Year: 1866




allow, went up stairs to the door of the
little blue-silk hung boudoir, which once
was always open TO me. i wanted a tete q
tote, luxury which the large parlors
wholly denied, tor think small rooms es-
pecially adapted for private interviews.
Grateful indeed felt that her lover was
not with her. She was sitting in an otto
man beside the open window, her chin
resting upon the palm of one hand, and her
upturned eyes absorbing the moonlight.


Agnes" i said, after i had announced
myself II hear that you are going to
marry"


She gave quick start, looked at me for
q moment, as though trying TO read me,
and then said:


when do you shall know


81 want to know before" answered.
''Tell me, is it trueP"


Yes; is it anything so singular?"


~ only wanted to know from your own
lips whether 1t was true" answered. II
know the man to whom report said you
were engaged, and, knowing what / do of
him, must say, In answer to your ques-
ton, that tho fact that you are to be mar
ried to him seems to me very singular in
deed"


There was silence for about half min
ute, and then Agnes replied:


"Frank, Is it to be with you and me as 1t
mas pOoh WIN ~ iudily Vi my IrlenuS anu
me already? ] gave you credit for better
feeling and better sense. You are no longer
boy whose opinions, like his character,
have yet to be formed. When you were
boy used to be very fond of you, and now
that you are young man / do not want to
AaNe any reason to respect you less than |
do now. But shall--I know / shall--if
you talk to me longer ON this subject Let
no more be said upon it."


I A. \
was touching very sensitive spot ''all the
knowledge of the world, and all the wisdom
of etiquette, which i ought to have, will
not prevent my speaking to you as l feel
ought to speak. Being a man, i know-I
must know-it is inevitable-more of the
world than you. have known and es-
teemed you too long to feel sure, as do
now, that your happiness Is In fair way
OF being ruined forever, without doing what
can to keep you as you are. am too
much your friend not to be willing to run
the risk, for your good, of being treated by
you henceforth as an enemy. And you
must excuse me If l say that the one thing
in all my life that am amazed at is how
you can find 1t In your heart to marry such
asEnan as that" (And I remember the in
voluntary shudder that came over me rs /
thought of the kind of man to whom this
pure-minded woman had pledged her faith





some of your dearest friends, because you
conceive they have insulted you by plead
ing with you against the man of your
choice. And | know there are ten chances
to one but that l will rise from this seat to
be treated and regarded by you henceforth
as stranger, II not foe; but speak /
must and will. II you do take the step you
mediate, 1t shall not be because you have
not had faithful friends to point the danger
out"


The moonlight showed her lips closed
tight, as though her teeth were set She
did not look at me, but her features wore
the look of one who endures an insult from
an object upon which it would be pitiful to
visit resentment


'Can you imagine such a marriage as
this" / proceeded. "a marriage of a
pure-minded, noble-hearted woman with a
man who can have no interest or thought
in common with her. Such q marriage
yours will be, Agnes. Have you ever ta-
ken the trouble to find cut the truth about
this man? Do you not know that he Is a
spendthrift gambler, debauche-a man
addicted to Vices that / can not name to
you? Does not all his past career prove
it? Does his present give the faintest pros
pect of reformationf What possible in
terest, beyond your own good, do you con-
ceive your friends can have in telling you
the truth of the man who is unworthy to
touch the hem of your robe, to approach
with his lips the ground you just have trod
uponp Agnes, If You will believe me, /
find it as impossible to reconcile with each
other two contradictory doctrines, each OF
which appears to be true, as 10 account for
the blind devotion with which you allow
yourself to be led by that man"


Agnes now turned her eyes upon me for
the first time, and looked steadily into
mine, interlocking her hands in her lap.
And so, steadfastly gazing, she sat very
still, composed and quiet for moment.
Then she said, in tones Of Ice:


"You can not account for Il, and 1t is un-
necessary that you should. For what do.
am responsible, not you nor any friend
who favors me with unsolicited advice.
You have spoken words which would be an
insult, were capable of being insulted by
such as you. It Is enough that have lis
tened TO you. You viii never have the
chance of having me do so again. Now,
you must leave me. You win have the
goodness to remember that all the shame
and suffering you prediction melt indeed
II come-I am to bear, not you. / have
listened to you as calmly as / have because
| wished to satisfy myself whether you
were indeed like the rest of the world, so
short-sighted, so ill-discerning, so unchari-
table, so backbiting. l have been mistaken.
You are. You have only added one more
10 the number of my painful duties. My
love and faith are given to that gentleman
the only man worthy of the name of man
! ever knew--and am as unmoved by the
falsehoods and vituperations Of friends as
though they had not spokenl 1t Is useless
you TO attempt TO answer. You Will per-
init me 10 say goodnight"


She arose and left the room, and / saw
her no more until years after; and then,
visiting distant city, where knew she
was resldlnR with the worthless wretch