The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-10-28


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MOI ner true seIf-hcr better srIT.-' ma
suggested gently.
Not according to my tale We'll, the
book went off fairly well for q first ven
turc. but great critic Ia. he'd the heroine
mCrcilc SLY"
You c,,n the heroine was bad. The
inquiry seemed forced from linn, it was 81
sudden and vehement.
Yes, oh, yes. But the criticism hurt
! her--the girl who wrote 1.-THE nc,lrotic,
I passionate girl-tcrribly She worried all
day over it; she lay awake ut night and
| cried over it shc--Shr''- Her voice broke
and she brushed away IL tear with an an
! CRY little sob.
And So she hated the crItiry'
''She hated the critic. or she thought
she did "
There was long silence
Did she take hyr rry,ur;r upon him
in your tale His tone was chilly with
assumed Indifference.
'Sho meant to, butt
Tell me"
"Whcn she met him, she didn't know
that he was the critic
And he fell in love with hor?''
"He said so
odd size Ike him-Agncs2" Ills face
was still cold, hut his voice was almost
fierce in its cagcrncsS.
I'm the story she did
But when he told her that he was the
critic"
Il didn t say that he told her.
But he did, didn't her"
YES, in the story"
$50 she hated him?"
Her hands kept opening and closing aim
lessly
Anyhow she resolved upon revenge?"
Yes, a sort of revenge"
"A sort OF revcngel" She shrank and
quiycrcd ut the scorn in his voice.
You should read tho story she
pleaded.
My God no cried, do l not know
it?''
"No, " she answered firmly you do not
knew il.
Then I should like to hear But she
knew that he had hardened his heart
"Well, she resolved to let him go on lik-
ing her.
a sort of rcvcngo"
"She made herself as attractive as she
could. She wasn't very pretty, you know,
'hSLNIs a SihoiAT l'hIHJ ing SstN
For Gods sake!" he cried fiercely and
hoarscly.
We'll, somehow she made him like her.
and shp"-
Hated him all the time2"
"No-o-not altogetheI-in the tale. D
"Thcn he proposed to herr"
Yes; he proposed to her"
"Lumely enough but earnestly" There
was the rage of Gagged animal underneath
his quiet voice.
"Oh, no! Not lamcly ut all, honestly
and manfuiIy and lovingly. He was
splendid chGractcr-in the tale" 1t was
strange that he could not read tie hero
worship in her tone.
But she Thoughts he WASH 't?''
'tNu. She thought he was. She knew
he was" She tied her handkerchief trem-
blingly III knots.
agnes! You are trying to play with
me. l do not understand"
"No, siio said passionatcly, looking up
a5 him with white, drawn face ard quiV-
ering lips and eyes full Of pain, you do
not understand. He did not understand"
Did she not refuse him. Did she not
tell him that tho criticism had nearly
broken her heart? Did she not tell him
that she had resolved To take tho Dittorest
HpypngI that . woman could take? Did
she not tell him that she had studied his
books to find the ways that attracted him
most, to make him care for hcGy Did she
not tell him that she had meant him to
propose that she might refuse him? Did
she not say that she wanted him 10 care
Tor her ali the rest OF mis- life?" He stood
up and lowered over her like an accusing
angel.
Yes" she said with sob. "But''-
"Butl There is no but to excuse such
conduct as that"
All, but she hHd a loE more 10 say if he
would nave heard her. But he cursed her
and went away-in the tale. -
Agnes" She sobbed uncontrolledly
behind her handkerchief Agnes, for
mercy's sake tell me what would she have
told him if he had not gone" She looked
up with Il tear stained face.
she Wapld .iavo told MIN" she said,
steadylng her voice bravely and laying
her finger tips upon his arm, ''that he had
conquered her passion and her wicked
ness; that she had found out how great
and strong and kind he was
Agnes, little Agnes. Wuuid she have
told him chat shu loved himY"
"l-I-don't know. The-the tale
stops. -
But our tale, dear" There was some
thing in his voice that was past describing
Then she looked up at him, with eyes
brimming over and whispered a wAfi 90
brokcnly that he could SfarieiY haar. But |
he took her in his arms and held her as
close as could be, and she tried to nestle |
closer.
"Oh, AgRie, Aagio," ne Dried, II ought |
to have isnown--a womans mercy"
She lifted Il flushed, happy face and |
threw pair Of slim, willful arms round !
his neck. No" she whispered, my dear, |
dear boy. y woman's love. j. \. Flynn |
In St Louis Republic.