Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-05-11

her do as she will. I was mad t
: think myself worthy of her."
He did not see the scorn, that rip
pied for one half moment over he
beautiful face.
Why" he asked, suddenly, "di,
she not give me the answer herself
1t was from her own lips l asked t.
hear my fate
The calm, proud face never quailec
or faltered, the clear, musical voic
only said, agatha is young. Perhap!
she feared being persuaded agains
her will
She need not have feared me-" h
said, proudly. "She has the right to re
fuse me, if she will. I cannot under
stand it, he continued. She seemed
to like me, [ thought"
F.She is young" replied the clear
voice, 'and kind to every one
Inez saw that her words touched him
keenly. He was proud, and it was moi
pleasant to think that he had been
vain enough to confound and mistake
for love what was only kindness.
''The bearers OF an unwelcome
message often share the fate of the
message they bring" said Inez, gently
DO not let me be so unfortunate
Lord Lynne
No" he replied kindly; you can
never be associated with anything
unpleasant in my mind. I shall al
ways remember how we'll and how
| gently you have fulfilled 2 Dainful
mission"
No doubt, no suspicion ever crossed
his mind; he was a Lynne, a gentle
man, and a man of honor. False
hood and treachery were unknown to
him. How could he suspect? She
| brought him back the flower he had
| placed in Agatha's hand. She
brought him the answer; and no one,
as he thought, but Agatha had heard
the question.
"My sister babe me ask two favors,' -
she continued. "One is, that you may
never pain her by abiding to the
| subject again; the second, that you
will so time your journey as to pre-
vent
"To prevent her from seeing me
again until my folly is forgotten, %
| said Lord Lynne, bitterly. Yes, tell
her in both wishes I will obey her
punctually."
He did not notice the flush that
seemed to scOrch her face as she gave
utterance to the false words; he did
not notice how carefully she picked
UP the poor little flower that, in his
hurry and agitation, he had dropped.
Il need not ask you to keep my
| secret, Inez,' he said, calling her for
the first time by her name. You can
be true, l know"
Until DEATH" was the reply.
Il shall not make much difference
in my arrangements" he said. 81
was going by the evening train, but
now l shall leave at noon. Say adieu
to your sister for me-" he continued,
taking her hand in his "Tell her
shall bear NJ 6ain like a brave man,
and that | will not seek 1er presence
again until I am cured Tell her I
pray Heaven to bless her, and make
her happy, and that we shall meet
again as good and true friends"
Il will tell her" replied Inez; and
for the first time her lips quivered and
her eyes grew dim. He thought she
sympathised with him.
"Good-by," he said; Il shall not see
you again before 1 start
"Good-by," she replied, calmly; but
the hand he held grew cold in his
grasp. The next moment he was
gone.
She cIenched her delicate hands as
she went hastily up to her sisters
room again.
Il hate myself" she murmured. 81
am traitress-a false, living lie! Yet
I swore to win at any risk, and l
will"
Agatha still slept, although the
| morning sunbeams were playing upon
her face. Inez replaced the flower,
and then bent again over her sister.
There was something like triumph in
the beautiful dark face as she watched
the unconscious sleeper.
Il have done no HARM" she
thought; she is not capable of loving
and he will be happier with me-"
When Agatha awoke she was
startled to find her sister bending over
her.
How late I ami" she said; but l
was SO tired; and l have had such
pleasant dreams"
Then Inez knew by the rush of
warmth and light over the fair face
! ho oil
fell upon the flower-the flower that
she was to return today. She did
not understand why Inez, who SO
rarely entered her room, fingered near
and would not leave her,-why she
talked so wittily and amusingly OF
the tableauX and the ball, that simple
sweet Agatha could have listened al
day,-why she delayed her and kept
her from dressing, or from going down
stairs, by saying that she was tired
and should have some tea brought tC
her.
The first part Of her plan had sue
ceeded even beyond sanguine hopes
She fingered in her sisters room keep
ing watch and guard, lest there should
come some note or message, which
unless she were quick enough to in
tercept, would spoil all. Her vigilance
never relaxed until she heard TIT
sound of carriage wheels, and theI
she knew that the danger was passed
; that explanation was impossible, AM
l that Lord Lynne had left the hall.
Agatha wondered Why all at one
her sisters CAV words ceased Why
stiffness fell like a mask upon he