Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-27
AGNES wALDRONs wHIM.

III like them both, mamma; they
are both charming. And as for
which l prefer, the question seems
unanswerable when offer it to my
self for real, serious consideration"
| Agnes Waldron and her mother
were seated en- tete-a-tete in their
coy little apartment at fashion
able Washington hotel. 1t was
Agnes first season in the gay cap
ital; she had come thither from her
Northern home only few days pre-
vious, with the indulgent parents,
who humored their only child to
quite an incredible degree OF fond
ness, and who would have performed
anything stupendous, we doubt not,
in the way of devotion or self-sacri-
fee, merely to crafty one of those
many trifling whims of which her
spoiled nature was so full. Perhaps
we rather wrong Agnes, in calling
her nature a spoiled one, however;
for if warmth of affection, keenly
strict sense of honor, and an abhor-
renee of anything that resembled
falsehood, constitute loveable wom-
anly attributes, our pretty blonde
haired, brown-eyed heroine was I'M
doubtedly worthy of all respect as
the possessor of all these qualities.
81 certainly never saw you so in
terested before, Agnes" Mrs. Wal
dron observed, as reply to her
daughters last remark. "But the
idea of liking two men at once,
strikes me as so thoroughly absurd,
that"
THAT you probably think me a
terrible little goose, mamma" Agnes
interrupted, with laugh. "Per-
haps after I'LL" she added, 81 do like
Louis Falmouth little better than
Ogden Wyllls."
"Heis handsomer," said Mrs. Wal
dron. "That is he has more hon.
est face, Agnes. There is to me a
lack of sincerity about Ogden
Wyllis, shown both in face and
manner. What say you?"
swell, | shall make my final de-
cision this evening. l have invited
them both to accompany us to the
theatre"
"And you are persuaded that each
gentleman likes you, Agnesp"
"Likes me! | suppose so, mamma"
You understand my meaning
dear, though the terms were, per-
haps, not strict enough"
"Do they both love me? Is that
what you mean?" said Agnes with
sort of roguish smile, that broke
presently into soft, harmonious
little laugh. swell mamma, ]. can
not be sure of their love. My ex-
perience forces me to confess, how
ever, that | have heard very earn
est avowal of passion from each.
} But what nonsense am | talking ?
| am off for a walk, mamma, this
splendid afternoon"
Hardly ten minutes later Miss
Agnes Waldron, arrayed in her very
tasteful and becoming walking-suit,
entered one of the most fashionable
millinery establishments on Penn
sylvania Avenue, for the purpose of
purchasing few articles for the
Evenings wear. She approached
the counter nearest the door, and
leaning over to address a girl who
was standing behind it, suddenly ex-
claimed, in a voice of the intensest
surprise:
"You here, Milly Osborne! Why,
for heavens sake, how came you
hereP" Then as the girls pale face
flushed to a vivid scarlet, impulsive
Agnes caught her hand, and added,
half-compassionately, half-respect-
fully; 81 really did not mean to
annoy you, Milly. But it seems
only yesterday since you and ] went
to school together in New York,
and"
"Please don't speak of that,
Agnes" the girlsaid, her lips CULVER
ing slightly as if the memories
evoked by Miss Waldron were Bit
terly sad ones. II have been trying
to forget those days very, very hard.
Perhaps you did not hear of my
fathers failurep We have scarcely
anything to live upon now, and, as
you see, | am obliged to work."
"You look tired to death, Milly."