Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-16

| something Cndt ue Suoulu KNOW. 80
told him why you had dismissed James,
and, whether he knew James better
than we did or whether he had seen
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 1t of John. Isn't
there some complication hereP l had
never thought Of John and did not see
how John could be mixed up with an
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, man
that your father approved, a man that
could and would make you happy. He
did not want to be the means Of Sec
ond break, and besldes-and this,
think, was at the bottom Of the stand
he took, for James label was always
the proudest man ever knew-he nev-
er could bear, he said, to give to one
like Agatha q 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 1t on the floor. Then
she threw her arms high up over her
head and burst out in an awful voice:
Curses on the father! Curses on the
husband who have combined to make
me rue the day was born! The ia
ther cannot disown. but the hus-
band"-
"Hushp
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. "ChildrenT she
cried. "If ever bear children to this
man. may the blight Of heaven strike
them as 1t has struck me this day.
May they die as my hopes have died.
or, II they live. may they bruise his
heart as mine Is bruised and curse
their father as"-
Here fed the house. was shaking
as If this awful denuaciatiOn had fall
en- on my own heads"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 yel-
lowed and so scanned because 1t had
been worn on his breast and folded and
unfolded so often2 Philemon, thou art
in thy grave, sleeping sweetly at last
by the side of her thou 80 idolized, but
these marks of feeling still remain in
dissolubly connected with the words
that gave them birth.
DEAR PHILEMoN-You are gone for q
day and night only, but 1t seems
| heightened absence to me. meriting q
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 80 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 it was momentary sentimen-
tality and so kept still. But today such
warm wellspring of Joy rises In J
heart when l think that tomorrow the
house will be bright again and that In
place of the empty wall opposite me at
table shall see your kindly and for
bearing face! know that the heart
had thought impregnable has begun to
yield and that daily gentleness and
boundless consideration from one who
had excuse for bitter thoughts and re-
elimination is doing what all of US
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 q 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
you echoes of words that in another
| nature would have turned tenderness
into gall l could be merry also and
sing as 60 about the house, making it
pleasant and comfortable against your
speedy return. AS it Is, can but lay
my hand softly on my heart as its beat
ings grow too impetuous and say: "God
bless my absent Philemon and help
him to forgive me! l forgive him and
love him as l never thought I could
/ hot q NOT