Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-04-13

SrS, Tor such = purpose, TO speculate upon
Greclan or Roman noses. thin or protruding
hips, blue, gray, or brown eyes; each soul
knows Its own sphere and the people that be-
long IN 1t; and sure instinct or prescience
guides us in our choice of friends Alice st .
glance became conscious of an affinity, and
quietly waited till circumstances should bring
her into associations with the woman whom
she hoped 10 make a friend
Il was not long before the occasion CANA
Not to make any mystery, it was our old ac-
quaintsnce, Mrs NorcroSS, who attracted
the gsxe of Agnes, and who soon became
her kindly adviser. Never was there more
motherly woman: and, as she was now al
most a stranger in the house, she attached
herself 10 Agnes with a warmth and an I'M
obtrusive Soiicitude that quite won the girls
heart Agnes lost no time in procuring such
work from a tailor as she felt competent to
do, and applied herself diligently to her task :;
but very short trial convinced her that
at the starvation prices then paid for
needlework, she could not be able to earn
even her board. Then came in the
thoughtful friend, who, after gently drawing
out the facts III the case@furnished her with
sewing on which she could display her taste
and skill Day after day new employment
came through the same kind hands, until
Agnes wondered how one wearer could want
such quantity of the various nameless
tasteful articles in which all women feel 50
much pride, 1t was not until long after, that
she learned how the work had been procured
by her friends active, but noiScless energy.
Not many days after their intimacy COM
mencei, as Mrs NorcroSS sat watching Agnes
at her work, il occurred to her that there
was a look Of tender SORROW an unexplained
melancholy, which her recent berea vement
did not wholly account for. Not that the
girl was given to romantic signs or tragic
starts, or that she carried miniature for
lachrymose exercises; but it was evident that
she mad what we term "a history" She WAS
frank and cheerful, although there was pal
pably something kept back, and her cheer
fulneSs was something like the mournful
beauty Of flowers that blossom over graves
No sympathetic nature could refuse conf
dence TO Mrs. NorcrosS, and it was not long
before she discovered that Agnes had pass,d
through the golden gate TO which all foot
steps tend, and from which no one comes
back except with change that covers all the
after life.
And so you are in love, poor child" said
Mrs. Norcross, compasSionately
Il have been with gentle emphasis
All, you think you are past it now, sup
pose!"
81 shan't forget soon-I could not, il
would; but love is OVERCOME like yesterdays
sunshine"
But the sun shines again to-day"
We'll, If you prefer another comparison"
said Agnes, smiling faintly-"gone out like
yesterdays fire"
Fire turks a long time in the ashes unseen.
my dear"
Agnes dropped her needle and looked
steadily at her companion.
Il am young" she said; yet | have
outgrown the schoolgirl period. The cur
rent of my life has flowed i'll deep channel:
the shallow little brook may fancy its first
spring -freshet to be Niagara; but my feel
ings have swelled with no transient overflow
gave my utmost love and devotion to a man
Thought worthy. He treated me with neg
lect, and at last falsitied his word in Offering
his hand to another. do NOT hate him. |
have none of that alchemy which thanges
despised love to gall. But could never for
give him. nor trust him again And if he,
who seemed always SO frank, so earnest. so
tender, so single in his aims-if he could not
be trusted, | do not know where could rest
my heart and say, Here am safe, whatever
betider
1t was strange thing for Agnes to speak
In such an exalted strain, and she trembled
as she tried to resume her sewing. The
thread slipped and knotted; the needle broke
and priclxed her finger; and then, feeling her
cheeks begin to glow, she laid down her work
and turned to the window.
"Don't lose all faith, Agnes: there are true
hearts in the world. Perhaps this lover of
yours, now, has repented and is striving to
find Or bava mic
formed as to the extent of his treachery. To
take your own simile, you don't accuse the
brook of fickleness merely because it eddies
around under some fowery bank; after it has
made the circle, it keeps on its steady
course"
Agnes only shook her head, still keeping
her face averted to conceal the tremor of her
lips.
"But you haven't told me who this man is.
How odd it would be if | knew himln
81 would rather not have you know The
secret isn't fatal one, to be sure; but pre-
fer to keep it."
Suddenly she stepped back from the win
dow, ashy-pale and gasping Historically.
Mrs NorcrOss rose hastily to assist her, and.
she did so, noticed her old acquaintance,
MIR. Oakhurst, on the opposite sidewalk She
helped Agnes to her seat and brought her a
glass of water, and, as she did so, i'll an in
slant the long track of the past was illumined
as by flash of lightning. She saw the req
son foHOaEhursts conduct towards her sister
in-law, Irene. She remembered his early
fascination, his long, vacillating resistance,
his brief engagement, and the stormy scene
when it was broken. She had seen the thread
of Fate spun for each, without knowing that
invisible strands connected them. She had
begun to read tale of sorrow, but the page
was torn, and now she had finished it upon
the chance found fragment; the irregular
and jagged elges fitted together like mosaic
work.
What a mystery is TRUTH A Lie may
Simulate its form or hue, and, taken by it
self, may deceive the most acute observer
But in the affairs of the world, every fact il
from the adjoining entr caused both of
Lhem to stop, and one o. .ne'n. at least, to
iniver. 1t was the sound q slow and hest
Eating, shufffing steps Of n.eI carrying
burden. The steps came nearer Both Tril-
lion and Norcross moved hurriedly to the
spot The men stopped in the doorway with
their burden, and in a moment, with frantic
shrieks, Mrs. Trainor rushed in and fell upon
the body of her husband.
Good God" what's this!H exclaimed Tril-
lion. dead" He stopped down and thrust
his hand under the walstcoat. The heart
was still. He shuddered cOnvusively and
drew back, covering his eyes. "Deadp
Mr.. Norcross seemed frozen to the TIRES
hold in speeches. horror. There was his
debtor, free-the old account settled foreverl
The palld temples would throb no more; the
mobile lips had trembled their last; the glanc
ing, restless eyes had found a CHASTITY
repose; the slender and shapely frame,
bereft OF its active tenant, was limp and
unresisting. What moment for the two
men, as they stood over the corpse Of their
victim
Attracted by the unusual cutlery, hr
Major came hastily out Of the office, and
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