The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-10-01
From the Friendships Offering, for ls4s.
AGNES.

We have been told &C men who have
died broken-Aearted. !! is fable. Did
the sickness of the heart kill, | should
long since have been numbered with he
dead.
How distinctly present to me is that E.
vening when my friend-my kind, my
only triend--left the hand of her whom
he loved even beyond the love with which
he regarded me, in mine! lie was sum-
moned by that voice of duty, whose words
ne never failed to obey, TO scene which
claimed all the sympalhics Of his noble
heart. His vast estates i'll the West Indies
required the eye of n master to correct
The terrible abuses which prevailed there;
and Reginald, without hesitation, resolved
TO make the sacrifice Of a years absence
from the two beings whom he most priced
upon earth. His marriage was deferred
until his return, for he was unwilling to
expose his young and beautiful bride to
The iervid suns of the West India Islands
1t was, indeed, a sore and bitter trial, for
he lief, her lonely and almost companion
less. All her lovely sisters had one by
one dropped and died; and |, her distant
cousin, was her nearest living relative
L. my carc--l may almost say to my 5o-
>om-tor as We parlod he led her. to my
arms, did Reginald commend his treasure.
How little did he think that the blessing
he then pronounced over us was so soon
to lie changed into a curse. He went,and
lcalred Agnes TO my mothers house:
there, in the ancien, woods and the plea
SAINT prospects winch surroundtd il, trus-
ted that the long and tedious year Of Re-
glnald's absence, to the termination Of
which both Agnes and myself looked
with Impotence, might be not unprotiab-
Iy spent. Iyow TO heaven that q, thus
time my heart was as pure as hers whom
led there!
"The Ilollows," which had been an
old hunting lodge, was very remote from
any poplous neighborhood; but in this
Agnes rejoiced. She said that the society
Of my mother and myself would be de-
lightful to her, and she wished for no 9TH
er. But what snlici,udc would not have
been frightened by such presence All
the light and captivating accomplishments
which women only possess, were united
IN her with the highest cultivation of in
tellect. Books and delicious music. and
painting from natures own scenes of love
illness, and conversation, in which inno-
cence and intelligence, and happiness,were
ever speakers, filled up the hours of the
first happy day which we spent in this
retreat. For upwards of three months,
buried in this delicious solitude, was ut
telly regardless and unaware of the pro-
gress al my own feelings. During this
period Agnes and were never from
morning to nighliall, at any one time two
hours asunder. In the spring-meads, and
in the summer-woods, we wandered arm
ln-arm: $50 may | see heaven--thinking
no i'll. At length the autumn came, and
brought with it new delights delights i,
brough t with it that which blighted my
heart forever. One warm and sunny Au-
gust evening Agnes had wandered out to
sketch, leaving me reading to my mother.
for some time. in vain. ! went TO the
and through the woods, but still
in vain: | was becoming rather anxious,
when passing little summer house in the
deep bosom of cluster of beech trees,
discovered the object of my search
Fatigucd with the heat, she had sought
his shelter and fallen asleep. Her pen
ills were scattered beside her, mingled
with the wild flowers she had gathered
in her walk. Her long dark ringle's were
gently waving in the warm eveing breeze,
which seemed to raise upon her cheek its
,oftest and loveliest suflusion. Some gen.
lie thoughts were stirring in her dreams;
or, as stood gazing upon her, she smiled.
From that moment my whole being was
changed. Unknowing what did, bent
Town, as one worshipping, and kissed the
parted lips before me. She still slept;
yut not SO my feelings: they were waken- !