People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-12-09


letting my hand drop. You have given
me no welcome, and your greeting is
cold. We used to be such good friends,
and our separation has been so long
that it seems you ought to show little
Joy at our meeting. Did you not recog-
nize me to-day when you came into the
room where | VASE"
yes"
And yet you gave me no welcome?"
NO" admitted, 81 did not. Neither
did you evince any sign of pleasure in
meeting me-"
Il did not know you, Agnes, and
would not know you now had not aunt
old me who you were. Do you think
have so far forgotten our childhood
friendship as to treat you like stran-
ger?"
More than two years ago, Mr.. Han
ley" | said, 1--WE met and were INTRO
duced by Mr.. Charles Cornell, and vet
you did not choose to recognize me-"
81 did not know You even then, Ag-
mes. Remember how changed you were
since / had seen you last"
But Mr.. Cornell spoke my name"
Eyes; he introduced you as Miss
Owens, but how was to know, or even
guess, that you were Agnes Owens? |
say, remember how you were changed.
When left you to go away to school
your face was all Scared and drawn,
and when | met You again the scars
were all gone and your features were
perfect. There are hundreds of Miss
Owens; and, aside from the change in
your appearance, it is not a matter of
wonder that | did not recognize you
there where had no thought of meet
ing you"
What he said seemed plausible, aud
did not doubt the truth of it. believed
now that he had not Intentionally
ignored me, and that afforded me lit
tie relief; but it was very little in the
face Of the knowledge that he was lost
to me, and that no reconciliation could
ever result. Friendship would not an
swer between us any more. It must be
love or complete separation, and with
us it could not be love.
agnes, he continued, 81 accidental
ly learned from the Cornells several
months after our meeting that it was
you to whom Charles Cornell intro
duced me. Then | went Immediately
in search of you, but on making in
quiry Of Mr.. Bernard l learned that you
had disappeared, and no one could give
any information as to your where
abouts."
He paused as If undecided whether to
say more or not, but finally he went
on:
81 did not seek for you, Agnes, be-
cause after talking with Bernard and
Mrs. Bond l felt that l would rather
not see you again. You know what
mean"
Eyes, Mr.. Hanley, know what you
mean," replied, looking bravely up
into his face and speaking with start
ling frmness. "You believed the lies
they told you, and thought me the base
thing they represented me to be-"
He blushed and dropped his eyes in
confusion.
"How could l know, AgnesP" he
asked, sadly. Their stories were in
genious and could not persuade my
self that they were all false, as hard as
l tried to do so. You cannot imagine,
Agnes, what suffered because of those
reports. They hurt me through and
through. Agnes, / have no right to say
it now, but l will say it once; l loved
you then, and when realized that you
were lost to me, my grief was almost
unbearable. / prayed that our paths
might never cross again, and / tried to
forget you"
My soul lowered aloft now, aud felt
so far superior to VIII Hanley that
looked down on him with pity.
"Mr. Hanley," | said, ~, too, pray
that our paths may never cross again.
know you now as never knew you
before, and from henceforth we cannot
be even frierds. The awakening to a
true knowledge Of your DISPOSE
ton is bitter, because ! never thought
you could so wrongfully misjudge me.
All the long years when | had NO
friends and no sympathy ! solaced my.
self with the thought that you were nv
friend, and that however others might
misjudge me you would always under
stand me and believe in my honesty.
But now that thought proves but a
dream, and it is gone"
Agnes" he said, do not condemn
me. | know was wrong, and that
you have right to despise me for ever
doubling you an instant. But | was a
fool, and | have hurt myself worse than
l have hurt you. Try to find some ex.
cuse for me, Agnes, won't you?"
mo, Mr.. Hanley,"l answered, there
is no excuse for you. You turned
against me in my darkest hour. and
preferred to believe the vile ISLANDERS