Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-07-05
A BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.

to whom he owed his recovery, af-
ter one of those terrible accidents
which the most prudent of the
railway officials cannot always es-
cape?
She was tall, dark girl, carry
ing her head more hautily erect, as
soon as she perceived that Mr..
Kenrick was waiting for her.
Half an hour ago that proud
Young head had been dropping
sorrowfully; that now coldly-im-
passive face had been hidden be-
hind her veil in burst of passion
ate weeping.
They had loved each other so
fondly! They had dreamed such
charming dreams of spending the
rest of their lives together, and
But as soon as their eyes met she
bowed, and languidly murmured a
show dor" as if to the merest ac-
quaintance; and he, though grind
ing his teeth with rage at her chilling
indifference, contrived to emulate
it.
Not another word was passed be-
tween them as she led the way into
an empty waiting-room, and placed
upon the table the small leather
bag she was carrying.
This she proceeded to open; but
now her furs embarrassed her move
ments, and had to be thrown aside;
her gloves must be unbuttoned and
pulled off; and then, as she sought
on her key-ring for the tiny imple-
ment that unlocked the bag, her
agitation betrayed itself yet more
palpably in her trembling hands.
Aware of this she mumbled
something about the frosty weather
having numbed her fingers, and
walked to the fire, where she could
turn her back upon him until she
had fought with and conquered her
emotion.
"And he stands by, stern and
grim, Implying and unforgiving,"
she exclaimed, mentally. IF he
had ever really loved me, could he
have let me 60 thus? Oh, fool,
weak fool that ] am, to let our
parting nigh break my heart"
She went back to where he stood
leaning against the table, with his
gaze fixed on the bag, and as soon
as she felt sure that her voice was
not unsteady, proceeded to address
him:
II would not have troubled you,
Mr.. Kenrick, to meet me as | pass
ed through London, if i! had not
discovered, while packing your
presents, that there was couple of
pearls missing in the necklace
which you valued because it had
been your mothers. My sister
AYERS that they must have fallen
out before you gave it to me.
Mrs. Derwent is right" he in
terposed; 81 meant to have them
replaced, but forgot"
THANK you. Then | return the
necklace in the same condition that
| got it. In this box you will find
your letters"
Gould you not have burned
them?" he demanded, his chest
heaving. do you think / shall
care to possess such CALLING remind
ers Of time when | was credulous
enough to believe there was truth
in woman"
you are insulting, sir" was the
indignant reply. you sought a
pretext for breaking an engage
ment that wearied you. Having
found that pretext, shame for your
own injustice should keep you silent
in my presence"
~ have never been unjust to
you, Agnes, never" he declared,
his tones hoarse with excitement.
"As soon as it was limited to me
that you were playing the coquette
with half-a-dozen fellows whom
you had in your chains, / wrote to
you frankly and affectionately tell
ing you what had heard, and
how one simple it is not true
from you would suffice to convince
me that you were slandered."
"And | sent you that assurance,
although it vexed me to the soul to
find you so ready to listen when
Others maligned me.
"You sent me that assurance,
he repeated; "but when ] begged you
to confirm it, did you do SOP"
"You mean that ! declined to
take back the promise ] had given
nv old school-fellow of staying
with her a month ere ! left the
north. Il was ungenerous to ask
it of me-"
But you know why ] was so
persistent. Though | could not
accompany you to Durham, to
spend Christmas with your relatives,
| stifed my reluctance to part with
you, till you proposed to lengthen
the term of your absence by going
to Mrs. Fortley's. Can you deny
that she was not the sort of per-
son with whom any thoughtful man
would care for his betrothed to be