Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-12-06
Chatham saw the motion and sprang
,af0ra her 4 n int orOonf ~ H4# s8 - = e.

: -.
'''Ah! that is the way oft, Is it?" he
exclaimed, with passionate jealousy.
You are in love-with another mani"
The words seemed to choke him in
The utterance. The blood rushed to his
head; the veins on his temples stood
! out in purple syividness, and, as he
:lutched spasmodical]y at his collar,
wild light came into his eyes.
Agnes caught their, mad glitter and
Jhrank back in sudden terror.
II have been duped!" he shouted.
trantically. II have been q cat's-paw.
and now that I have done all that was
wanted of me l am to be turned off
like dog, with kick. The dirty work
Is done, is it? Well see about that;
we'll see what your father has to say.
But, at any rate, you can be sure Of one
thing" />s :>,,.a:=
His voice sank to a hoarse whisper
and the words fell with impressive dis
tinctness: t<.:.@%
IF l don't marry you, no one ever
,hall!"
AS he spoke he leaned forward upon
the table which stood near him, and
his fingers closed nervously upon the
handle of a jeweled paper knife. There
was murder in his eye at that moment,
and the frightened girl. quailed be-
fore it.
Suddenly her ear caught the sound Of
footsteps in the hallway. She opened
her lips to call for help, but before she
could utter sound the door opened, re-
vealing the anxious face of the house,
maid, who had heard enough to realize
that it was time to interrupt the tete-
a-tete without further ceremony.
"Mr. Sprague, MISS" she an
nounced, with comforting nod at her
young mistress, whose pale face and
frightened eyes had not escaped her at
tention.
sprague stood on the threshold in
|evident embarrassment, looking from
Agnes to Chatham, and uncertain how
to act.
II fear am intruding, Miss Muir
DOCK" he said at last; ''your maid
told me she thought you could re-
ceive me. Perhaps would better call
again" :
mo, no, Mr.. Sprague," replied the
young girl, effusively, coming toward
him with outstretched hands; II am
SO glad to see YOU" And then, observ-
Ing his inquiring glance toward
Chatham, II think" she added, cold
~, that this gentleman has said all
that he haa tn saw tn me -
Chatham's excitement had subsidized;
in the reaction, he seemed ill and
weak and he nervously clenched his
tremulous right hand.
II will wait to see DR.. Murdoch, y
he said, doggedly. in a low voice.
"As you please" replied Agnes, aft
er slight hesitation. "Mary, show
Mr.. Chatham to the Doctors study
As the accountant followed the serv-
ant from the room, blank despair was
stamped in every feature, and it
seemed to Sprague, as the door closed,
that he heard something like a con-
vulsive sob.
Unconsciously Agnes had chung to
Sprague's hand. Now, as the sense of
danger disappeared, she became
aware of what she was doing; and, in
sudden embarrassment, she with
drew her hand from his reassurinR
clasp.
The artist, recalling the object of
his visit, at once became grave and
formal.
It am sorry to intrude upon you at
this unconventional hour, Miss MUIR
dock, but I found this letter in my
studio to-day. 1t was evidently
dropped by you yesterday; and,
thinking it might be important, -
"A letter? What letter?'' asked
Agnes, puzzled.
Sprague held out the sealed envel-
ope. The young girl tore it open and
cast hurried glance at it's contents.
Then suddenly understanding, she
tore the paper to shreds and threw
these angrily into the. fire which
burned brightly in the large open
fireplace. .. -.
"Oh, that!" she exclaimed, con-
temptuously. And then after a pause:
DO you mean to say you thought
She stopped short, seized by sud-
den shyness. -: 80
"What else could I think ~ said
sprague, softly.
He was watching, the fragments of
paper as they fared upon the hearth.
The, flame which. consumed them
seemed to shed a radianR glow upon
his heart.
'Then," he added, presently, and
still more softly, IT there is nothing
between you and-and him-perhaps-
perhaps I may hope-Miss Murdoch
Agnes gzs4 vi; i i *:::.
His hand sought hers and found it.
~+put the reaction; had come at last,
and the brave girl who had been able
TO control herself in thsypre4encSso Id
.threatening medman wsfsve val
70 = n 81 historical Weeping.
sprague, not being q. medical man,
could hardly have known what RENE:
/ dies to employ in IN emergency Of thi,
kind. All he did was 10 whisper sooth.
ipaMords in, the young girls ear and
Etoakiss The tears from her eyes. But
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