Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-05-02


 .'KeB. Mr. Hanley. I know what you mean." replied, looking bravely up into his face and speaking with. start ling firmness. "You believed the lies they told you, and thought me the base. thing they represented me to be"
 He blushed and dropped his eyes in confusion.
 "How could I know, AgnesP" he asked, sadly. ''Their stories were in- genious and could not persuade my tried to do so. You cannot imagine, Agnes, what suffered because of those reports. They hurt me through and through. Agnes, have no right to say it now, but will say it once; I loved you then, and when realized that you were lost to me, my grief was almost unbearable. I prayed that our paths might never cross again, and tried to forget you"
 My soul lowered aloft now, and felt SO far superior to Will Hanley that looked down on him with pity.
 "Mr. Hanley,"I I said, 'I, too, pray that our paths may never cross again. know you now as never knew you before, and from henceforth we cannot be even friends. The awakening to a true knowledge of your disposi- tion is bitter, because I never thought you could so wrongfully misjudge me. All the long years when had no friends and no sympathy solaced my self with the thought that you were my friend, and that however others might misjudge me you would always under stand me and believe in my honesty. But now that thought proves but a dream, and it is gone."
 "Agnes," he said, ''do not condemn me. know I was wrong, and that you have a right to despise me for ever doubting you an instant. But was a fool, and have hurt myself worse than I have hurt you. Try to find some ex- cuse for me, Agnes, won't you?''
 No, Mir. Hanley," I answered, ''there is no excuse for you. You turned against me in my darkest hour, and preferred to believe the vile islanders that were uttered against me rather than believe in me-"
 "Win you not forgive me, Agnes2" he asked, pleadingly.
 "Yes," replied, 1T will forgive you, but will never forget. Henceforth must think of you differently from what I have in the past. We can never again be friends"
 "Never2" he echoed, sadly.
 No, never," answered, firmly.
 Ipassed through the gate and started toward the house. heard him sigh, and then in a moment he came after me, and taking my hand spoke hoarsely.
 "Agnes, for Gods salze," he said, ''do not be so hard and unfeeling. Do not, part from me like this. You do not know how bitter and cruel 1t is. You say you will forgive, Agnes; won't you forget, too? We cannot be to each other now more than friends, but let us be that, Agnes; say that you will forget, and think of me as friend" His behavior was so strange, his words so warm, earnest and excited, that I was alarmed. believed he loved me better than he loved his wife, and for an instant the thought sent thrill of pleasure through me. But I ban ished it at once, and assuming an air of conscious rectitude spoke with 6rm7 ness.
 "Mr. Hanley," I said, remember yourself. We are nothing to each other now, and from this time forth our paths lie apart. I forgive you, but we can never be the friends we were. Good by"
 tore my hand from his grasp and ran across the garden to the house. He called my name two or three times, but I gave no heed. As en- tered the door Q groan full of anguish escaped him.