The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-01-27

day. 1t was growing late when ! reach
ed it, but the bright sunlight as of yore,
gilded the paEes Of the upper window to
sheets of burrished gold Every shutter
was closed, and the house seemed to
frown upon me the garden had run wild
and the fields lay desolate the broken
branches Of the orchasd trees told Of
boyish depreciation Strange cattle graz
ed in the meados, and ROver's kennel
was empty. The sight brought tears to
nv eyes. 1 went up to the old porch and
found there, wet with rain and tangled
in the relics OF last years vine, a scarlet
ribbon, one Madge must have worn. l
pu. It in my bosom, and came away. No
one could tell me anything Of Gideon
Lees children, except what the empty
house told me-that they were gone.
had lost them and what did care
that ali the country places beside well
coined me home Gideon's smile would
have been more to me than all their
greetings, and Madge would have given
me a kiss that had true love in it.
was not happy could not be gay.
l lived quiet life for two long years, and
let those call me cold and proud was
not cold; but those who eourted me were
Gideon Lees enemies, and had persecu-
ted pretty Madge since her very birth,
and had done their innO, ,ent father to
death, and hated them for il, though
said nothing.
But at last, one bright morning, walk
ing up the road to look at the desolate
dwelling where / had learned to love
Gideon Lees children, saw a change in
it. The windows were open a man
was at work in the garden. Three fig
ures in travelling costume had Just entered
the porch, and carriage stood at the
gate.
1 knew Gideon's tall figure at a glance ;
but who was this-superb, glowing beau
tif1l, with a look Of triumph on her face
who came toward me ? And who was
that old man with the strange, sarcastic
smile, that I fancied I had seen before
As l advanced I knew that it was
Madge who ran TO meet me-Madge,
grown % be a ! magnificent woman
Madge, who kissed me as Of yore, but more
gladly, and who left me in a moment
alone with Gideon and drew the stranger
away with her.
And Gideon held my hand, and could
only say, 1T has been very long, Gid
con, to weep and try to hide my tears"
at has been long for me, Agnes he
said. And then there was pause. he
broke il by kneeling down beside me
with my hands in his, as I sat on the
lower step Of the porch
~You are Miss Agnes Grey he said
@and the world honors you I am the
son Of the man who was hanged. Even
now, loving you as I dO-as have sll
this weary while-there stands between
US barrier you could not cross. Is il
not so? Were al else, and 50 worthy oi
you, should still be Gideon Lee, an out
east, branded with Gains brand upon the
forehead, and you could never love nol
wed me ?"
Could I say Il love you It was not II
maidenhood to do that Il was impossi
bic. Itrembled I faltered; only SAID
these words; at is an unjust brand-un
just and cruel. Ny eyes never see it
Gideon Lee ~
he showered fond kisses on my hands
but he spoke again.
@Do you dare do it, Agnes-to love an
outcast man, to bring upon yoursel
contempt and hate TO relinquish wealtl
for the humble life of farmer? Is YOU
love strong enough for this? +? VIII vol
never repent"
Never" said l.
@When your gold is gone. your LAM
another's, your friends turned 10 enemie
and your uame-your very name, Agnes
that Of the man who was hanged ?' n
asked slowly Think. can you bear tha
ign1miny? know how terrible it Is"
And l took my hands from his an,
said-but no matter what said. I hav
forgotten the words that told him that
lsved him too well to doubt my courag
TO bear anything for bis dear sake. Bu
suddenly, as he knelt there looking u
into my eyes, I saw a look in bis fac
that l could not understands look tha
made me cry out and begin to tremble
and saw others draw near; and say
Madge clasp her brothers hand, and th
old man held out his hand TO me.
We have been parted five years sal
Gideon. ain that time I have bee
searching for something that believe
must be hidden in the wide world.
have found IT.
"Gideon, tell me - I cried.
~Could any earthly thing but on
embolden me to speak as have spoke
to you >" said Gideon do you thin
that l would ever have offered an
woman q name that would have mad
her an outcast? That which songh
that which found, was a living proof {
my dear fathers innocence. Look d
you know this man , Have you no re'
ollection Of him ?"
And turned my eyes upon the Of
man, who had taken my hand in hi
and knew that looked upon my Uncl
Matthew.
The whole town knows the story nov
lie has told them how, yielding to h
wandering impulses, he left, as be ha
done once before, the home and friend
of his early manhood, and, far from a
news Of Christian lands, dwelt in th
Arabs tent upon the desert and wande
ed with him over the burning sands, lo'
ing the life too well 70 leave it. and ney'
hearing Of Gideon Lees unjust eondeu
nation or Of his terrible fate until his so
stood before MIN and babe him, if on
drop Of Christian pity fingered in h
soul for the man on whom he hs
brought this awful doom, to return an
; prove by bis living presence the fact
his innocence and Of his unjust death.
They speak Of Gideon Lees childre
: now as those of a martyr; and the ban
lifted from the name haveteken for n
own
I
-, Teacher-~What was the title that II