The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-06-04


face down on the bed sobbing he
heart away, nor would she listen t.
my comforting nor tell me her dis
tress. 'She had promised not to tel
and she wanted to be alone," sh
moaned, and was still moaning whel
Theo rushed into the room, his face 6,
white it startled ne. He did not seer
to see me, but looked only at Agnes.
"You have nothing else to say t.
me, Agnes?' he asked, hoarsely. "Fo
the last time, ask you for the chanc'
to defend myself. Even the crimina
at the dock has thatv' :,
| She shook her head. "It's no use
Theo. I have seen the proofs. 70,
couldn't explain away the truth"
cts my brother, who has done this
he cried out bitterly; "done 1t to &c
me out of the way. And 1 am going
But tell you this, you shall never
marry him. will prevent it even i
j am dead. I swear itr' And, turn
i Ing quickly, he rushed from the room
4 Her cry Of pain and wretehednes'
followed him. "eh, what shall I do
what shall I do: I can't believe it
And yet saw the proofs, auntie,
saw the proofs" And so she cried pit
eously, over and over. < : u
When / had comforted her little
looked for my boy, but nowhere was
he to be found. He had gone, and gone
without word.
Time passed slowly. l. never. was
told the reason of the trouble; and
though 1 distrusted Harold. had nc
cause to accuse him. pleaded for the
absent one. but finally ceased, seeing
1t was useless.
What had long expected came tc
pass. Agnes promised herself to Har
old All her pretty animation was
gone, and in the same listless way she
did everything now prepared for hel
wedding. Often, as I looked at them
hcrswords Of an earlier time came back
to me; he did, indeed, seem to have q
strange power over her, even hel
/ thoughts were echoes Of his. ...
It was about 6 o'clock the evening
preceding the day set for the wed
ding. Agnes and were sitting in the
little morning room, which opened on
a porch that led into the garden. She
was sitting at my knee and was
smoothing the golden head that lay SC
wearily on my lap. Suddenly we heard
a step On the porch and the next In
slant Theo stood before US. With g
cry; that told only too eloquently Of the
secret longing SO long hidden, Agnes
sprang to her feet and rushed toward
him. He stopped her with gesture
DO you still belle e me guilty, Ag'
nes?" .-..... ....
""No, now she cried, "and even II
did. would forgive you. I don't care
If It's true or not. Oh. Theo, how long
you have been away"
aaAnd you mean to marry Harold to-
morrow. ButI say you shall not. H
shall tell 4he truth and clear me ofsthe
vile charge. If he had beaten mefalr
tly.1 would have been glad Of his hap
plness, no matter at what cost to my
self. But be planned and lied deliber
ately to ruin me, and I shall force him
to confess it to you. Then you may
choose between US ". en- we stand fall
| and equal before you, and not till We
are equal shall I seek you" '-a5--''s7''
And without another word or look be
left the room. Trembling, We sat
whepe he had let us, oppressed by we
knew not what, waiting for something
we knew not what.
| Suddenly a cry broke the Stiffness
SO sharp, so distressing, the servants
came running from every part of the
house. Agnes and I hurl ed down the
hall to Harold's study, the sound hav'
ing seemed to come from there. W;
tried the door, but found it locked
With q nameless terror I could moi
hide, ordered 1t burst open. We
rushed in. Harold was lying across
the rug unconscious, but living as ]
found to my infinite relief. No Other
soul was In the room The windows
were down, the key on the inside Of the
door. Nothing was disturbed, every
thing as usual.
| Questioning Of the scrvants brought
no news. Even though two had beer
In the hall at the time Theo had
passed through. They declared they hat
seen no one. Curiouslv enough, though
the ground was damp from recent
rain, there was no sign of a footprint
nea: the porch where he had entered
The gardener, on being questioned
| vowed that no ore mad passed him
though he had been working on thai
side Of the house at 9 o'clock and haC
been all afternoon. So strange were
these accounts, Agnes and I did not
speak of our experience. The servants
were in q state Of terro where anolGel
word of mystery would have sent then
all packing. There was nothing to d.
but wait anxiously for Harold to ex
plain 1t to US.
About o'clock he slowly wake6
from his stupor, looked around fear
fully, and, seeing only me, beckonet
feebly for me to come closer. "Where
Is Theo, Aunt Fan?" ne whispered.
'He is not here, dear. Shall I cal
him?"
He shuddered. "No, no-I'll tell, IT
tellw he gasped. "Agnes, send Agnes
She came at once. He clung to hel
hand as If for strength.
"Theo is not guilty." he whispered
weakly. "I-I-lied about him-I loved
you SOL thought he had played me
false in winning you when was away
It was not true-what said. prom
ised him I would-tell-I loved yoa-
- l. 1,o oIr $hA ,,31