The Irish standard., 1892-09-03
COPYRIGHT !Ss1 ~ H7Kelloee ctwscaqtReo

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7cu once could give you the love of
would bend Heaven and earth to ssrve
you. can place at your feet the heart
of a man who loves you better than he
loves his life, and who has riches that
he will squander as freely as water for
your sake. can give you the heart, the
life, the soul of that man, and the one
purpose of all his existence shall be to
worship you and to promote your hap
piness. He will give you home .
queen might covet, position in society
that royalty cannot excel and love
that will burn as long as life endures.
He can and will give you everything
wealth can procure and love suggest.
He will never permit wish to trouble
your thoughts and never allow shadow
TO darlsen your soul You will be his
care, his thought, his life
BE came nearer and took my hands in
his and held them fast. He bent his
eyes on me so intentiy that felt their
gaze burning into my cheeks. He YVES
30 intensely wrought up and SC ex-
cited that think he lost all conscious
ness Of his surroundings, and of every
thing save myself and the one purpose
he had in view.
"Agnes," he said, i1npetuo1sly, you
san be that mans wife. I say you can;
mean you must, you shall. Do you
hear me? You shall belong to That
man. Agnes, I am M0t man. You start,
vet you knew who the man was have
seen that in your looks and actions.
You knew and yet you start But no
matter, ( love you. love you, Agnes,
as but one other woman was ever loved,
and that woman was your mother, and
it was I who loved her. Agnes, yield
to me- Come to my arms and be happy.
Cast away your life Of loneliness, sor~
row and poverty, and come rest ON my
bosom where you will find a shelter for
ever1nore. The world cares nothing for
you. 1t has no love, no friendship, no
sympathy for you, so turn your back
on it and come to me. lc9e you;
worship you; and will live for you, Or
die for you. will give you riches.
will give you love and | will give you
happiness. Throw away sorrow, mis-
cry, crudgery, and live in JOY, love and
plenty. My arms are open to receise
you as my bride and queen, Come to
them"
AS he ceased speaking be drew nee
rently TO him. was dumb aud passive.
NV seusibilities were inert. Ny mind
was blank.
''You YIELD" he cried, ecsta&ically.
.sYou are mine. Mine forever"
IL ~
me closer. His heart beat wildly and
bis breath came in short, quick gasps.
He bent his head, and raising my face,
looked into my eyes. Then his face
drew nearer TO mine, and his lips formed
to kiss me.
Then the spell by which was bound
dissolved, and my mind was free l
sprang from his arms and placed the
length of the room between us. My
blood ran cold and hot by turns, and I
came to full realization Of his inten-
tons, and co1nprehended perfectly the
dangers that environed me. / was not
angry, strange as the statement may
seem; but was frightened and hurt. I
suppose was not sufficiently awake to
the enormity of his offense to feel the
resentment for him his conduct merited.
His boldness and audacity had stupefed
me for the time, and my anger came On
by slow degrees.
For a minute or so a silence relgned
between U.s. stood against the wall,
painting like a frightened bird, and Mr..
Bernard sat staring at me i'll vacant
wonder. His face was picture or dis
appointment, such as one feels when
the most coveted prize suddenly eludes
his grasp. He was amazed. disappoint~
ed, chagrined. One moment he had
thought his prize secure, the next it was
gone.
,"Agnes," he said, finally, II have
startled you. l was too sudden and i'm
petuous. The love I have for you made
me mad, and forgot everything in the
10Y of holding you to my bosom. For
give me, and come back to my arms
''Never! never!'' cried. $50 and
leave me-"
s'Leave you?'' he repeated. "Never."
.You will. You must!'' exclaimed.
81 will not You do not mean what
you say. You love me and will not
drive me from you"
was quite firm and rational now,
and my anger began to assert itself.
Pointing to the door, said:
''Leave this room, Mr.. Bernard.
Leave it at once, and do not dare to adj
dress me again
He saw that l was in earnest, and
arising he stepped toward me.
ssYou do not know what you say" he
exclaimed. ''You do not know how
cruel your words are. Unsay them,
Agnes, for the sake of the love hold
for you
81 will not!' l cried. ''Go!''
8 He walked several times across the
floor, throwing the most desperate en-
erpy into his movements. would have
escaped from the room, but he kept be
tween me and the door. At last he
stopped in front of me, and in tones SO
sad as to almost touch my heart and
i to arouse feeling of pity, he said:
s.tAgnes, you have no love for memo
Z consid for my sufferings. .
II have no love for you, Mr.. Bernard