The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-01-08
coPYRieHT 1891. 2 T.. >. a..

WIG, IL 0ceuS nOC Sucn DauDlcS TO DlllQ
our faith; but, let this little gem, when
| ever you look upon its scintillating
light, be to you the star of hope; and
removing plain gold balsd from one Of
her fingers to his own-"I will wear this
simple circle as pledge and symbol OF
our endless love. And now once more
good-by-lny darling! oh! my darling .
But what pen could describe aparting
such as this?
The very last possible moment of his
stay had come; and Agnes, with match
less heroism, restrained her tears, and
actually smiled-true hcart-so thai
| her lover might bear away no sad i'm
age in his mind; and not until the car.
riage had disappeared did she give way
to all the abandonment of her woman
hoods first grief. It was well for the
poor girl, in this crisis, that the voice OF
duty called her to life of active use
fulness-though, indeed, she was not
one to sit down and idly brood over un-
avoidable ills.
The circumstances of her father
who was totally untitled for any kind
of business-ma it imperative that she
should augment his scanty income by
her own earnings, and. hence she at
once looked for and readily found anoth-
ef remunerative situation. Indeed, SO
high was the general estimation in
which the character and accomplish
ments of Miss Graydon" were held, that
there arose quite a rivalry between sew
eral noble families of the neighborhood
as to which should secure her services;
but finally she gave the pr.-'.--..."e TO
Lady Mansfield, mother of Sir George,
chiefly because her mansion was but q
short half-mile from her own fathers
house, and she would therefore be able
to spend her nights and holidays at
home. The fact that Sir George was
Frank Howard's dearest friend also had
great weight IN determining her choice,
which proved most happy one, as. from
the very first, she and Gertrude Mans
field, her only pupil, were like sisters;
and the whole household, all of whom
knew something of her touching story,
petted and made much of her.
Some few days after assuming her new
duties Agnes walked over to Linwood
hall to see Mrs. Howard, who showed
her letter, just arrived, from Frank,
ard it was really very difficult to say,
judging from its contents. whether the
long epistle was intended for his
mother or his iancee, so cunnmgly had
the writer interviewer his tale of filial
affection with that of lover-like devo-
ton. But the puzzle was easily read
by Agnes, who went home with a
thankful and happy heart.
Everything at Linwood, Mrs. Howard
said, was very dull since her "boy"
had gone; the girls greatly missed their
brother, and even Col. Howard himself
moped about in a most disconsolate
manner, though fondly imagining that
no one knew the cause. Certainly, to
Agnes, the whole aspect of the place
eemed changed by the absence of one
whose joyous presence had been its life
and greatest charm.
Thus the time wore on in a monot-
onous routine, which would have been
insupportably tedious but for Franks
weekly letter, filed with everything
which he thought might amuse the
home circle and cheer Agnes in her sol
itude. Autumn passed into winter and
winter gave place to spring. The early
days of April had come, and Frank had
now for quite six months been wander
ing from one historic spot to another,
through Germany, Switzerland. France
and Italy, but always saying in each of
his letters where the next one from