Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-16
TiHE MYSTERY Or
AGATHA WEBB.
By ANNA KATHARINE GREENE,
of The Leavenwoh Case "Lost Mans Lane t1and
and Ring" Etc, Etc.
By ANNA KATHARINE GREENE
Copyright, 1900, by Anna Katharine Green

Copyright, 1900, by Anna Katharine
CHAPTER XXIII-CoNT1NUED.
DEAR JAMES Why must l write?
Why am | not content with the men,
ory Of last night? Is it because that
when the cup Is quite full, cup that
has been so long in filling, some few
drops must escape just to show that
great JOY like mine is not satisfied to
be simply quiescent? | have suffered
so long from uncertainty, have tried
you and tried myself with so tedious
an indecision. that now that l know no
you have done the ecstasy Of 1t makes
me overdemonstrative. l want to tell
you that love you; that do not sim
ply accept your love, but give you back
In fullest measure all the devotion you
have heaped upon ME in spite Of my
many faults and failings. You took
me to your heart last night and seemed
satisfied. but it does not satisfy me
that just let you do it without telling
you that l am proud and happy to be
the chosen one Of your heart and that
as saw your smile and the proud pas
sion which lit up your face felt how
much sweeter was the dear, domestic
bliss you promised me than the more
brilliant but colder life Of states
mans wife in Washington.
DEAR JAMEs-I do not, / cannot, be-
lieve it. Though you said to me in
going out, "Your father will explain 1t
ALL" l do not content myself with his
explanation and never will believe
what he said Of you except you con-
firm it by your own act.
Oh, James. were we not happy? be-
lieved In you and felt that you believed
In me. When we stood heart to heart
under the elm tree twas it only last
night? and you swore that If 1t lay in
the power Of earthly man to make me
happy should taste every sweet that
q woman's heart naturally craved, l
thought my heaven had already come
and that now 1t only remained for me
to create yours. Yet trust in you
yet James. and If you bid me to con-
tinue that trust l will do so with all
my heart and never ask you to solve
this or any later mysteries for me. |
do not confide with half heart. give
you all or l give you nothing. fact
which will either insure my happiness
or my ruin. l do not know which. l
am as l am. Do you think my fathers
words would satisfy me or that
would or could believe them when they
accused you Of a base and dishonest
act? James, you should have waited
and not left me to the misery Of hear
ing such an accusation. an accusation
Of theft. and theft Of money, from one
| could not contradict-that Is. If you
knew what he was going to say. But
perhaps you did not. Much as | have
always revered and loved my father,
find myself hoping that he has said
other words to me than those you ex-
pected him to. That In his wish to see
me Philemon's wife he has resorted to
an unworthy subterfuge to separate us
and that there Is no truth In the story
he told me last night or at least not the
truth he would impress upon me.
II his account Of the Interview be-
tween you Is a correct one. and you
have nothing to add to 1t in way Of ex-
planation. then the return Of this letter
will be token enough that my father
has been just in his accusations and
that the bond between us must be bro
ken. But IT, oh. James. If you are the
true man | consider you and all that
have heard Is fabrication or mistake,
then come to me at once. Do not de-
lay, but come at once, and the sight Of
your face at the gate will be enough to
establish your innocence in my eyes If
not in those Of less intuition than your
AGATHA.
The letter that followed this was
very short:
DEAR JAMEs-The package Of letters
has been received. God help me to
bear this shock to all my hopes and the
death Of all my girlish beliefs. am
not angry. Only those who have some
thing left to hold to in life can be an
CRY.
My father tells me he has received a
packet too. 1t contained 5000 in ten
$500 notes. James. James. was not
my love enough that you should want
my fathers money too?
have begged my father. and he has
promised me to keep the cause Of this
rupture secret. No one shall know
from either Of us that James label has
any flaw in his nature.
The next letter was dated some
months later. 1t was to Philemon:
DEAR PHILEMoN-Tbe gloves are too
small: besides. | never wear gloves.
hate their restraint and do not feel
there Is any good reason for hiding my
hands in this little country town. where
everybody knows me. Why not give
them to Hattie Weller? She likes such
things. while have had my fill of fin.
cry. a girl whose one duty is to care
for dying father has not room left
for vanities.
DEAR PHILEMoN-You will have my
hand. though have told you that my
heart does not 20 with it, 1t is hard to
understand such persistence. but if you
are satisfied to take a woman of my
strength against her will then God