People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-12-16

ferent 1t would all be now"
"Mr. Hanley," l cried, you have nc
right to say such things to me. Please
remember yourself"
81 do remember myself, and curse
myself, too. Is it crime to love you,
Agnes, and sin to say so?"
"Yes, it is. You have n wife, and il
is your duty to remain true to her. You
must say nothing of that kind to me
again. cannot hear it"
He paced the room in perfect frenzy,
reminding me of fettered beast who
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?"
l 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.
Wont 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 | say that 10 you?'
asked. 1T could not affect you how
ever answered your question
Gould not?" he repeated. You don't
know what you are saying"
81 do, Mr.. Hanley, and know fur
Their that there has been enough said
by both Of us. | will not listen to you. {"
Agnes, You are cruel" he cried.
" lou are cruel and heartless."
Il all not. lam 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"
mr.. Hanley," | cried, 81 will not
hear another word. You must not
speak so of the woman who is your
wife. 1t is base to act as you do"
Istarted from him, but he caught nv
hands and held me fast. tried to free
myself but could not. | threatened to
call out but that did not deter him. He
came close to me, and, speaking in low,
hurried tones. said:
agnes, listen TO me one moment. |
must speak and set myself right in
your esteem, because your opinion is
worth more to me than that of all the
world beside. never loved Mary
Owens and | do not love her now.
Wait, Agnes, until have finished. You
remember that when j went away to
school You and ], though young.
plighted our love. Strange as it NAV
seem to some, that love endured in nv
heart during all the long separation.
l never forgot you, and 4 number of
letters were mailed to you from my
hand which | know now You never re-
celved. As soon as my schooling was
over came back to see you, but You
were gone. tried to learn something
OF You, and. when at last | succeeded.
the internal ISLANDERS of that devil.
Bernard, was the information re-
ceived.
Il believed those lies. Agnes. be-
cause was fool and because yonr
family persuaded me to believe them.
Even your father impressed me with
the idea that they were true; and il he
believed you guilty how was | to doubt
1t? Your stepmother and sister gave
Inc to understand that You had left
home of your own accord. and even nv
Aunt Brown intimated that your char
acter was not above reproach. Taking
everything together, Agnes. is it any
great wonder doubted you?
II did not know then, nor did know
until was married, that devilish con-
spiracy was formed against MS, and that
your family and my Aunt Brown had
entered inbD league to marry your sis
ter and me together. But | know it
now, and Mary had a part in it. TWAS
deep laid scheme, and before realized
1t was trapped. felt that you had
wronged me deeply and | married your
sister partly out of revenge. thought
would punish you by so doing and at
the same time show my independence.
But | never loved her, and now know
l made 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. but you have
failed. | think less OF You now than
ever"
Agnes, ;" he cried, don't say that"
II must say it, Mr.. Hanley," | re-
piled, If ! speak the truth. You have
shown that you can be small, and | do
not think half as well of you as did.
You believed me guilty without giving
me an opportunity TO prove my inno-
eence. That was unmanly. You married
a woman you did No. love thinking YOU
would punish me and show your indie
pendence. That was contemplate. You
have sunk yourself in my estimation
and | refuse to listen to another word
you say. Let me go or shall call out
Agnes he began.
Not another word, Mr. Hanley." 7
repeated, with frmness. "Let me 20. |
say"
de dropped my hands and fed from
the room, leaving him picture of de-
spair.