The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04

ka1o with something OF the same shame and
dread l was myself suffering from. But she
Can ever hope to make you realize her look
or comprehend the pang OF utter self abase.
ment with which l succumbed before 1t. II
was so terrible that seemed to hear her ut.
ter words. though Lam sure she did not speak
and with some wild idea OF stemminR the tor
rent OF her reproachesT made an effort at ex-
PLANTATION and impetuously cried: 1T was not
for my own good. Agatha. not altogether for
sell l did this. i loved you also madly. de-
spalrnGly. and good brother as 1 seemed. |
was Jealous OF James and hoped tn take his
prosperity and obtain for you those things his
limited prospects denied him. You enjoy
letters, and 4 James could not give them to
that see now that millions couio not have
- "Desplcablel", was all that came from her
lips at which shuddered and groped about for
me go. .Subduing. with grand seif-restraint
the, emotions which had hitherto swelled too
high in her breast for either speech or action.
she thrust out one arm to stay me and said In
short. commanding tones: How was this
thing doneI ioa say you took the money yet
my father says" Hare she tore her looks
from me and cast one glance at her father.
All, san say s Ss her ma
as muchas mine and with.nearly az much ono
ton, am waiting to hear:vhat you have to
door. so as TO leave me no opportunity for
escape. ! bowed and ATTEMPTED an sxplana.
given to James and he rode to Sutheriandtown
to perform 1t. but 1t was on tho day when he
wa was ascus,oped to write e YOU and he:was
And then / told the story You know so well.
christ had accused YOU OF the theft YOU found
out my guilty. secret and told me that you had
taken my crime on yourself and how after
M ri N.nn pnf al tV,,tt
the responsibility for my crime.
iohn she faiIshe was under violent re-
east my eyes at Philemon. De was stand
ing lust as pefore with his eyes turned away.
There was disbursement in his attitude.
ing that he was better:abie to bear. her loss
than either, James, or myself, I said to her
truth before you gave your final word am
late. but | would have been too late week
Her hand fell from the door. but her eyes
1t is too late now" she murmured. The
clergyman, has Just gone who united me to
The next minute she had faced her father
Father. you knew this thing" Keen.
sharp. lncisive the words rang out. II saw It
In your face when he began 70 speak"
very sick man and the scene had been trying
II did" was his low res ponse. 1T was but
lately; You were engaged then to Philemon.
Why break w this second !match?"
crs she eyed him as If sh. i9Hpd it dicu. TO
claims OF innocence, wns Incredible to her. I
Jaw her grand rrofle-quiver. then the slow
h hsr o drop OF blood
And YOU. Philemon she suggested. with
a somewhat softened aspect you committed
this or me YOU, could not know on what false
grounds had been separated from James,"
yOnd pohOld IA al a nft rAd
these words. Philemon was not as ignorant
as she supposed. This was evident from his
Asathn, he began. bu. a. thi. trs, word.
and, before he could clasp the hands held help
sn SfG' si es eb SsT .hs
md himself In frenzy Of INDIGNATION thar was
all the more uncomfortable from the superhu-
suppress it, You, too" she shrisked. You.
too! and / have Just sworn 10 love. honor and
Sees LSys how Homer you the un
But here Mr. Gilchrist rose. weak. tottering
GuiverinR with something more than anger:
no approached his daughter and laid his I'm
BIB. BE aqie5m he 81, said Philemon !. no, to
prayed that. as a rel ief to his mind. / Would
tell him why you had separated Yourself from
James, He had always thought the match
had fallen through on account OF some foolish
quarrel or incompatability. but lately he had
feared there was something more than he sus,
James. and. whether he knew James better
than we did. or whether he had seen some.
thing In his long acquaintance with those
brothers which Influenced his Indignant. he
said at once, This cannot be true of James;
John-I might believe 1t Of John. Isn't
there some ompl:cation here?' ! had never
n1TTh It of hn and dd mot see how John
posed TO be a secret between James and my
self but when Philemon laid the matter be-
guilty. but asked that you be not told before
your marriage, he knew that you wore en-
ssGed to good man. IN; map that y0HF father
you happy. He did not want to be the means
Of a second break. and besides. and this. l
for James /ahel was always he proudest man
! ever knew. he never could bear. he said.
free from rreproach. 1t would stand in the
way OF his happiness and ultimately OF hers:
his brothers, dishonor was his. So while he
you we're safely MARI cd and Philemon was
cure OF your affection. he should tell you that
not Unworthy Of that regard 70 obey him
what are on do1gf Are YOU mad, my child?,S'
the ring she had worn but an hour she flung
il on the floor. Then she threw her arms high
W over her head and burst out In an awful
voice:
Curses on the father, curses on tho hus-
band, who have com hined TO make me rue tho
but t,I The h by
1t was Nr Gilchrist who dared her fiery an
ger. Philemon said nothing.
Hush He may be The father OF your
children. Don't CURSE
But she only lowered the higher and her
beauty from being simply majestic became
appalling. "Children!" she cried II over |
bear children to this man. may the blight OF
heaven strike them as II has struck me this
dav. May they die as my hopes have died. or
II they live may they bruise his heart as mine
is bruised and curse their father as
Here | fed the house. ! was shaking as II
this awful denunciation had fallen on my own
head. But before the door closed behind mo
a diffe rent cry called me back. Mr.. Gilchrst
was lying lifeless on The floor and Philemon,
the patient tender Philemon. had taken
Agatha to his breast and was soothing her
there as IL tho words she had showered upon
him had been blessings instead Of the most
fearful curses which had ever left the lips Of
mortal woman.
The next letter was in AGathn's handWrit-
ing. 1t was dated some months later and
was stained and crumpled more than any
others In the whole packet. Could Philemon
once have told why2 Were these blotted lines
the result Of his tears falling fast upon them.
tears Of forty years ago. whom he and she were
young and love had been dCublful2 Was the
sheet so yeowed and so scanned because 1t
had been worn on his breast and folded and
often? Philemon. thou art in thy
grave seeming sweetly at last y the side OF
tho one idOiHVd. but these marHs OF feeling
still remain indissolubly connected with the
words that gave them birth.