The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-04-26
The MYSTERY
OF AGATHA WEBB
BY Anna Katherine Greene.

But here Mr.. Gilchrist rose, weak,
tottering. quivering with something
more than anger He approached his
daughter and laid his finger on her lips.
BE quietp' he said. philemon is
not to blame A month ago he came to
see me and prayed that, as a relief to
his mind, would tell him why you
had separated yourself from James.
He had always ..iiought the match had
fallen through on account of some fool
ish quarrel or incompatibility, but late
ly he had feared there was something
more than he suspected in this break,
something that he should know. So
told him why you had dismissed James,
and, whether he knew James better
something in his long acquaintance
with these brothers which Influenced
his judgment, he said at once: This
cannot be true of James. 1t is not in
his nature to defraud any man, but
John-I might believe it of John. Isn't
there some complication here? l had
never thought of John and did not see
uOW OOllll COulu US lllASu up Will CA
affair had supposed to be secret be-
tween James and myself, but when
Philemon laid the matter before James
he did not deny that John was guilty,
but asked that you be not told before
your marriage. He knew that you
were engaged to good man, a man
that your father approved, man that
could and would make you happy. He
did not want to be the means of Sec
Ond break, and besides-and this,
think, was at the bottom of the stand
he took, for James label was always
the proudest man l ever knew-he new
er could bear, he said, to give to one
like Agatha a name which he knew
and she knew was not entirely free
from reproach. 1t would stand in the
way of his happiness and ultimately Of
hers. His brothers dishonor was his.
So, while he loved you still, his only
prayer was that after you were safely
married and Philemon was sure Of
your affection he should tell you that
the man you once regarded so favor
ably was not unworthy Of that regard.
To obey him Philemon has kept silent,
while Agatha, what are you doing?
Are you mad, my child?"
She looked so for the moment Tear
ing off the ring she had worn but an
hour, she flung it on the floor Then
she threw her arms high up over her
head and burst out in an awful voice:
Courses on the father! Curses on the
husband who have combined to make
me rue the day l was born! The ia
Their I cannot disown, but the hus-
band"-
"Hush!''
1t was Mr.. Gilchrist who dared her
fiery anger. 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. eff ever bear children to this
man, may the blight of heaven strike
them as it has struck me this day.
May they die as my hopes have died
or, il they live, may they bruise his
heart as mine is bruised and curse
their father as
Here I fled the house. l was shaking
as if this awful denunciation had fall
en- on my own head. But before the
door closed behind me different cry
called me back. Mr.. Gilchrist was y
ing lifeless on the floor, and Philemon
the patient, tender Philemon, had tax
en- Agatha to his breast and was sooth
ing her there as if the words she hat
showered upon him had been blessing
instead of the most fearful curse
which had ever left the lips of morta
woman.
The next letter was in Agatha
handwriting. 1t was dated som
months later and was stained an
crllmpled more than any others in tn
whole packet. Could Philemon one
have told why? Were these blotte
lines the result of his tears falling fas
upon them, tears of 40 years ago, whe
he and she were young and love ha
been doubtful? Was the sheet so We
lowed and so scanned because it ha
been worn on his breast and folded an
unfolded SO often? Philemon, thou al
in thy grave, sleeping sweetly at las
by the side of her thou so idolized, br
these marks of feeling still remain il
dissolubly connected with the WORD
that gave them birth.
DEAR PHILEMoN--You are gone for
day and a night only, but it seems
heightened absence to me, meriting
little letter. You have been so good
me, Philemon, ever since that dreadf
hour following our marriage feel tn
am beginning to love you and tn
God did not deal with me so harsh
when he cast me into your arms. Ye
terday l tried to tell you this when "
almost kissed me at parting, but | W.
afraid 1t was a lnomentary sentime
tality and SO kept still. But today su,
warm wellspring of JOY rises in II
heart when think that tomorrow Il
house will be bright again and that
place Of the empty wall opposite me
table shall see your kindly and fe
bearing face! know that the heart
had thought impregnable has begun
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