Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-02-22
AGATHE'S pERFIDY.
"Are you sure that you will always love
me, Agathe2''
NAlUavs BERTRAND y

me. Agathea"
always, Bertrand"
'"You will never regret your choice, my
darling? Not even if some man richly en-
dowed with worldly goods come to seek your
favor; are you quite certains"
Listen, Bertrand; such love as mine is
born not to live but for day like a gaudy but
terfy that gladdens the eye from sun to sun
and is never seen again; nay, it is enduring
as yonder rock, pure as the blue ether above;
love that will only end with death and per-
chance not then. know that you are poor,
but what is that to me? 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 false"
'And | to you. swear it," solemnly re-
sponded Bertrand Argyle as he raised his
hand on high as 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 suffuses
the cloud wreaths with varied tints of purple
and gold and ruby red that are reflected upon
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 a good word to
use, as few people know what it means Yon-
der, YEARLY vending his homeward wend
along the dusty way, is 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
neighboring swamp arises faint, misty,
vaporous fog, thickly studded with the ran
dom remarks of male COW frog, delivered
in low, thrilling, reverberating voice.
II could stand here forever listening to the
sounds of nature with you at my side, re-
marks Bertrand at the conclusion of the
pause above referred to.
"Would you not fear catching cold if you
stood here foreverg' she asks at length, shyly,
as though fearful that her words may give
offense.
True, my love- had not thought of
that"
Bertrand abstractedly inserts one hand in
one Of his trousers pockets and encounters
dime. 1t brings his thoughts to practical
turn. He signs, like 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 one who feels his suspenders giving
way and endeavors to hold on to his panta-
looms by sheer force of will Tomorrow
go forth to carve out a fortune for myself and
for you. You will wait for me until return
with it, will you not, dears
Forever; but do you think it win take you
very iongs"
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 / go take
this; it is 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 me from time to time by
well meaning persons, and then again it may.
It cost me s.; keep itwitfans sisssings
"Oh, Bertrand, you are SO good.
"Don't say anything about it, please.
would do even more for you. But see, the
night. IT'S long past supper time; 1 am
hungry, and SO, no doubt, you are. Allow
me now to guide your footsteps to your home,
even as l hope soon to have tho privilege Of
guiding them through life."
Thus they faded away in the gathering
gloom.
4 y
A year or twelve months has passed away
"a year freighted with blessings and vicissi-
.udes and political conventions and-weil,
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.
bearded, bronzed man, attired in good
clothes and an air of prosperity, bounds
buoyantly up the steps leading to the front
door of charming villa and gives long,
strong pull at the bell knob
1t is Bertrand returned after years toll
full carving at fortune.
A domestic servant appears and ushers him
into the faultlessiy furnished front parlor. A
female form in the full flush of fair femininity
rises from the fauteuil and looks at him with
a perplexed I-think- -have-the-advantage
of-me expression upon her regal features
'Agathe, can it be that you do not know
meg he murmurs.
"Mr. Argyle, ! believe" she replies askance.
Bertrand steps forward with a rapid stride
and seeks to seize the slender, jeweled hand
that is half extended to him. why are
you SO distant, Agathe, my darling2 Have
you so soon forgotten our"-
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 lands'
Il do. Miss De Reille," replies Bertrand
who is beginning to scent something gigantic
in the nice line.
well, MIR Argyle, boom struck that
section of Florida a short time ago and sold
out. | am worth a quarter of million now,
and you cannot expect that would trust my
FIGURE with a man whom | cannot but sls
pect of wishing to marry me only for the
money possess"
Bertrand listens like one who is slowly
undergoing the process Of petrifaction.
"Surely, you cannot mean thiss" he asks
''You are only iesting: tell me this is moth.
Inc ont cruel ioken
~ never joke, and why Shout tell you
falsalood?"
"Then you wish that we should meet here
utter as stangers?'
''That is about the size of my wish;
you'd gladly be a sister to you, but l fea1
you might some time consider such relation.
SHIP near enough to attempt to borrow money
on the strength of it. Therefore, I think i,
better that we should go our respective
ways"
"This decision is finals"
"Quite so, Mr.. Argyle"
"Then listen, Miss De Reille," exclaims
Bertrand, whose form seemed suddenly to
grow about ten feet tall, while triumphant
light blazes from his eyes and his words come
quick and sharp, like the rattle of peas in a
cheese box. "You think you have the bulge
on me- but YOU are wrong When | cave