Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-09-20

%AAA HhtfH $500 ANff = 49, 80 AFEhAs
but it seems you were not told Of it,
Palette bowel, saying: @No, Miss Field; |
saw Mrs. N0rcross, who thought it best to
speak to you first herself"
81 am happy to meet you, Mr.. Paletto,n
said Agnes. Il was just going out, however,
at you see, and | must ask you to excuse me
this morning
Oakhurst saw with a paug how silently,
but effectually, he was disposed Of; a down
right rebuff would not have been so humiliat-
ing. Blu he was not to be deferred from his
purpose, and he went on:
pardon me, if | seem to o~verstep the
bounds of courtesy but | cannot let yon go
in this way, Agnes-for so | must call you.
Stay and hear me. Now that | see you, !
must speak. God only knows with what
anxiety | have sought you for the last
month";
She tried to answer, but could not com
mand her speech. Seeing her increasing
agitation, Palette led her to a seat, and
then. in a gentler tone than he often used,
said:
II viii leave the room, if you please, Miss
Field; this is an interview that / did not de-
sire to witness"
"No," she exclaimed. do not go. have
nothing TO say that you should not hear; and
] hope Mr.. Oakhurst will spare me the pain
Of going over a history which is better for
gotten.n
at can never be forgotten. interposed
Oakhurst; land, in spite of your protest, /
must say what / can-and that is little
e%nough-to exculpate myself, aud then
throw myself upon your charity for forgive
ness
Agnes remained silent, but it was a 81
leuce that gave no encouragement 20 Oak
hurst. lie advanced still nearer, looking at
her with a tender earnestnoss rs though his
very soul were in the glance. She covered
her face with her hands.
"Agnes, - he said, "you know what that
name once meant to me. / cannot speak it
now without a feeling beyond u~tterance."
Palette, meanwhile, quietly sidled toward
the door, aud, saying that he was going back
to see Mrs. Norcross, abruptly left the room.
Oakhurst went on know my conduct
was utterly inexcusable, bat | declare by my
hope Of Heaven, | never loved any woman
but you. was fascinated, ensnared, capti-
waited by the senses only: now that illusion is
past, and | turn to YOU
"My allusion is past also; you turn too late
Can you make me forget those months Of
neglectM
The tone was tender, but mourntul. How
he wished that her answer had been full OF
rebuke! lie could hope TO overcome her an
ger far more easily than this settled sorrow.
Il know | can never atone for the wrong;
there are injuries that are irreparable,
wounds that leave ineifaceable scars / can
never undo what / have done; would 70
Heaven l could You may never forget this
period OF suffering; but that is past now it
is not TO be lived over again. Go back
rather to the brighterdays before it; think Of
them, and then look down the future-may I
dare say ita-the future, perhaps, VIII make
u both forget my insane wanderings and
your undeserved pains"
@But love must nave faith to lean upon.
While loved you, ! rested on absolute trust.
l would have believed you against all the
world. l would nave been glad 10 share
your lot, even in poverty and obscurity. 1
did not love you for your art or your fame.
You wayered, you forgot me-. don't know
what it was that tempted you, but it was
enough; it drew you away from me; and as
long as you preferred another. or could be