Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-28


NY KIND RELATIVE urIEn
Mr. Ilernard's appearance did not sur
/ prise mo In the least ! was 81 frus.
trated that I could not have felt any
surprise at that moment had the world
| come Ia an end. II was the unexpected
that expected
lie scented himself coolly. after mo.
! tioning me 10 u scat, then without delay
| opened conversation
Agnes, hc began, II have fcrreted
out everything, and find that you are
made to suffer because of the interest
have cvinccd In you, and the pains |
have taken 10 promote yuur welfare.
I am truly sorry that | have uniutention-
ally brought you this suffering, and
am willing to do anything possible To
atone for itl'
"llow can you atonr?' asked. How
can you amend my wrong,2"
In but one way hr replied 81
can do II only 10y giving huclt TO You
all that, through my means, you have
lost"
You cannot do that" cried, my
tears starting afrcsh My good name
Is gone, and nothing can stnl the
tongues Of gossip"
But I can do it, he said, cmphati-
cally. 81 can recover Ia You your good
name and reputation And not only
that. Agnes, but can place YOU be-
You'd the reach Of those slandcrous
tongues"
"No, no, cried, "you cannot"
But ] can he repeated land Twill.
can place you so far above those vile,
malicious wrctches that they will not
dare 90 look at you, much less spcalt
your name. l can place your feet ON
the neck Of every worm of humanity
who has dared to breathe word
ngninst you. | say ! can do all this, and
| will do IT, will return 10 You all
You have lost and thousand fold more.
] viii make yuu queen in society. the
cnvicd OF ting cnviuus, and the admired
Of all who see and know you."
lie spoke with such vchcmcncc that
! shranlS under his words and sat ircm-
bling aud powcrlcss. lie paused only
am instant and drawing his seat near
me, continued;
"Aguca, listen to reason and com.
mon sense, Nou arc alone In the
world, with not one single tie Of
kindred Nou have no mother, your
father and sisters care nothing for
you. luu are alone aud fricndlcss.
Your life has been long hard strug-
gle filled to the brim with suffering.
You have known no love, no pleasure.
no happiness, No one has cared for
you; no one cares for you now save me.
ION know what II Is to lead such a life,
You know what you have gone through
and you know what the future has TO
olfer. Think Of dragging through years
and years Of such existence IA the past
has been. Think of all the suffering,
the misery and the friendlcssness. Think
OF the darkness and dcsolatiun. the
hcartnchcs and sorrow, the neglect and
Sights Thinl, Of all the future will bc
II your life continues In It's present
channel, and then say II you would not
willingly change IT,"
lie stopped again, and fixing his eyes
ON my face scrutuiacd IL eagerly. Ills
features were flushed and hot, his eyes
anxious aud cNpectant and his whole
nervous system strained 10 the highest
tension. Directly he went on;
Agnes" he said, You know what
your past has been, and by II you can
judge the future, You know that before
YOU there is nothing but long, weary
stretch Of pain You know that there
Is no happiness for you there no love,
no light nothing hut darkness, loneli-
ness and sorrow Then why not change
~ Why not change 1t now, and not for
anothcrday submitto drudgcry, dishon-
or and pcrsecution?'
II cannot, 90 cried.
"Cannot?' he repeated, "You can.
| eau change It for you Listen. | told
yon once could give you the love of
man who worshiped You aud who
would bend Heaven aud earth to ssrvc
YOU ! can place at your feet the heart
81 man who loves You better than he
loves his life, and who has riches that
no will squaudcr as freely as water for
your sake. ] can give you the heart, the
life, the soul Of that man, and the one
purpose OF all his existence shall be 10
worship you and 70 promote your hap
plnesa. Tie win give you home q
queen might Iovct, position In society
that royalty cannot oSoel and a love
that will burn rs long as life eudlrcs.
lie can and viii give you everything
wealth can procure aud love suggest.
lie will never permit wish TO trouble
your thoughts aud never allow a shadow
80 darken your soul You will be his
care, his thought, his life
lie came nearer aud took my hands in
his and held them fast lie bent his
eyes on rue 10 intently that felt their
gaze burning into my checks. lie was
SO intensely wrought up, and so OK.
cited, that think he lost all conscious
ness Of his surroundings, aud of every
thing save myself and the one purpose
he had in view,
Agnes" ho snid, impetuously, "you
can &c that mans wife, say you can;
J mean you must, you shall DO you
hear uoe9 You shall belong TO that
man, Agnes, lam tidt man You start
set yQn know who the man Was, have