The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-10-18

give hope and good cheer to his soul,
and-shall own up to the truth-to
bring him back to me again.
am afraid that the secret of my so
licitude lay in the fear that ~hesswould
not return. tried to persuade myself
that was solicitous only for his well
fare; but in spite of my efforts the
thought that he might never come back
would surge up and ovcrtop all other
thoughts, making me very unhappy.
A week passed and then there came
a letter from Mrs. Cornell. 1t was full
of love and had all the tenderness and
sympathy one could possibly expect or
ask, yet it was far from satisfactory.
1t did not contain that which sought
and for which my soul yearned. There
was in all its pages never word from
or about Charles, and when | read it
folded it and laid it away with a sigh of
disappointment.
"He has given me up, indeed"
unused, sorrowfully. "He will never seek
my love again, but believing me still
obdurate viii marry the other woman
of whom he spoke. Oh, why" | cried,
did | not make him understand my
feelings that day? But word, look
or an action would have made it plain
to him that there was room Tor hope,
and for the want of it had no doubt
lost him forever"
VIII Hanley and Mary remained buta
few days, and though avoided them
both as far as it was possible, | was
thrown into contact with them to some
extent. Mary made no effort to con-
ccal her dislike of me, but on every oc-
casion made it as manifest as she could.
She treated me with the utmost
rudeness, and by every possible means
attempted to impress me with the
knowledge that she believed every
word that had ever been spoken against
me. On one occasion she remarked:
"Whatever you do, Agnes, don't ever
claim relationship with me. We are
related, and 1t can't be helped, but we
can let the fact remain secret. de-
sire that our relationship should be
kept among ourselves"
81 am sure such arrangement meets
my approval" replied, ''for have no
desire to make our relationship known.
! have nothing to gain by it, and per-
haps you have nothing either"
81 certainly have nothing to gain by
it," she rejoined, resentfully, "but I
have much to lose, something that am
sure you have not"
MARY" said, Practically, "let us be
reasonable. spoke hastily and ! re-
greet it. We are sisters, and there ought
to be sisterly tie between us. 1t is
folly for us to deny our relationship, or
to assert that we will never have aught
to do with one another except as
strangers. Neither of us knows what
the future has in store nor to what oon-
ditions we may be brought before life
ends The time may come when we
will each need tho love and sympathy
of the other. | am willing to forgive
and forget the past, and from this time
on dwell with you in sisterly love"
"You, no doubt, feel inclined that
way" Mary replied, land do not won
der that you do. II was in your situa-
ton should evidently feel so, too. Tbs
time may come when you will need my
love and sympathy-it is very apt to
come, think; but it is not at all prob
able that shall ever feel the need OF
any Of your lovo and sympathy, moi
the least probable, I'm sure"
81 hope you never may, Mary" an
swered But we can't tell what may
happen. Stranger things have come to
pass before now"
THAT may be, but none moro IN
likely, Tn cure II ever ask you fol-
any favor, however small and insignifi'
can't hope you viii be so generous as
to refuse It."
81 shall do nothing of the kind. but
on the contrary, shall grant 1t II 1t !:
in my power to do So"
THANKS. II is not likely you viii
ever have that pleasure. 1t is far nors
likely to come the other way, and vii
be as generous as you propose IN be.
will grant your requests, bat will dC