St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-05-09

Crying-she-she, who had always
laughed things away. With bound
he was up the steps beside her. Fate
had won.
"Agnes!"
She sprang to her feet, quietly
greeting him with outstrteched hand,
and smiling, flushed face, calmly ig-
noring the traces cf tears on her
face.
He clenched his hands at his ride,
he could not trust himself to touch
her' hand. She drew hers quickly
back.
Have offended you?" she asked.
Something in her voice banished all
his self-restraint. Moved by an I'M
comfortable impulse, he reached out
and drew her to him, pressing his
lips to her cheek, her hair, and her
lips.
"Offended me?" he cried. Eyes, by
your sweetness, your personality
yourself. l love you, love YOU For
the moment she lay unresisting in
his arms, yielding herself to his ca
resses, then she pushed him back.
'Oh, you must not-you must not,
she cried, struggling in his en-
| brace.
He held her only the tighter, laugh
ing like a boy at her struggles.
Ralph, Ralph, let me go. You are
mad. You do not know what you are
saying"
"Yes," he cried. ''Mad-mad with
love for you. Answer me" he
pushed her off from him and held her
by the shoulders that he might look
into her face. do you love me-?
She covered her burning face with
her hands.
Answer me-"
"God help me, yes" she replied,
and sprang from him, dropping white
and trembling into chair.
His face was radiant as he knelt be-
side her.
"Agnes, do not shrink from me, my
darling. Can't you realize how l love
you. 1t has been like living fire in
my heart. l never meant to say it,
meant to go away, but now-oh!
you love me, love me, and II want
nothing but you, want you always.
There has never been any woman but
you"
She rested her hand moment on
his bowed head, and he would have
taken her in his arms again, but she
held him back.
NO." she said, softly, like one talk
ing to a child, ''you must go away
1t must not be. You must go away
and forget me-"
''And if I will not?''
ooh, you must-you must. If not
for my sake, for hers" Her words
came thick and fast, as of one in
pain.
''You do not love me-"
cit is because 1 do love you that 1.
bid you go back to her-to your duty.
Now, go, for tonight I must think,
and whatever comes, always remem-
Der that I love you and always will.
Now, go-please.'
my darling, my own," he MUIR
INJURED, as he gathered her once more
in his arms, until tomorrow. And
remember, will not give you up.
You are mine-mine-so, until to-
morrow" and ran lightly down the
steps, the light of a great happiness
on his face.
She watched him go down the street
and then YEARLY mounted the stairs
to her room and threw herself on the
bed.
ooh, the shame-the shame" she
cried in her agony, land love him,
love him as she never can. ,"
All through the night this was the
burden of her cry, and worn and weary
and looking years older, she called her
maid as the first light of day appeared.
''Pack the trunks, Marie, we take
the noon train for long trip"
Eyes, madam"
Next evening he mounted the Step
and rang the bell, the light of expect
ancy on his face.
MADAM is not at home. She left
to-day for an extended trip abroad"
told the servant.
Like one who had received blow II.
the face he turned away, his face sud.
denly grown old and haggard. HI
could not blame her, he understood:
her sacrifice. She had gone away tha0
she might save the other woman pain
He felt her nobleness, and YEARLY
took up his burden CT life and wolk
again, the never ceasing longing in
his heart, with only the memory of an
hour gone to help him bear.
The old disease had come back on
his wife and tenderly he watched and
cared for her, she accepting him as he
was, perfectly satisfied, never know
ing what she had missed.
Two years later a man in tourists
garb walked swiftly across a certain
hotel green and stopped beside rus
tic bench beneath Towering vines,
where woman sat, roses in her hands
and hair.
"Agnes," was all he said.
She jumped to her feet with a cry
of Joy, the roses falling to the ground.
"She is dead, Agnes. 1t was year
ago.
"Yes, / heard"
He held out his trem bling hands to
her. and as she came closer, with
wonderful light shining il her eyes,
he swept her into his arms.