The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-09-07
CHAPTER XXI.
MY KIND RELATIVES OFFER.

MY KIND RELATIVES OFFER.
Mr.. Bernard's appearance did not sur
prise me in the least. / was so frus-
trated that could not have felt any
surprise at that moment had the world
come to an end. 1t was the unexpected
that ! expected.
He seated himself coolly, after mo-
tioning me to seat, then without delay
opened conversation.
"Agnes," he began, II have ferreted
out everything, and find that you are
made to suffer because of the interest
have evinced in you, and the pains
have taken to promote your welfare.
am truly sorry that 1 have unintention-
ally brought you this suffering, and
am willing to do anything possible to
atone for i'll"
"How can you atone2" asked. "How
can you amend my wrongs?"
''Ih but one way" he replied II
can do it only by giving back to you
all that, through my means, you have
lost" Fftft' Il,
"You cannot do that" cried, my
tears starting afresh. my good name
is gone, and nothing can still the
tongues Of gossip"
"But can do It." he said, emphati-
cally. II can recover to you your good
name and reputation. And not only
that, Agnes, but l can place you be-
yond the reach of those slanderous
tongues" ar.rfrg VI y <
'No no." cried, "you cannot"
"But ! can," he repeated, "and will.
can place you SO far above those vile,
malicious wretches that they will not
dare to look at you, much less speak
your name. / can place your feet on
the neck Of every worm Of humanity
who has dared TO breathe a word
against You. say can do all this, and
Twill do It. will return to you all
you have lost and a thousand fold more.
will make you a queen in society, the
envied of the envious, and the admired
Of all who see and know you" |E Z
He spoke with such vehemence that
shrank under his words and sat trem-
bling and powerless. He paused only
an instant, and drawing his seat near
me, continued:
"Agnes, listen TO reason and COM
mon sense. You are alone in the
world, with not one single tic of
kindred. You.have no mother, your
father and sisters care nothing for
you. You are alone and friendless.
Your life has been long, hard strug-
gle filed 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.
You know what II is TO lead such life.
You know whatyou have gone through
and you know what the future has 10
offer. Think Of dragging through years
and years Of such existence as the past
has been. Think of all the suffering,
the misery and the friendlessness. Think
Of the darkness and desolation, the
heartaches and sorrow, the neglect and
sights. Think Of all the future will be
II your life continues In Its present
channel, and then say II you would not
willingly change IT,"
BE stopped again, and fixing his eyes
ON my face scrutinized II eagerly. His
features were flushed and hot, his eyes
anxious and expectant and his whole
nervous system strained TO the highest
tension. Directly he went on; tltGHi|
"Agnes," he said, you know what
your past has been, and by It you can
Judge the future. You know that before
you there is nothing but a long, weary
stretch Of pain. You know that there
Is no happiness for you there, no love,
no lght-nothing but darkness, loneh-
ness and sorrow. Then why not change
it7 Why not change IL now, and not for
another day submit TO drudgery, dishon-
OF and persecution?"
II cannot" cried.
''Cannot?" he repeated, "You can.
can change II for you Listen, told
you once could give you the love Of q
man who worshiped you and who
would bend Heaven and earth TO ssrve
you. can place at your feet the heart
Of man who loves you better than he
loves his life, and who has riches that
he win squander a. freely as water for
your sake. / can give you the heart, tho
life, tho soul Of that man, and the opa
purpose Of all bis existence shall b %