The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-08-27

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sit is the end,'' he answered. IF it
could continue on, and on, forever, I
would ask for nothing more"
''You'd get tired Of it before a
great while, think, and enjoy walk
for a change"
'sWhether walking or riding, itwould
be all the same to me if you were by
my side"
I blushe and hung my head. I
realized only too well to what his
thoughts were leading, and I would
have checked him, but had not the
courage to speak out. | could not say
or do anything to sadden his spirits,
and waited in dread and trembling for
him to proceed.
believe he construed my actions to
his favor, for Immediately he took
heart and spoke out more boldly.
"Agnes, he said, calling me by that
name for the first time, there is but
one thing want to make my happiness
perfect. Can you guess what that one
thing is?"
Still said nothing. could not have
spoken if my life had depended on it.
l dreaded to hear the declaration he
was about to make, for knew i must
deny his suit and crush his great and
good heart, and oh, liked him SO much.
For all the riches of the world would
not cause him one moment of suffering,
and yet must blight his dearest hopes
haps forever.
ooh" cried in thought, my soul
wrenched with agony, ''why does he
love me when do not and cannot love
him? Why must cause him to suffer
what l am forced to bear? Why, ali,
why, must we both pass through this
terrible affection of loving and being
unloved?"
Why, I wondered, could I not love
Charles Cornell? knew that he was
good and noble, and in every way the
peer of Will Hanley. knew that as his
wife should never have an ungratitied
wish if he had the power of administer
ING to it. | knew that the great study
of his life would be to advance my hap
piness and add to my comfort. lie
would do for me all that Will Ranley
could do, and maybe more. Then why
must I refuse his love and cling to one
who ignored me? Why must throw
away The substance and hold hopeless
lv to shadow? I asked myself this
question, and reason answered that
ought not, but love said must, and
love ALWAYS has it's way.
Apain I hear Charles Cornell's voice.
He has drawn closer to me and is
speaking very low and earnestly. | feel
mis- breath on my cheek, and hear the
wild throbbing of his heart. l think
how happy that heart is now, and how
soon it's joyful pulsations must cease
I wish could run away-somewhere-
and die.
"Agnes,' he is saying, 1.-THE one thing
want to complete my happiness is
your love--you. I want you TO be
n1ine-rny wife,
He paused and drew nearer, and
thought he was waiting for me to
speak: but could not utter a word.
Nv tongue Glove to the roof of my
mouth and / trem bled visibly. l
felt that it was wicked to let him go
on, and cruel to deceive him with the
false hope my silence inspired, but
could not help it. Again he spoke,
"Agnes,'' he said, II love you, and
want YOU for my own. Will you be my
wife?'
Still l was silent. l was able &c
speak now, but was 10th to say
what candor and duty required. His
courage grew stronger and bolder. lr
an ecstacy of delight he grasped rnJ
hand, crying: :
"Y on will, Agnes, tor you are silent
You do love nle and you will be my
| wife"
AS he spoke he drew me TO him hnd
| attempted to kiss me, / realized then
that must speak and act. drew away
from him as far as could and took my
hand from his.
ssNo, no, no." I cried, 81 cannot,
cannot"
He started, and for a moment looked
in my face blanlzly, !Fis features paled,
flushed and paled alternately; then
again lighted up with a new hope. He
CiASIJCu LILY llduA cASC aA4CAC oAASA AASAA l.
with vice-like grip tried to wrench
it away, but he frightened his hold until
WINGED with pain. He leaned towards
me until his hot breath scorched my
cheek. In hoarse, strange whisper he
addressed me.
ssNo, Agnes" he said, pleadingly, "do
not say that. For the love Of Heaven
do not. You do not mean it, You sure
ly cannot. You will be my wife, won't
your"
Iwept. How hard it was to resist his
pleading! How hard to deny him after
all his kindness and loving care! How
hard to mar and cripple his life! Yet,
must. do not love him and I could
not marry without love. became quite
calm directly by strenuously exerting
myself to that end, and looking up into
his eyes answered him quietly.
ssNo, Mr.. Cornell ] said, II cannot
marry you, because | would wrong
both you and myself if ] did so when
did not love you. I know | am not