The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-08-30

tears starting afreSh. MY Good name
is gone, and nothing can still the
tongues of gossip"
"But | can do it," he said, emphati-
cally. 81 can recover to you your good
name and reputation. And not only
that, Agnes, but can place You be-
yond the reach of those slanderous
tongues"
mo, no." cried, ''you cannot"
'But can" he repeated, land Twill.
can place you so far above those vile,
malicious wretches that they will not
dare to look at you, much less speak
your name. i can place your feet on
the neck of every worm of humanity
who has dared to breathe a word
against you. l say can do all this, and
l will do it. I will return to you all
you have lost and thousand fold more.
will make you queen in society, the
envied of the envious, and the admired
of all who see and know you"
He spoke with such vehemence that
shranlS under his words and sat trem-
bling and poweress. He paused only
an instant, and drawing his seat near
me, continued:
"Agnes, listen to reason and com
mon sense. You are alone in the
I world, with not one single tie OF
: kindred. You have no mother, your
father and sisters care nothing for
you. You are alone and friendless.
Your life has been long, hard strug-
gle filed to the brim with suffering.
You have known no love, no pleasure,
no happiness. No one has cared for
you; no one cares for you now save me.
You know what it is to lead such life.
You know whatyou have gone through
and you know what the future has to
offer. Think of dragging through years
and years of such existence as the past
has been. Think of all the suffering,
the misery and the friendlessness. Think
of the darkness and desolation, the
heartaches and sorrow, the neglect and
sights. Think of all the future will be
if your life continues in it's present
channel, and then say if you would not
willingly change it."
He stopped again, and fixing his eyes
on my face scrutinized it eagerly. His
features were flushed and hot, his eyes
anxious and expectant and his whole
nervous system strained to the highest
tension. Directly he went on:
"Agnes." he said, "you know what
your past has been, and by it you can
Judge the future. You know that before
you there is nothing but a long, weary
stretch OF pain. You know that there
Is no happiness for you there, no love,
no light-nothing but darkness, loneli-
ness and sorrow. Then why not change
it? Why not change it now, and not for
anotherday submitto drudgery, dishon-
Or and persecution"
~ cannot" cried.
Cannot" he repeated, "You can.
can change it for you. Listen. told
yo1 once could give you the love of a
man who worshiped you and who
would bend Heaven and earth to ssrve
you. can place at your feet the heart
of man who loves you better than he
loves his life, and who has riches that
he will squander as freely as water fol
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 a home q
queen might covet, q 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
5 He will never permit wish to trouble
l your thoughts and never allow shadow
S to darllen your soul. You will be hi.
y care, his thought, his life"
He came nearer and took my hands in
u his and held them fast. He bent hi
eyes on me so intently that l felt theil
y gaze burning into my cheeks. Vie wa
. 50 intensely wrought up, and so ex
" cited, that think he lost all conscious
. ness Of his surroundings, and of every
thing save myself and the one purpos,
he had in view.
"Agnes," he said, impetuously, 'yo'
Z can be that mans wife. say you can
:. mean you must, you shall. Do yo1
y hear me? You shall belong to tina
man. Agnes, Tam that man. You star,
- yet you knew who the man was. hav
- :. seen that in your looks and actions
=, You knew and yet you start. But n
y matter, love you. love you, Agnes
. as but one other woman was ever loved
. and that woman was your mother, an
~ it was who loved her. Agnes, yiel
to me. Come to my arms and be happy
- Cast away your life of loneliness, Sol
row and poverty, and come rest on m
- bosom where you will find shelter fol
evermorc. The world cares nothing fo
you. 1t has no love, no friendship, n
sympathy for you, so turn your bac
r on 1t and come to me. / lse you;
s. worship you; and will live, for you, c
" die for you. win give you riches,
Id will give you love and will give yo
cd happiness. Throw away sorrow, mi
cry. drudgcry. and live in Joy, love an
O. plenty. My arms are open to receiv
~ you as my bride and queen. Come
them"
cd As he ceased speaking he drew n
re gently to him. was dumb and passiv
l My sensib;litics were inert. My min
l was blank.
1 You yield" he cried. ecstaticall
n "You are mine. Mine forever"
L lie put his arm about me and dr.
to me closer. His heart beat wildly q
his breath came in snort, quick gas]
w He bent his head. and raising nv IA