The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-02-09
AGATIE'S PERFIDY.

"You will never regret your cholce, my
darlngi Not even if some man richly en-
dowed with worldly goods come TO seek your
favor, are you quite certain"
"Listen, Bertrand, such n love as mine is
born not TO live but for day like n gaudy but
terny that gladdens the eye from sun to sun
and is never seen again, nay, 1t Is enduring
as yonder rock, pure as the blue ether above
a love that will only end with death and per
chance not then. know that you are poor,
but what is that 10 met The united love OF
two beings who are all in all TO each other Is
wealth enough will be true TO you though
all the world prove falsc"
"And to you, swear it," solemnly re
sponded Bertrand Argyle as he raised his
hand on high us though he would pluck one
OF the cleaning points OF light that flashed
from the blue ether, above alluded TO by
Agathe de Relic.
or TO the west, where the sun but just now
was but is no more, its after glow sniiuses
the cloud wreaths with varied tints Of purple
and gold and ruby red that are reflected upon
the ripping waters Of the lake below in
sheeny radiance. This Is not intended as a
reflection on the Jews, only on the lake, A
little TO the south of west the gibbous moon
is humping itself Gibbous is good word to
use, as few people know what 1t means. Yon-
der, YEARLY vending his homcward wend
along the dusty way, is "A gibbous man. He,
too, is half full Softly the zephyrs sigh
through the tree tops and the bows nod
drowsily TO one another, and from afar comes
the horny handed voice Of the honest
granger as he jaws his hired yeoman. From
a neighboring swamp arises faint, misty,
vaporous fog, thickly studded with the ran
dom remarks of n male COW frog, delivered
in low, thrilling, reverberating voice.
81 could stand here forever listening to the
sounds of nature with you at my side, " re-
marks Bertrand Mt the conclusion of the
pause above referred TO-
"Would you not fear catching cold if you
stood here foroverp she asks at length, shyly,
as though fearful that her words may give
offense.
"Truc, my love | had not thought of
that"
Bertrand abstractedly inserts one hand in
one Of his trousers pockets and encounters n
dime, 1t brings his thoughts to "A practical
turn. He signs, like "A man who has been
holding his breath while three men are on
bases, two out, and the striker has two strikes
called on him
"Agathe,' he begins in the low, determined
voice of ono who feels his suspenders giving
way and eudeavors to hold on to his panta
looms by sheer force Of will. tomorrow /
go forth to carve out fortune for myself and
for you. You will wait for mo until return
with it, will you not, dearf
"Forever; but do you think it will take you
very longf'
81 cannot say; it may be years. it may be
more or less, but with you to spur me on |
know shall not fail And before | 20 take
this; it is a deed Of tract Of land in Florida
made out in your name. 1t may not be Of
greater value than some other tracts that
have been handed mo from time TO time by
well meaning persons and then again itmay.
1t cost me $j keep it with my blessing"
"Oh, Bertrand, you are SO good"
"Don't say anything about it, please. |
would do even more for you. But see, the
cleaning now has given way to gloom of
night. IT'S long past supper time; | am
hungry, and so, no doubt, you are Allow
me now To guide your footsteps to your home,
even as hope soon to have the privilege Of
guiding them through life.'
Thus they faded away in the gathering
gloom
A year or twelve months has passed away
IA year freightcd with blessings and vicissi-
tudos and political conventions and-well,
with everything that constitutes the cargo
of well freighted year, on which man pays
the freight to Time, the general superintend-
ent of the Grand Trunk line to eternity. But
this is only by the way.
A bearded bronzed man, attired in good
clothes and an air of prosperity, bounds
buoyantly up the steps leading TO the front
door Of "A charming villa and gives long,
strong pull at the bell knob.
1t is Bertrand, returned after years toll
full carving at fortune,
A domestic servantappears and ushcrs him
into the faultlessly furnished front parlor A
female form In the full flush of fair fcmininity
rises from the fauteuil and looks at him with
perplexed, l-think- you Notwithstanding
of-me expression upon her regal features.
"Agathe, can it be that you do not know
meT he nurulrs
/ "Mr. Argyle, believe, she replies askance
Bertrand steps forward with rapid stride
and seeks TO seize the slender, jeweled hand
that is half extended to him "Why arc
you SO distant, Agathe, my darling, Have
you SO soon forgotten ourn---
/ Forgotten nothing, Mr. Argyle" replies
Agathe, as she draws herself proudly erect;
"but things have changed since then. You
remember the deed you gave me of some
Florida landf'
! ~ do, Miss De Reille," replies Bertrand,
who is beginning 70 scent something gigantic
III the nice line
; "Well, Mr. Argyle, boom struck that
section OF Florida "A short time ago and | sold
out. an worth quarter of million now.
and you cannot expect that would trust my
future with man whom ] cannot but sus-
poet OF wishing 10 marry me only for the
money roasas.