The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-01-01

her doorway, her hair In one long
dusky braid, that mingled with the
ribbons Of her gown, and an unusual
ly seriou, look upon her happy girlish
face.
"Isn'l it disturbing you?" asked
the girl he,itatIngly, "M this late
hour'n
Mrs. Give laughed slightly, lyon
srr what | was doing " She pointed
to the frothiest kind OF novel that
she had laid down OH the tabourcltc
at her side as Agatha entered, She,
too, was in dressing gown, ana to
AgBtha's guilty eyes, was the faircNt,
loyeliest, most innocent Of mortals
Mrs. Give slipped her feet from the
couch where she WAS lying and made n
place for the girl But Agatha shrank
back. "No," the cried, mot a
your side Let i, be something hum.
bier And coming over she kneIl
beside the couch She drew Mrs
Gives hand quickly to her aud hrlo
it against her breast, where Marian
had the curious sensation of feeling =
human heart beating itself almost t.
pieces
"My dear child" she said kindly,
"lcll me all about ii -
Agatha looked up with eyes that
burned. at is what | mean TO do
came for the purpose. But how
can explain to you? What excuse
can | Offer | have done you the
greatest injury one woman can Dc
another, yet all the while have loved
you with a love that was genuine and
sincere. Believe this, for am strict.
| ~ honest with YOU When first be-
g1n accepting your kindness and hos.
pltllty II was without the smallest
thought OF evil, and had any one pre-
dictrd that | would return your kind
ness with dccc;,-ycs, decet-and
trrachcIy--l should have rcpuliated
the notion with scprn. Yet it i. what
have done. Can you believe il?
Look at me and say whether you think
it possible? Oh, and admire YOU
sol You are 40 dainty and lovely,
and to look at you one would say that
no idea of anyone wrouging you AS
have is utterly eut Of the question. II
only happened lately - the night Of
the muscale---up to that | was ~ true
To you ~ steel, But that night, God
knpws--no! lie doesn't know, II
was not He who was with me that
night, i! was = spirit tina, was all evil!
| suddenly began to eco charms IN
someone had no right to look ut |
va, horriiird; aud the next morning !
uId not look YOU in the face |
firmly resolved never to be nnuu, t.
my trust again, ! would keep uw .
Bu' have not been true. hay
looked aud have listened On, miy
God forgive me, hardly dare ask
you to! Aud last uight--last night
! sat under the trees in the moonlight
and the feelings that were in this hear,
this heart that, perhaps, you can feel
bcating-cach one WIS climc--a
CRIME against you, my good, kind
generous friend! am a,hamed and
Illuminated, but | have come to you,
for | want you to know. My crimes
have all been 10 the thought, not in
actual deed, but / know what the
Bible says about thi mixing thing and
| am not trying to sxculpatc myself"
suddenly she bowed her face on Mrs
Gives hand and sobbcd silently. Mrs
Give put out her other hand and
stroked her hair
"Of course, you mean my husba nd,
Agatha"
The girls head sank lower in hu-
imitation.
Mrs Clivo sat perfectly still for IL
moment or two, her hand on the girls
head, but quite motionlcss.
"Do You mean, Agatha, that you
love Roberto
a wslling sob was the reply.
"Aud you came TO me because it
was the hardes, thing to do?"
yes"
Thank you for coming, " said Mrs.
Give, then she sat still for another
while. 81 wish," she began, after n
time, "that could say what | wish
without seeming unfeeling. wish,
poor child, that | could open my heart
rs you have done. Suppose | were to
tell you, Agatha, that what you have
just told me does not grievc me in the
Ieast-that ! do not care! That would
horify you, would il not? Yet it Is
he truth. The man who is 81 full of
harm for you is a ,olutcly without it
or me-, because know him. How | !
Nish | could give him to you If you |
want him, but Robert Give is not the !