Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-06-24

mysclt, ana sald nothing TO spoil the
happiness Of the. two so dear to Inc.
1t was week later that, coming
into Agnes's room, found her lying
face down Cn the bed sobblng her
heart away, ncr would she listen to
my comforting nor tell me her dis.
tress. "She had promised not to tell
and she wanted to be alone" she
moaDcd, and. was still moauing when
Theo rushed into the room. his face so
| white 1t startled me. lie did not seem
to see Inc, but looked only at Agnes.
"You have nothing else to say to
me, Agnes?" he asked, hoarsely. "For
the last time, 1 ask you for the chance
to defend myself Even the criminal
ut the dock has thatp'
She shook her head. "Its no use,
Theo. I have seen the proofs. You
couldn't explain away the truth"
"Its my brother who has done this
he cried out bitterly; "done It to get
me out of the way. and I am going.
But 1 tell you this, you shall never
marry him. 1 will prevent 1t even II
am dead. swear it," And, turn
ing quickly, lie rushed from the room.
Her CRY of pain and wretchedness
followed him. "Oh. what Shall 1 do,
what shall I do! can't believe it!
And yet l saw the proofs, auntie, l
saw the proofs" And so she cried pit
cously, over and over.
When I had comforted her little 1
looked for my boy, but nowhere was
lie to be found He had gore, and gone
without word.
Time passed slowly. I never was
told the reason of the trouble; and,
though I distrusted Harold, I had no
cause to accuse him. pleaded for the
absent one, but finally ceased, seeing
it was useless.
What 1 had long expected camc to
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 her
wedding. Often, rs looked at them,
her words Of an earlier time came back
to me; he did, indeed, seem to have a
strange power over her, even her
thoughts were echoes of his.
1t was about o'clock the evening
preceding the day set for the we'd
ding Agnes and 1 were sitting IN the
little morning room, which opened on
4 porch that led into the garden. She
was sitting at my knee and I was
smoothing the golden head that lay SO
wearlly on my lap. Suddenly we heard
a step on the porch and the next in
slant Theo stood before us. With q
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 a gesture.
do YOU still belle Inc guilty, Ag.
nes?'
"No, now she cried, "and even il l
did, would forgive you. I don't care
if It's true or not. Oh. Theo, how long
you have been away"'
"And you mean to marry Harold to-
morrow. But say you shall not. He
shall tell the truth and clear me Of the
vile charge. If he had beaten me fair
ly, I would have been glad OF his hap
piness, no matter at what cost to my
self. Eut he planned and lied deliber-
ately to ruin me, and I shall force him
to confess 1t to you. Then you may
choose between'us w. en- we stand fair
and equal before you, and not till we
are equal shall seek you"
And without another word or look he
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 cry broke the stiffness,
SO sharp, so addressing, the servants
came running from every part Of the
house. Agnes and rurl 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 l c0uli not
hide, ordered it 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 servants brought
no news. Even though two had been
In the hall ut the time Theo had
passed through They declared they had
seen no one. Curiously enough, though
the ground was damp from recent
rain, there was no sign of q footprint
nea. the porch where he had entered
The gardener. OH being questioned
vowed that no ore had passed him
though he had been working on that
side Of the house at G o'clock and had
been all afternoon. So strange were
these accounts, Agnes and I did not
speak Of our experience. The servants
were in state of terro where anoIEe1
word of mystery would have sent them
all packing. There was nothing to dc
but wait anXlouSly for Earold to eX.
plain 1t to us.
About 0 o'clock he slowly walked
from his stupor, looked around fear
fully, and, seeing only me, beckoned
feebly for me to come closer. "Whert
is Theo, Aunt FAM" he whispered.
"He is not here, dear. Shall I cal
him"
He shuddered. "No, no-I'll tell, III
tell" he gasped. "Agres, send Agnes
She came Mt once. He clung to heI
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
lsed him I would-tell-I loved you
lleysd~-" Hs sank back en- the plllswi