The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-10-25
CosrsiesT Issa By ATfkalosc uswssspta Co

Al we ever necJ eIter tillS IL Is my
wish that our relationship be kept
secret | cannot consent to bear the
shame and disgrace of being known as
your sister,"
She tossed her head disdainfully and
swept out of the room. No other word
was exchanged between us during the
rest of her stay, and when she left she
did not bid me good-by.
Hanley made several efforts to gain
a secret audience with me, but man
aged to thwart his design on every oc-
casion, save one. That was one even
ing when he came up from the village
and shocked us all by the discovery of
the fact that he was partially intoxi-
Gated. l had never known him to in
dulge in strong drink before, and / was
surprised as well as panied by his APP
pearance in his present state. was SO
troubled that ! could not sleep, even
long after I had gone to my room, so
far in the night dressed, and, throwing
a wrap about me, stole out of the house
to promenade up and down the lawn
walk where the moon shone bright and
fair.
( I saw Hanley lying on couch in Mrs.
Lawton's sitting-room as passed out,
and supposed him asleep; but in that
] was mistaken, for shortly after
reached the lawn he came out to me,
and though l attempted to escape to the
house he detained me.
"Agnes," he said, in tones that were
almost pitiful, "you despise me now,
don't you?"
''No, Mr.. Hanley," replied, 81 do not
despise you, but pity you. How could
you SO far forget yourself as to take
that step?"
81 got drunk, Agnes, because could
not forget myself. ] attempted to drown
the recollection of myself inaIiquor. |
am miserable, to tell you the truth, and
j almost wish had never seen you"
''If seeing me has anything to do
with your condition this evening. /.
too, wish you never had seen me-"
eff it has anything to do with it?" he
repeated. at does have to do with it.
It's the whole cause of it,"
"Then I'm sorry we ever met"
"Yes, believe you are, and so am /.
You are to be the curse of my life,
Agnes You are the rock on which my
manhood, my happiness and my soul
will go to wreck. Do you understand
that?" he asked, after pause.
"No, | do not understand that" an
swered.
"Why don't your he questioned.
'Because there is no sense in such
talk. If you have half the manhood |
give you credit for, you will not let
your soul and your happiness go to
wreck on any kind of rock"
'"That is easy enough said, Agnes but
you don't know what you are talking
about"
'Perhaps don't"
81 know you don't. It's the very devil
to be married to one woman and love
another. I've made confounded fool
of myself and spoiled my life, and now
/ don't care what becomes of me. You
don't care, either. I'm going to let all
holds go and strike for the devil by the
shortest route. I'm going to take to
drink and everything else low and de-
grading"
''You will show uncommon good
sense by that, won't you? If you have
acted the fool once, as you say. do you
think you will mend matters any by re-
peating the operation?"
81 will get some satisfaction out OF
it." he replied, doggedly, little taken
abaclS by the tone Of my answer.
81 hope you may, Mr.. Hanley. There
is SO much satisfaction to be got out OF
throwing ones self to the dogs.I should
think. 1t no doubt makes one thinl'
50 much better OF ones self, and then /,
is SO gratifying to ones friends You
have adopted wise notion, certainly
and one that is o great credit to you"
agnes, for Heavens sake don't be
sarcastic am not in humor to bea,
ridicule, and especially from you. Il
you can't comfort me, or at the least
show some sort of sympathy for me
don't talk at ALL"
''Mr. Hanley,"I replied, in all serious
ness, 81 do sympathize with you from
the bottom of my heart, and if it was il
my power to comfort you | would sure
ly do it. But there is only one thing
can say to you, and you would perhaps
never thank me for saying that"
'.Say. it," he answered. 81 don't sup
pose it will comfort me much, and i
may pain me, but don't care. wan
to know what you think of me, SO speal
out and spare not Say I'm a fool, {
beast, scoundrel, anything you like"
81 cannot say that you are a scoun
drel, win, because you are not can
not say that you are beast, but mus
say that you are taking course tina
leads in that direction; and as to being
fool, am compelled to admit that 20,
are acting very much like one"
''That's right" he interrupted. "Yo'
are certainly honest and plain spoken
md admire such traits Speak on"
81 have nothing more to say, excep
this: am ashamed of your talk an,
behavior. It's unmanly, weak ant
wicked. You may have made one mis-
take and marred your life by it. bu
don't he so foolish as to spoil You
whole existence on that account N
one compelled you to marry my sister
and If you made mistake it is all you
own fault and you have nobody bu
yourself to blame"
That's true. Agnes" he replied. Is
don't blame anyone but myself, and it
on r1vself pi,opose to take revenge.