The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-22

.=.ss:.c. s.se. ..aae return Of this letter
Will be token enough that my father
has been just IN his accusations and
that the bond between us must be bro
ken. But if. oh. James. If you are the
true man | consider you and all that
have heard is a fabrication or mistake
then come to ne at once. Do not de-
lay. but come at once, and the sight OF
your face ct the gate viii be enough IL
establish your innocence III my eyes if
not in those of less intuition than your
AGATHA.
The letter that followed this was
very short:
DEAR JAMEs-The package of letters
has been received. God help me to
bear this shock to all my hopes and the
death of all my girIish beliefs. l am
not angry. Only those who have some
thing left to hold to in life can be an
CRY.
My father tells me be has received a
packet too. 1t contained $1,000 in ten
$500 notes. James. James. was not
my love enough that you should want
my fathers money too?
/ have begged my father. and he has
promised me to keep the cause Of this
rupture secret. No one shall know
from either of us that James label has
any flaw in his nature.
The next letter was dated some
months later 1t was TO Philemon:
DEAR PHILEMoN-Tbe gloves are too
small; besides. I never wear gloves. 1
hot ftnf inf nd Ia
there is any good reason for hiding my
hands in this little country town. where
everybody knows me- Why not give
them to Hattie Weller? She likes such
things. while have had my fill of fin
cry. A girl whose one duty is to care
for a dying father has not room left
for vanities.
DEAR PHILEMoN-You will have my
hand, though | have told you that my
heart does not go with it. 1t is hard to
understand such persistence, but If you
are satisfied to take a woman of my
strength against her will then God
have mercy upon you, for I will be
your wife.
But do not ask me to go to Suther-
landtown. l shall live here. And do
not expect to keep up your intimacy
with the labels. There is no tie of af-
lection remaining between James and
myself. but il l am to shed that half
light over your home. which is all l
can promise and all that you can hope
to receive. then keep me from all In
fuence but your own. That this in
time may grow sweet and dear to me is
my earnest prayer today. for you are
worthy of a true wife. AGATHA.
DEAR JOINT am going to be mar
lied. My father exacts it, and there
8 no good reason why shall not give
lm this final satisfaction. At least l
10 not think there is. but IL you or your !
brother differs from me-
Say goodby TO James from me.
pray that his life may be peaceful.
,now that it will be honest.
AGATHA.
DEAR pHILEMoS-My father is worse.
lie fears that if we wait till Tuesday
le viii not be able to see us married. |
Decide. then. what our duty is. l am
eady TO abide by your pleasure.
AGATHA.
The following is from John label to |
lis brother James, and is dated one |
ay after the above:
DEAR JAMEs-When you read this, l |
will be far away never to look in your
ace again unless you bid me. Brother. |
'rotLer, l meant it for the best, but |
Tod was not with me. and have made |
our hearts miserable without giving
clip to any one.
When l read Agatha's letter-the
ast, for more reasons than one, that I
hall ever receive from her-I seemed
0 feel as never before what l had
one to blast your two lives. For the
rst time l realized to the full that
ut for me she might have been happy
nd you the respected husband of the
ne grand woman to be found in Por
hester. That 1 had loved her so
ercely myself came back TO me in re-
roach, and the Thought that she per-
APPS suspected that the blame had fall
n where it was not deserved aroused II
lie to such pitch that took the sud
en- and desperate resolution OF telling
er the truth before she gave her hand
, Philemon. and never paused till
cached Mr.. Gilchrists house and was
shered into his presence.
He was lying on the sitting room
'unge. looking very weak and ex-
austed. while on one side of him stood
gatha and on the other Philemon,
9th contemplating him with ill con-
aaled anxiety. / had not expected to
nd Philemon there. and for a moment
suffered the extreme agony of a man
no has not measured the depth OF the
lunge he is about to take. but the
ght of Agatha trembling under the
!. ~