Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-05-05
THORNS and ROSES.
pr rHos. P. 4oNrTo D.

likely, I'm sure. If l ever ask you for any favor, however small and insignif- cant, hope you will be so generous as to refuse it."
 'I shall do nothing of the kind, but, on the contrary, shall grant it if it is in my power to do so."
 "Thanlxs. It Is not likely you will ever have that pleasure. It is far more likely to come the other way, and will be as generous as you propose to be. I will grant your requests, but will do it as to a stranger. I repeat again, that if we ever meet after this it is my wish that our relationship be kept a secret. cannot consent to bear the shame and disgrace of being known as your sister"
 She tossed her head disdainfully and swept out of the room. No other word was exchanged between us during the rest of her stay, and when she left she did not bid me good-by.
 Hanley made several efforts to gain a secret audience with me, but man. aged to thwart his design on every oc- casion, save one. That was one even- ing when he came up from the village and shocked us al by the discovery of
 
 cated. I had never known him to in- dulge in strong drink before, and was surprised as well as pained by his ap- pearance in his present state. I was so troubled that I could not sleep, even long after I had gone to my room, so far in the night I dressed, and, throwing a wrap about me, stole out of the house to promenade up and down the lawn H. -I, -s,,1,A fair.
 saw Hanley lying on couch in Mrs. Lawton's sitting-room as I passed out, and supposed him asleep; but in that I was mistaken, for shortly after reached the lawn he came out to me, and though attempted to escape to the house he detained me.
 "Agnes," he said, in tones that were almost pitiful, ''you despise me now, don't you?"
 "No, MT. Hanley," replied, ''I do not despise you, but I pity you. How could you so far forget yourself as to take that step?"
 ''I got drunk, Agnes, because could not forget myself. I attempted to drown the recollection of myself in liquor. am miserable, to tell you the truth, and almost wish had never seen you.''
 "If seeing me has anything to do with your condition this evening, I, too, wish you never had seen me-
 ''If it has anything to do with it?' he repeated. 'It does have to do with it. It's the whole cause of it.''
 "Then I'm sorry we ever met"
 ''Yes, believe you are, and so am I. You are to be the curse of my life, Agnes. You are the rock on which my manhood, my happiness and my soul will go to wreck. Do you understand that?'' he asked, after a pause.
 ''No, do not understand that an- swered.
 "Why don't you?" he questioned.
 Because there is no sense in such talk. If you have half the manhood give you credit for, you will not let your soul and your happiness go to wreck on any kind of rock"
 "That is easy enough said, Agnes, but you don't know what you are talking about"
 'Perhaps don't.'
 'I know you don't. It's the very devil to be married to one woman and love another. I've made a confounded fool of myself and spoiled my life, and now don't care what becomes of me. You don't care, either. I'm going to let all holds go and strike for the devil by the shortest route. I'm going to take to drink and everything else low and de grading"
 "You will show uncommon good sense by that, won't you? If you haSe acted the fool once, as you say, do you think you will mend matters any by re- beating the operation?"
 'T will get some satisfaction out oi it," he replied, doggedly, little talsel aback by the tone of my answer.
 "Ihope you may, MT. Hanley. Ther is so much satisfaction to be got out o throwing ones self to the dogs shoulc think. It no doubt makes one thinl !so much better of ones self, and then is so gratifying to ones friends. Yo, have adopted wise notion, certainly and one that is great credit to you" "Agnes, for Heavens sake don't b sarcastic. am not in humor to bea ridicu1e, and especially from you. you can't comfort me, or at the leas show some sort of sympathy for me don't talk at all"
 "Mr. Hanley," replied, in all serious ness, Fl do sympathlze with you Iron the bottom of my heart, and if it was il my power to comfort you would sure ly do it. But there is only one thing can say to you, and you would perhap never thank me for saying that" "Say it," he answered. ''I don't SUI pose it will comfort me much, and may pain me, but don't care. I wan to know what you think of me, so spea out and spare not. Say I'm a fool, beast, scoundrel, anything you like. '
 'T cannot say that you are scouI drel, Will, because you are not. car , not say that you are beast, but mus say that you are taking course the leads in that direction; and as to being fool, I am compelled to admit that yo are acting very much like one.''
 '"That's right" he interrupted. "Yo are certainly honest and plain spokel and admire such traits. Speak on." CT have nothing more to saw exceI