Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-05-18
Continued.

gentle face grow pale.
IF ever he comes to you" continued
Inez, ''and tells you that he loves me
but that | am so proud and reserved
he does not dare to ask me to be his
wife, but wishes you to intercede for
him, what shall you say?"
The fair head was raised from her
shoulder, and two pure, sweet eyes
looked searchingly into her face
do you care for him, Inez?-do you
love him?" she asked.
Inez was almost frightened at the
expression that came into her sisters
face and fingered there for some mo-
ments.
Eyes, 1 love him." she replied at
last; mot as you cold, quiet English
love, but as we Spaniards, Daughters
of the Sum- who would think nothing
of giving a life for those we love. If
ever he comes to you, little sister, and
asks you to speak for Tim, what shall
you say?"
rs it likely to do so?" asked
Agath, her gentle face growing paler
WITH edCn WOrQ.
Il think So" was the false reply.
q have been so proud, so naughty,
so reserved; but | cannot doubt that
he loves me-"
eff ever he comes to me with that
request" said Agatha, 81 shall re-
member what you have said to me to-
night, and | shall tell him to hope
to speak for himself"
would you like me to be Lady
Lynne?" asked Inez, gently.
Agatha waited two or three min
utes before she spoke; then she laid
her head upon her sisters shoulder
again, and said, Yes, if it would
make you and Philip both happy, I
should like to see you Lady Lynne"
Then a strange quiet fell upon her.
The sound of her sisters voice fell
upon her ear like a sound from dis
lance. The gentle faithful heart was
wounded nigh unto death, but she
made no sign. She felt relieved when
her sister rose at length and said it
was growing late; she wanted to be
alone and think how much she had
been mistaken, and what that mistake
would cost her.
The few artful words had their eff
feet. Agatha believed she understood
now what had seemed so strange to
her before. Lord Lynne had spoken
strangely when he had taken her into
the conservatory, but she saw what it
was. He had wanted her to plead
with Inez for him.
Agatha, he had said, you know
what | have brought you here to tell
you"
He had brought her there to tell
her that he loved her sister,-to ask
her to use her influence for him.
How vain and foolish | was" cried
the poor girl, ''to think he cared for
mel"
Yet how fondly he had looked at
her, how tender and musical his
voice! She felt almost indignant
with him that he had mislead her
1T is well that no one dreams that
I care for him." she thought. q am
thankful now that | had no time to
.tpeak. | am thankful too that have
kept watch and guard over my own
heart, and have not allowed myself to
love him as l could have done"
For some days Agatha looked un-
like herself; she was gentle and
patient, but the brightness seemed
gone from her face. During those few
days the young girl fought and won
a hard battle. Inez had not spoken
truly when she said her sister could
not feel. She did not know how COM
and feeling under control. She did
not understand the force and merits
of disciplined character. True
Agatha Lynne would never love 'too
we'll but not wisely" her heart
and affections would go with her duty.
She would never have schemed and
planned and toiled to win a love that
was not given to her. Not even to
herself would she or did she admit
that she loved her cousin unsought
and unasked. She said to herself
that she had been vain and foolish,
that she had mistaken his meaning,
that she must cure herself of all such
follies, and rejoice in the happiness
that was coming to her sister. But
she never said that she loved him.
because he had not asked her,-and
part of Agathas code of honor was
that no girl should ever give hel
heart or her love until it was asked
for" She would not admit even tC
herself that she suffered from 6
strange new pain; she busted herself
in the interests of others; she reat
more, talked more, and would no
think.
Agatha was not capable of loving
or suffering as deeply as her sister
Neither could she have erred as he,
sister did. There was no height t.
which that deep passionate nature
could not have attained, there wa
no depth to which it could not hav,
sunk; but for Agatha there wer,
neither great heights nor great depths
She would have been intensely happ,
as Lady Lynne. Happy because sh
could have loved Philip so dearly
and her life would have been so brigh
and beautiful passed with him. Blu
if it was not to be,-if Lord Lynn
loved her sister,-she must be happ
in another way.
Although there was no deep tragedy
no broken heart, no silent despair
although even to herself she would no
own that it was so, still there was
pain to be fought against and sub
dued
L should like to go away for
time she thought, "and forget a
about it,
T, 4, r4r,,oo ,,,or ~.