The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-12-16
CHAPTER II.

-" Why not Agnes2 For, to say
me least OF II. to me. It would appear a.
! though your mothers conduct III the mat.
ter, 50 far as II affects you IN its bearing,
Is altogether unnatural; and as it respects
your iav"rite suitor, Horalo Melville
Is both unkind and inexpllcabe. For
Laura, dear, suter me to interrupt YOU
so far as to say know and f Ell all Won
would say in behalf OF Mr.. Melville. and
frankly confess to you IT is not the lIlhe
o what his sterling W nth demands, and
my too susceptible heart most willingly
acc"ris; but remember, am an only child;
and l. II not natural that nv maternal ia =
rent should entertain ambitious vie VS. for
The matrimonial alliance of her only off
spring! Aud is there any sacrifice on my
part too great, nay, can anything be so
rCsIrded toward her who gave me birth?
Ih"n, my kind friend. al the same lme
hat | sincerely thank you for the deep
interest you have ever manifested in one
SD little deserving il. let me assure YOU,
that although desire COUNSEL on this, to
me, very Important and absorbing topic,
SO" will obllgc me by carefully forbtar-
ing to utter The least reproachIul term of
that dear, tender being who has suffered
S" mnch for me, and so ahtclonsteiy
minlStercd to all my wants"
"llanE it, Agnes Bertram. YOU always
were IA little BOBBY. Tut! Do Ino, love
my aunll Yes. Blu, do you think she
is to have all the love in the wide world?
No. ] say with Brulus-'Not that low
ed Cesar less, but Rome moren Yes.
child. love vonr mother. but her daugh-
ter more. Nov. how do matters stand?
why thus: here are several most revtr..
end and grave young gentlemen, over
head and ears IL love wuh. nav, dvij!g
tor my coZ-gnud-lwo Of tn IN are cx-
ceedngly rich On her mothers esllna-
non though not worth brass button
ga hers good agaIu-a third. has a
mind and heart So richly Ireighlcd as to
render HIM not worth a groat. On the eve
OF the mo,her,) seeing he lacks worldly
peIi, but who possesses untold wealth in
| his own qualities aud The affections ul a
cerIaln wayv ard, silly girl, y no, for,oolh.
though psnlng away, and wasting the rich
bloom that nature planted in her cheek,
! sill hcsIlales which of the three TO
choose y
mo, dear COUSIN, do not halt in fhoo
! sing bn, only as to Whether it be right.
III a matter Of SO much moment, thai |
should make my will paramount to that
OF my mother. And as have been so
accustomed To defer to her, feel undccl-
ded, notwithstanding would prefer Mr..
Melville without penny, to either of the
| other gentlemen sparkling with diamonds
st priceless value from head to foot"
SPOKEN like true girl, but a great
dnnce'-sald her father, as he entered
The room, taking snuff, which was the be-
ginning and The ending of every thing " tn
INN. Seating himself by Agnes, he took
her hand, and with an unwonled kinLues>
ol look and manner. added
"Comc, daughter. suppose We discuss
| that afia,r''-but before he could proceed
further, Agnes, who had no idea of hi
presence, and dreaded his knowledge of
her preference, was too much ahashed
to speak,-when Laura mlerposed with
"Dear uncle Leon, have been endea-
voring to persuade Agnes that she is no
longer a child,-lhal her seventeenth
birthday having passed, she isl woman,
and is entitled TO be respected a, such,and
TO claim a woman's righl-,-lhat having
been duliul child-"
"Yes,"-mtertupled the father, la
parenthese,-"sh has, indeed, been
most dullNul ohild-heaven bless her p'-
Laura continued -
What, being now at 'lhe age Of discre-
lion,' she ha, RIGHTS to ASSERT and PRI-
vILEGEs TO ENJOY. while yet in this
sming-lIde and poetry Of life, which it
would be equally upabIe to neg ect, as in
childhood, to Sigh, parental behests. And
on This subject aver the Book of Books
has as clearly defined the position Of %.