The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-09-10

@7 GG<zE 49,"
s'AGNES, LISTEN TO ME-"
would sever his bonds, and free himself
if he could, at any cost. At last he
came back to me, saying:
agnes, you surely do not love Cor
nell?''
understood that he desired an ex-
preston from me, but resolved to give
him none. He continued:
"Agnes, you have no thought OF mar
rying Cornell, I'm sure?'
Still offered no reply.
"W ont you say something's" he asked.
''What can say?" answered.
''Say that you do not love Cornell
and have no intention Of marrying
him"
''Why should I say that to you?'
asked. SIT could not affect you how
ever answered your question
Gould not?" he repeated. "You don't
know what you are SAYING
81 do, Mr.. Haniey, and I know fur
Their that there has been enough said
by both of us. will not listen to YOU"
"Agnes, you are cruel,' he cried.
:sYou are cruel and heartless.''
Il ala not. I am only just to myself
and your wife,
my wife! Bah! Why should You
think of being just to her? Has she
been Just to you and me? Was she just
to you the other day when she affected
to believe those lies Bernard uttered
against you? Has she ever been just
to you in anything?''
s:Mr Hanley," I cried, II will not
hear another word. You must not
speak so of the woman who is your
wife. It is base to act as you do"
/ started from him, but he caught my
hands and held me fast. tried to free
myself but could not. I threatened to
call out but that did not deter him. He
came close to me, and, speaking in low,
hurried tones. said:
ssAgnes, listen to me one moment. I
must speak and set myself right in
your esteem, because your opinion is
worth more to me than that Of all the
world beside. l never loved Mary
Wait, Agnes, until have finished. You
remember that when I went away to
school you and I, though young,
plighted our love. Strange as it may
seem to some, that love endured in my
heart during all the long separation.
l never forgot you, and a number of
letters were mailed to you from my
hand which know now you never re"
ceived. AS soon as my schooling was
over ! came back to see you, but you
were gone. tried to learn something
the internal ISLANDERS of that devil.
Bernard, was the. information I re-
ceived.
81 believed those lies, Agnes, be-
cause I was fool and because your
farsily persuaded me to believe them.
Even your father impressed me with
the idea that they were true; and if he
believed you guilty how was to doubt
it? Your stepmother and sister gave
me to understand that you had left
home of your own accord, and even my
Aunt Brown intimated that your char
acter was not above reproach. Taking
everything together, Agnes, is it any
great wonder doubted you?
81 did not know then, nor did know
until was married, that a devilish con,
spiracy was formed against us, and that
your family and my Aunt Brown had
entered into a league to marry your sis
ter and me together. But I know it
now, and Mary had part in it. Itwas
deep laid scheme, and before realized
it was trapped. l felt that you had
wronged me deeply, and married your
sister partly out Of revenge. I thought
would punish you by so doing and at
the same time show my independence.
But never loved her, and now know.
l made a complete fool of myself"
He waited for me to speak, and when
had mastered my feelings sufficiently
to proceed with calmness did so.
"You have tried to set yourself right
in my esteem said, s'but you have
failed: think X /, less Of you now than
ever
Agnes" he cried, s.dont say that"
so must say it, Mr.. Hanley," I re-
piled, IF / speak the truth. You have
|sshow that you can be small, and i do
not think half as well Of you as did.
Ypn believed me guilty without giving
me an opportunity to prove ss my limo.
cence. That was nnmanly. on married
"a woman you didAnot love thinking you
would punish me and show your indie
5pendence. That was contemptib bic. You
ahaye sunk yourself in my estimation
!. apd refuse to listen to another word
/ Won say. Let .me.go or I shall cali ont. q
=, s 50 I TO be Continually 3S8 81
FoST fall and winter goods q 70 q. ~
S1rof A,n 4s saa5 B