The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-09-15
and his ardent wish to believe in him.

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young man with greater fervor, but
Agnes steadily refused TO talk of the
matter. She met new friends and be-
lieved she was forgetting Jack.
That morning, the anniversary of
their betrothal, Jack Wilson arrived on
the City of Paris, sending q telegram
from his club announcing his arrival
and a request for an interview. Agnes
decided to see him once more.
When Agnes spoke of his ideals as
we have seen, Jack leaned toward the
graceful figure with intent to seize the
delicate hand in close proximity, but
she, apparently unconscious of his in
tent, quickly swept it among the folds
of her gown.
Up to this time Agnes, with woman
ly deftness, had kept the conversation
upon conventional lines, but the mag
netism of congeniality had thawed her
feelings and an approaching scene was
impending.
She drew a white rose from her belt,
her fingers trembling with emotion.
See! Jack, this white rose!" she
added, nervously. at is one of Dor
othy's wedding roses. She threw her
bouquet and whispered, when secured
it, that as it was an emblem of her
happiness, she was pleased that l had
been the favored one" Touching its
petals daintily, Agnes, with scornful
intonation, interrupted the eXclama-
ton of Jack. 1T is like those ideals
you men worship, frail, delicate, ten
der and pure. If it had soul-who
knows but that it may have one-it
might be sympathetic, noble and for
giving. AS we view it, it is simply q
symbol which breath, a touch, will
| destroy. l, too, once worshiped such
ideals, but time has blown his breath
upon them and / now realize the utter
worthlessness of such fetch worship!"
agnes! beg of you!" cried Jack, in
passionate protest. Let me eXplain!'
Explanations, like comparisons,
dear Jack, are odious, unconventional
and unuttcrably wearisome. Why al
lude to episodes, disagreeable and I'M
welcome, on this Heaven-born night ?
| Blest is the bride the sun shines on,
may well be supplemented by moon and
stars of such refulgence as those above.
1t was perfect wedding day-high
noon, and the bride eXquisitely lovely.
Your former belle, Julia Lathrop, was
present, gowned magnificently, as
usual. Paquin stared at one from every
seam and screamed at every rustic of
her bewildering train. True, age is
lowering near her, but in that light
she didn't look a day older since you
sailed for"
| Springing to his feet, Jack advanced
several steps toward the door, then
turned suddenly, strode toward the ex-
asperating, tantalizing, fascinating
woman whose image had been with
him through all the troublous months
of his absence. Sinking upon one
knee, he grasped her hands SO violent
ly that the fragile sticks of her pref
ty fan snapped in quick succession.
"Agnes!" he hoarsely cried, "you
shall listen to me, conventionality has
not crushed out the womanhood re-
vealed to me in our blissful life a few
years ago. You know full well you are
my ideal, brilliant, patient, tender, low
ing, sympathetic, noble. You belle
your character when you utter plati-
tudes more fit for a cynic's shriveled
soul than a true woman loyal tout
and inanities upon which the average
woman feeds. Your beautiful soul
cannot contain such heresies as you
have uttered tonight, the divine will
never separate itself from you. Speak
to me as in the past, of things gathered
in that rare soul which is like the
jewel in the diadem, worth mans
ransom. Open you heart to me, my
darling, in which pain, tears, and joy
blend in such exquisite harmony, Tell
me of God, of visions wherein visits to
the universal realm, debarred from me
through gross material pursuits, but
revealed to you that higher light which
is reflected in your lustrous eyes. An
swer me, Agnes, you still have faith in
me?"
His voice sank in musical cadence,
as the realization of her purity i'm
pressed itself upon him and that the
loss of her guiding spirit would wreck
his life.
Agnes, astonished beyond measure
at this outburst of passionate appeal,
experienced revolution of feeling
quite the opposite of the flippant persi-
flage which characterized her previous
remarks.
Don't. Jack! Forgive me! l was
wrong to use that tone. l fancied you
were indifferent to such qualities In
women, I trust the sincerity in your
voice. The voice is always true to char
acter when under stress of emotion,
whatever its quality. Jack, wonder
you did not detect the sham in mine"
She said these words as he held her
hands, more moved than she cared to
acknowledge to herself. Pressing a
kiss upon her trembling fingers,
crushed and almost bruised, Jack rose
silently and looked down upon her
with such love and intensity that but
for her lowered eyes, an immediate ca
pitulation would have been declared.
"Jack," she softly said, ~, too, have
my ideals intact. The man love must
be strong to resist temptation, sans
peur ct sans reproche; noble to per-
form good deeds; he must be the dom
mating spirit in welded life. Man be-
lieves woman to be made for his mate.
rial comfort. Woman Graves his inner
life, his higher ambition. She faints
| by the wayside of practical and mate