The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-12-02

Agatha started and almost shriekcd, for hand
firmly grasped her arm, and a low voice Kissed in
her ear.
Agatha, Agatha, If You listen TO him; come u
way this moment
But Agatha's pride and her anxiety were both
fully aroused. She shook of the hand of Lorimer,
for it was he, and replied in low but distinct
voice
'No, Lorimer, your manner is so strange that |
shall not obey you. begin to ftor that there is
some passage in your liley you are anxious to con-
ceal from me; and whatever it is, wiI know it,
With your leave shall hear wha, Capt Maitland
wns about to say
Ifyou listen to him, Agatha, grnsped Loimer,
while his face grew white with mental ago
nv,-'f you listen but for another moment, we are
both forever losl!'
But Agatha was firm. 1t fortunately happened
that the choperoa and her party were engaged at
another part of the room, and at the suggestion of
Maitland, he, together with Agatha and I.orimcr,
retired into a small apartment adjoining the bali
room, which happened to he unoccupied. Here,
some explanation took placc-what it was did not
then ,ranspre; but she was brought to our house
tho following morning in State bordering on in
sensibiIi'y, and being conveyed to her room, con-
timed for several days too i'll to speak or be spoken
TO- No one cOnld give an account Of the affair bnt
Maitland, and he would reveal nothing beyond the
circumstances that some disagreement had taken
place between Miss SheIbourne and Captain Lori
mcr, who appeared Suddenly at the ball and van
i,hcd again as suddenly. nor could any enrcaty
induce Agatha TO confess the cause Of their es-
arrangement. A week pissed over before | was
permitted to see her, and then, OH, how changed
she was! | could scarcely believe that this was
the same gay creature whom had seen as she
went forth TO the ball. the picture of radiant hap
pncss. Her face was so utterly colorless-hcr
cheeks and lips of such ashy pa!encss, that one
nigh, have though, her boodlcss, phantom; and
it was singular feature of her case, that even
when her bodily health was in great measure re-
stored, its hue never revisited her cheek in the
slightest degree, beyond transient flush. Her
face had been remarkable before for lis rich color
ing, but she had los, it at once and forever, The
expression of her eyes, too, was altered Former
" they had been Overlooking with life and joy
hnging their bright ganccs hilher and lhlhcr, and
flashing upon the very heart; now they had fixed
week seemed 10 have brought on poor Asa'la's
body and mind The weight of fifty years
Lorimcr never re.appearcd in Selworlh, and
Agatha received only one letter from him. II was
large packet, containing, az we supposed, her
own letters and the other little tokens of affection
she had given him. She took it to her own room,
and shut herself up there for hours;when she came
out again, we could see she had been weeping, and
this was the only time that we ever Jaw the ,rnces
of tears on her face. We had now new visitor
in the person of Captain Maitland He had called
every day during Agatlns illness, and was at
length allowed to see her, lie made frequent
visits TO her while his regiment remained in IL,
and when he left for anohc! station, a new series
of letters began TO arrive. They were always re-
ceived with heavy sigh, and wilhou, any demon
STATION ofpeasure, and frequently left unanswer-
cd, but time wore away, and still cousin Agatha
continued TO receive them, At length she annonn-
ced, somt ha, abruptly, that her marriage would
take place on the very day she had named for it,
and that she should leave England at the time she
dad previously fixed to 90 So
Il once hoped only TO take a temporary leave
Of my friends, said she. Il now hope and expect
that vii be forever. England has grown too pain
Iu for me. cannot breathe freely in It's air.
The appointed day came, and Agatha left our
little village church, the bride of Captain Maitland.
There was no blush on her check, no shrinking Of
her frame during the ceremOny--hcr voice SCUM
dcd almost harsh and stern Ms she repeated the
necessary responses. Even the bridegroom looked
maly emotion; its chief Characteristic was an mir,
not Of composure, but Of firm resolution. The
newly married pair set out at once for London,
aud few weeks infer sailed for India. She had
made it the chicfcOndition of their marriage, that
Captain Maitland should take her hilhcr. Surely
he mus, have loved her passionacly, or he would
not have exchanged his bright home prospects for
uncertain ones in India. Blu, they went, and
though an occasional letter reached US. from Aga
nIha containing few Lriefncs, many years passed
before we heard any thing definite respecting her
Long, long years aud yet nothing had occurred TO
unrave the mystery on which we had scarcely da-
red TO question her. The general impression at the
time was, tia, jealousy had caused the separation
between Agatha and lormer, and thu, Howard
Maitland had been favored rival. We who knew
her intimately, felt that was not so, but we were
as far as stranger could be from solving the rid
die.
Long years! my parents both slunbered in the
dust, ard myself had known the pang of early