Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-06-17
A VISIONARY STORY.

~ have heart TO give sang Agnes
Grant in clear, sweet voice as she walked
slowly through the woods. Fred Williams
caught glimpse Of her muslin through
the shrubbery and hurried after her. She
seemed to be intent Oh her singing and did
not notice his footsteps behind her.
Il have IA heart to lose.
Who'll win it,"
Fred could not resist this. 81 will,
Agnes"
She started when he spoke to her, but,
on seeing who it was, held out her hand,
with "Oh, how you frightened me!'
"Too bad, but l could not very we'll help
it, you were SO absorbed"
81 was singing to keep up my courage
and sang whatever came into my head. l
dreaded to go through the woods alone.
The last plaintive word received particular
emphasis, and she chung to his arm.
Fred and Agnes had known each other
for years without having any lovemaking
time in their acquaintance. That they
liked each other and were good friends was
sort of unspoken yet understood affair
between themselves. In their walk now
they soon met other persons, who, like
themselves, had been tempted from the
cottage plaza this warm summer evening
for stroll in the woods or a longer walk
down to the lake.
A group of young people hailed their
arrival with delight. May Harper, a
black eyed beauty, called out quickly:
"We are waiting for you. We want to go
out on the lake. 1t is just the night to be
out on the water" In some way she had
soon managed it so that she was hanging
on Fred's arm, and the two were leading
the party down the path toward the lake.
Agnes had been left alone. She shvered
and drew back into the shadow till the
sound of their happy voices grew faint and
finally ceased altogether. Then she went
on down the little path, following, she
scarcely knew why.
May Harper was dashing girl who
| had come to the cottage but a fortnight
ago. But her bright quick ways had
| made her quite favorite, though one felt
her red lips and sparkling eyes might as
easily do mischief as good-perhaps were
more ready at the former than the latter
| She had fascinated most of the gentlemen
| from the first day-indeed, l might say al
| but Fred.
May was in her most bewitching mood
and as they floated idly over the ripping
water in the little boat, with the silvery
| moon peeping over the distant tree tops
| Fred thought to himself there was no ust
| fighting longer against fate. She looked
| IN in his face with timid, queryine
"Fred?"
He bent over her and whispered, "Dar
| ling" Their lips met, and then her heat
rested close to his shoulder. The silve
moon went under cloud, and they boil
felt chilled in the darkness. 1t seemed t.
Fred the girl in his arms had turned t
wood; that it was mere shell of q bod
he was clasping to his breast He spok
to her again and again, but there was n
answer from the lips that were like ic
when he touched them.
"For Gods sake, what has happened?'
he cried out The only answer was a mock
ing laugh from the distant darkness. Il
an agony of fear and doubling he waited
waited until the cloud passed over. A
the first little dainty moonbeam fell owe
her face the dark eyes lost their glare, tn
red lips smiled with the old charming
smile, and Fred in moment forgot al
the previous agony he had gone through.
The boat foated back to the shore, an
these two lovers who, after lover fashion
had been lost from the others of the sam
party ever since they started, walked 81
lently back through the woods to the cot
tage. They parted under the tree at til
gate, for though it was late Fred could nc
carry all his happiness yet into 10 by !
| hot oo,,1d ovt
be done choked him, and he turned ono
more to the freedom of the woods to t
alone with his joy. But was 1t joy, th
load that seemed weighing him down
Something of the horror he had felt whe
pressing her lips in the darkness orept owe
him again, and there was dull sort {
pain about him, he could not tell exactl
where. He went back over the same patti
step by step, slowly, head down, as thong
he was looking for something he had los
In this way he came again to the lak'
The boat was gone. After moment /
saw it on the waves, but his heart faile
him when he saw Agnes sitting in 1t alon
II He had forgotten her till then-forgotte
other things too. What had become of h
promise to take care of herr Only tht
| 6NSulDS le uhu NuisPCloN Al Aol OpA tht
he would win her heart. How had b
kept his word? With forgetfulness till b
saw her in the moonlight drifting out |
the tiny boat. She was sitting at til
bow, her hands folded in her lap.
SPECIFICS with fear and powerless
reach her, he could only stand watching
Again he heard her singing.
"Agnes" he cried, with all his strength
but he only sent forth faint whisper
whisper that on the light summer a.
reached her ears. Her eyes fell from TT
clouds and came to him. She held out hi
arms as though with one quick, happ
movement she would be with him.
"God forgive me! Agnes, come bach
Oh, come back!'' But 1T was too late.
"Agnes" one last despairing cry, and
II say, Fred
'Eh, Tom, is that your What is tt
NATTER"
Nothing special. Did spoil yor
dreamY The door was open, and I though
l would stop in moment to arrange abor
the ride Saturday. You said you woul
take May Harper
'Did II" said Fred quickly. "Well,
have changed my mind, and you can pr