Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-01-16

the proudest man ever knew-he new
er could bear, he said, to give to one
like Agatha n 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 IN
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 was born! The IA
| Their 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. IF ever bear children to this
man, may the blight of heaven strike
| them as it has struck me this day.
i 10 Hin l,,, p
or, IL they live, may they bruise his
heart us mine is bruised and curse
their father as
Here 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 ly-
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 had
showered upon him had been blessings
instead of the most fearful curses
which had ever left the lips of mortal
woman.
The next letter was in Agatha's
handwriting. 1t was dated some
months later and was stained and
crumpled more than any others in the
whole packet Could Philemon once
have told why? Were these blotted
lines the result of his tears falling fast
upon them, tears Of 40 years ago, when
he and she were young and love had
been doubtful? Was the sheet SO yell
lowed and SO scanned because 1t had
been worn on his breast and folded and
unfolded so often? Philemon, thou art
in thy grave, sleeping sweetly at last
by the side of her thou SO idolized, but
these marks of feeling still remain In
dissolubly connected with the words
that gave them birth.
DEAR PHILEMoN-You are gone for
day and night only, but it seems
heightened absence to me, meriting
little letter. You have been SO good to
me, Philemon, ever since that dreadful
hour following our marriage feel that
am beginning to love you and that
God did not deal with me SO harshly
when he cast me into your arms. Yes
terday tried to tell you this when you
almost kissed me at parting, but was
afraid 1t was u momentary sentimen-
tally and so kept still. But today such
warm wellspring of joy rises in my
heart when l think that tomorrow the
house will be bright again and that in
place of the empty wall opposite me at
table 1 shall see your kindly and for
; bearing face! know that the heart 1
had thought impregnable has begun to
yield and that daily gentleness and a
houndless consideration from one who
had excuse for bitter thoughts and re-
, elimination is doing what all Of uA
thought impossible few short months
: ago.
| oh, am so happy, Philemon, SO hap
, py to love where it is now my duty to
love- and If it were not for that dread
: full memory Of father dying with
harsh words in his ears and the knowl-
: edge that you, my husband, yet not my
husband, are bearing ever about with
y you echoes of words that in another
: nature would have turned tenderness
into gall could be merry also and
= sing as go about the house, making 1t
J. pleasant and comfortable against your
: speedy return AS it is, can but lay
. my hand softly on my heart us Its beat
ings grow too impetuous and say: God
bless my absent Philemon and help
y him to forgive me! forgive him and
= love him as never thought could"
L That you may see that these are not
!. the weak outpourings Of lonely wom-
| an, / will here write that heard today
that John and James label have gone
fy%f< tn
, business, Johns uncle having left him
!, al legacy of several thousand dollars
3 Lthope they will do well. James, they
I say, is to all appearance perfectly
! cheerful, is full of business and this
: relieves me from too much worry in
o his regard. God certainly knew what
c kind Of husband needed. May you
t find yourself equally blessed in your
Y wife.
: Another letter to Philemon yeal
later:
!. DEARPHILEMoN-Has home, Phile
= mon; do not like these absences.
s nm just now too weak and fearful
j. Since we knew the great hope before
s. us have looked often in your face
0. for sign that you remembered what
o. this hope cannot but recall to my
u shuddering memory. Philemon, Phile
. ! mon, was mad? When think what
l. said in my rage and then feel the lit
~ tie life stirring about my heart, won
:. der that God did not strike me dea6
:. rather than bestow upon me the great
j, est blessing that can come to woman
l. Philemon, Philemon, If anything
. should happen the child! think. Of Il
r. by day, think of it by night. 1 know
\ you think of it, too, though you show
e me such u cheerful countenance and
/ make such great plans for the future
S, Will God remember my words or will
i he forget? 1t seems as If my reason
t hung upon this question.
t. A note this time in answer to one