That was all she said--all that Maddy ever knew of her history, as it

was never referred to again, except that evening, when Agnes said to

her, pleadingly: "Neither Guy nor Jessie, nor any one, need know what

I have told you."

"They shall not," was Maddy's reply; and from that moment the past, so

far as Agnes was concerned, was a sealed page to both. With this bond

of confidence between them, Agnes felt herself strangely drawn toward

Maddy, while, if it were possible, something of her olden love was

renewed for the helpless man who clung to her now instead of Maddy,

refusing to let her go; neither had Agnes any disposition to leave

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him. She should stay to the last, so she said; and she did, taking

Maddy's place, and by her faithfulness and care winning golden laurels

in the opinion of the neighbors, who marveled at first to see so gay a

lady at Uncle Joseph's bedside, attributing it all to her friendship

for Maddy, just as they attributed his calling her Sarah to a crazy

freak. She did resemble Sarah Morris a very little, they said; and in

Maddy's presence they sometimes wondered where Sarah was, repeating

strange things which they had heard of her; but Maddy kept the secret

from every one, so that even Jessie never suspected why her mother

stayed day after day at the cottage; watching and waiting until the

last day of Joseph's life.

She was alone with him then, so that Maddy never knew what passed

between them. She had left them together for an hour, while she did

some errands; and when she returned, Agnes met her at the door, and

with a blanched cheek whispered: "He is dead; he died in my arms,

blessing you and me; do you hear, blessing me! Surely; my sin is now

forgiven?"




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