Year: 1871




and scanned her face then a sigh escaped bis
lips.


Wherefore that sigh, father ?'


Agatha, I see the struggle that is going
in your heart and would fain assist you to
decide this momentous question, but dare not
Philip and Richard both asked me for your hand
in marriage and told them you would decide
the affair the one most interested. Do not
decide hastily, but examine your heart and dis
cover whose image is there enshrned. The mar
riage relation is the most sacred of all earthly
ties, and should not be entered into until you
are convinced that the man of your choice is all
that you desire in g husband-your ideal of
true man. Unless you have found that one, don't
be in a hurry to marry. When one marries
hastily, without becoming thoroughly acquainted
with her husbands character, she is almost in
variaby disappointed. Study well your own
heart and the wants of your nature, and see if
the man of your choice is all your soul requires
in a husband one in whose honor you have
bounded confidence"


He arose and left her alone to think


81 cannot love man that cannot respect
therefore must choose a husband who will COM
maud the respect and esteem of all man that
would to stain his character by mean,
low act a man that would spurn with the utmost
contempt the idea of doing anything that would
call a blush to an honest mans cheek a
whose noble soul would aspire to only that which
is pure, high-toned and eleyating. Oh could
worship such a next to God but; all me
the human heart is decetful above all things,
and the cloak of hypocrisy is too often worn to
conceal the hideousness of moral depravity.
How can | decde-oh kind father how can |
distinguish the real from the sham? Richard
Andre is apparently model young man but
the bright side of a young mans character looks
dazzling and pleasant until the dark side is dis
played to detract from its splendor. A that
will do right in the blazing sunlight and stoop to
sully his character by debasing sins committed
behind the vel of darkness is not the husband
for me. Philip Tasso,' she said slowly, as if
weighing him 10 the balance, "it-is-well if
/ were to learn that he is villain, my faith in
mans honor would be terribly shattered if not
utterly destroyed"


" Letters for you, Miss Agatha" said the
maid.


She took the two letters in her hand and recog-
nized the chirography of Richard Andre and
Philip Tasso. Her hand closed caressingy over
Philips letter-she pressed it to her heart, while
Richards she tossed carelessly aside, telling
more plainly than words that Philip dear to
her. She opened the envelope carefully, as
though she was 10th to mar it, and with hut-
tering heart she read


"MY DEAREST AGATHA The spirit of love
prompts to write to-day and tell you how
dear you are to me. | have studied your char
acter well, ana find only the pure and beautiful
inscribed thereon. | know that you living
pure, noble and beautiful life, and as such true
woman only will | ever call by the sacred name,
l ask you to become the dearest one on earth to
me-my wife Do not deem me presumptious
in aspiring to your love, in return for which
offer you the lifelong devotion of


PHILIP TAsso."


" Dear, dear Philip, my heart yearns towards
you, and know that you are good man, for
surely a countenance so full of frankness, candor
and truth, could not screen base heart know
that your noble mind aspres to something be-
yond the glitter and tinsel of outside splendor."


She sat gazing demurely at the long sunbeams
that lay across the carpet like path of gold,
wandering hand hand through the grand air
castles that her Imagination erected with Philip
Tasso. At length her eyes rested upon Richards
letter and hastily tearing it open, she read its
contents.


oh, the mscreant the base-hearted, weak
minded fool Surely his sins have found him
out, and | see him as he is-a sham, miserable
excuse for a man p


As she uttered these words an expression of
contempt sat upon her face but it gradually
faded away, and one of compassion came in its
stead.


" His heart is bad, and I would never marry
such man, yet his poor soul is immortal, and
from the bottom of my heart pity him. poor,
erring mortal, and pray he may forsake his
evil ways"


She went to her room and wrote as follows


DEAR PHILIP Call this evening at seven
and receive your answer. AGATHA SoMERs"


When Mr.. Somers came home at dinner time,
she allowed him to read the two letters she had
received


Well, Agatha, presume this settles the af
fair. All this goes to prove that empty bar
rel makes ne most noise. Richard is one of
those who have the knack of attracting attention
by his constant flow of smal-talk, his witty
repartee, and yet let of superior intelligence
attempt to draw him out, and he would fnd him
shallow -braineds his theories week-kneed and
ill-jointed blt.so goes the world, ard man plods
along learning Come things by experience that he
learn in no other school"


Evening came, and at seven Philip Tasso was
ushered into the paror, where Agatha met him
with sweet smile of welcome, and when she
laid her hand teuderly, trustingly in his, and
looked shyy into his questioning blue eyes,
food of joyful emotions suffused his face and