The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
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No ono had ever accused Agnes Warne
of being a nervous person, and she had
been, on the contrary, noted for her
GOODNESS, the composure with which she
could hear and calmly dismiss the most
eloquent and impassioned lovers, and the
apparent hardness of her heart. The
beauty that had made her the undisputed
belle of two seasons was of the statuesque
order. perfect of form and feature, cold
and vet winning, for she was without
fortune, and yet had suitors who adored
her.
1t was nine days wonder when she
allowed her engagement to Gardiner
Lawrence to be announced. Gardiner
Lawrence! A man of genius, an artist,
but man whose total assured income
was six hundred dollars year, and who
had yet to climb up the ladder to fame
or fortune. True, he was handsome
man, with ready flow of conversation,
had travelled and read, and had dark eyes
that many a woman had sighed to have
look tenderly upon her. Yet that Agnes
Warne could marry poor man, an artist
yet unknown to fame, was marvel to
those who knew her BEST,
I have SAID she was not nervous per-
son, yet on one December evening, when
her engagement was six months old, she
was fdgeting about in the parlor of her
aunt's house, as restless as if every nerve
in her body was unstrung. She paced
up and down the room, she struck few
chords on the piano, she read page in
the last new novel, and every moment
she glanced at the clock. As it struck
eight in silvery tones, the doorbell rang,
and d few moments later Gardiner Law
renee entered the room.
II thought you would never come, !"
she ssid, impatiently, yet coldly.
"Your note said eight o'clock" he
replied, trying vainly to match her own
icy tones. "Agnes! look at me! 1t can
not be that all is at an end between US.
I love you SO truly, so devotedly, and 1
have believed in your love as firmly as 1
did in my hope of heaven.
Il thought we had settled all that"
was the reply, still in that tone of i'm
patience and coldness. "You promised
to return my letters
''Thcy are here. Since you no longer
love me, they have lost their value, and
I do not desire to keep them"
He placed sealed package upon the
table, and turned, as if to go. For an
instant she stood quiet, and then the
forced composure gave way.
Stay" she cried. "You shall not
believe have deceived you so far. l
did love you! Gardiner, Gardiner, I do
love you! No Do not touch me-do
not embrace me. Cannot you under
stand? 1 cannot live in poverty! lean
not! believed that love would COM
pensate for all, but I did not understand
have nothing of my own, but I have
lived all my life in luxury. My aunt
denies me nothing, and believed she
would in time become reconcilcd to my
marriage with you. But she never will !.
And now, since Mr.. Dclmayne has Of
fered himself to me-"
why 60 over the old ground again?"
Gardiner said, in quick, passionate ac-
cents. "You can be the wife of a mil
ionaire, a man old enough to be your
grandfather. You can have control of
wealth, all the luxury your heart desires.
What matters it, that you trampe upon
as pure, devoted love as was ever Of
fered to a woman, that you crush q
heart that was all your own, blight an
ambition that worked only for you! Let
these tlifes 90. You will be John Del
maynes wife, and II shall survive it
am not made of the stuff that drives
despairing lovers to suicide. Believe
me, can, in time, so pile contempt upon
my love that it will be quite buried. 1t
smarts and stings me now, but I will
conquer that, and no guest at your wed,
ding shall have brighter smile than
mine"
He bowed, formally, and left the
house, to walk, walk fast and without
aim, until the gray dawn drove him
home.
Agnes Warne, stunned by his passion
ate outbreak, sank into an armchair and
wept the bitterest tears of her life; wept
for him-for herself-knowing that
never again could her heart open to sucl,
perfect love and happiness as she had
held in her grasp for six months, and
then thrown aside forever.
She had met John Deimayne at Sara
toga, and continued her acquaintance
during the autumn trip with party Of
friends. She had smiled upon him,
given him every encouragement, while
writing and receiving daily letters that
kept her love for Gardiner Lawrence ever
before him-even in her own heart
Not deliberately was her treachery
planned, but little by little; her aunt's
constant pleas for her wealthy suitor, hel
swn love OF luxury, tempted her until