon. / have been in search Of
her for two days. could not believe she
bad eluded me just at the last. do not
wish to doubt your worl'
"And who may you be, sir to take such an
interest in the LADY,
q can satisfy you fully. My name is Oak.
hurst
4The painters'
~Yes. You must have heard her speak Of
me-
"Never, TO my recollection"
"Haye you known he. longg'
aShe is my cousin. 1t is only recently
that she came here, ard her acquaitances Of
ayear ago might naturally have been passed
over
sYou seem surprised at her leaving you 50
abruptly. You win join ne in making search
for herr
u shall search for her, myself, as long as
there is hope
"Let me confess, said Oakhurst, 'that l
have the strongest reasons for my haste. She
is betrothed TO me.n
"Since you have honored me with your con
fidence, | will return il, so far as 70 tell you
what | heard from her this morning. /
think | can remember the precise words: Il
have received a wound from the faithlessness
Of one lover, which never will heal If YOU
are the person, / hope the information will
be as agreeable to you as her absence and
ill-iudging Independence are to me. wish
yot good morning.
~Ihen she has heartg' said Oakhurst, So
hloquizing. Il am justly punished Then
aloud "Israll not take ofTense at your sc.
verify of tone. have but one thought now.
Good morning.
He left the house, like one Ia a dream.
Agnes homeless in tie streets this bitter day
seeking for a horne in poverty stricken
boarding ~houses-asking Tor work from tail
ors or millineis-exposed to jeers, coarse
compliments, and even 90 utter wantl-the
thought was agony. The sorrows of a wholF
life were concentrated IN this one hour. He
walked On, irantically, peerins under every
bounet as he passed, hooking w~istfully III at
the shop-wiudows, expecting every moment
TO encounter her sad, reproachful face.
Robert bad been somewhat III for several
days, and the accumulation of niisfortnnes
now pressed upon him heavily. He did not
tell his mother Of the strange inter- lew, but
sat down modify by the CRATE, in the library.
He was utterly p~replexed where in the city
to search for Agnes; and with his mental de-
preston came a bodily infrmity and nerv-
BUSINESS that made him incapable Of effort.
An hour passed in gloomy reverie-drifting
without aim upon a shoreless ocean, under a
sullen sky-when he was aroused by the en-
trance Of Palette.
ain the dumpss | declare, Jameson, l
shouldn't have thought it Of YOU"
II am really i'll, my friend"
"Pooh! Don't let your troubles make you
believe that. Cheerup. You'll find employ
ment presently, ana you'll be surprised
to find how well you are.n
u hope l shall be able to make the expert
ment.
swell, suppose you walk out with me.
There is a tailor | want TO see.n
"a tailor! l can't sew or use shears,
either.o
"No-nor sit cr~oss-legged; l know that.
But this tailor is no common Snip. lie is a
man Of ideas and character. He has some
thing TO propose to you.n
"Indeedl lam much obliged to you. To
morrow l will go with you; but, really, / feel
too feeble to-day, > said Jameson, languidly.
"Well, as you please; tomorrow it shall be.
How is your motherf'
"Quite well, | thank YOU
"And the pretty cousin, likew,te, | hopeF'
"Shc was quite well this morning"
isn't she at home.7
"No-she has gone out.n
"Confound you, Jamiesonl you have never
let ere have n glimpse of her. Now, l am
not a dangerous person; quite harmless, in
fact; received trustfully by matrons with
grown up daughters. You needn't hide her"
Il don't know. Some young ladies are
quite apt to be fascinated by elderly gentle
men who know the world and still take ali in
tcrest in society"
"Yes,-a hlial sort of interest, a grand
~daughterly reverence and respect. The sight
of gray hair is a wonderful antidote to any
tenderer feeling
u am very sorry not TO oblige you; but
the truth is that Cousin Agnes, hearing of
my losses, has left the house abruptly, to
earn her own living. and we do not know
where she has gone.p
THE independent little mink Now, |
rather like that. There's the proper spirit.
She'll take good care Of herself. l haven't a
Doubt
"But it is a most notifying step to us. It
is a reflection upon our hospitality. l would
have worked my fingers off for her"
"No doubt. But she win merely turn hers
into nutmeg graters, by pricking them with
her needle, and save you from making
stumps of your own. oh, never fear,-we
shall find her presently. iii make a de-
scription Of her, and leave it with all the
slopshop fellows. 'Strayed or stolen: A
young lady answering to the name Of Agnes;
five feet and no inches; dressed in black pale,
blue-eyed, smiles when properly spoken to;
Of no use to any person but the owner. One
Thousand dollars reward and no questions
asked Isn't that its It won't be necessary
TO add, that the disconsolate advertiser is
breaking his heart on account Of her alb
sence."
My dear Palette. l know your kindly
heart; but | can not be rallied out Of this de
preston. ! have only the interest of a cousin,
a friend, a protector, in the girl; but her 60
ing away, after my other misfortunes, has
plunged me into an abyss. ! amt be cheer
full
One word more, my dear fellow, and go.
You know l threatened TO bore you every
day; but l sha'n't continue the terebrations
long at a time. You told me ABOUT the way
your notes were disposed of. Now, they are