Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-11-26


preaching from door apparently behind the
screen.
He rose from his chair to welcome bis hostess.
Could he believe his eyesl The intruder was
not Mrs. Stewart, but what was once Agnes
CoJrlrnay. She wore dress Of black silk. and
never had she looked lovelier. Advancing to-
wsrds him with a smile, she held out her hand.
But Lennox. bewiIdered and amazed. was speech
less: he started back and clasped his hand 10 his
brow. Yet ii was no dream. Agnes stood be.
fore him radiant in ten thousand charms, and
smiling encOurogngly, though with the least pos
slble BIT Of mischief in her counIenance as she
behed his confusion,
"Mrs. Beaufort" at length he exclaimed, as.
ionishmenE depicted in every ineament Of his
face.
"And why not Agnes as Of oldl" she said.
"Can it be possibIel III came 10 see-Mrs.
Stewart. Is this Miss Couuenay that wasl"
His embarrassment and Perplexty appeared
by no means to create sympathy Oh the part Of
the lady; her counienance become more mjrhful
each moment, and at length she broke INTO
merry laugh.
The face Of Lennox began to redden, but his
hostess seeing lhis checked her mir,h, and alter.
lering her tone to one Of seriousness. said,
"And do you not know thar am sill Miss
CourenayW
She had scarcely uttered the words before
Lennox, reassured by them, as we'll as by her
encouraging smile, grasPed her hand eagerly
aud said,
"And you we're never married! You ore the
one who sent for me-"
uNoyy pu,,ID cr,od Anroo Ill H. IA
returning, "you will crush my poor lule hand
There, now that it is q, liberty, will answer
your questions, provided YOU do not put more
than hundred in one breath. But first, Mujor
Lennox, be seated"
She threw herself into splendidly carved
fduteuil, and Lennox seated himself at her side
lie was sill bewildered like one in Dream:
only delicious sense Of happiness was stealing
over him.
DO indeed see arightl" he exclaimed care
the hopes visionary | begin 10 enterlanl Oh!
speak, Agnes, and terminate my suspense-am
still loved, as have always lovedl"
Ii was her turn now to look embarrassed. She
cast her eyes on the floor, while the rosea,e
bushes dyed her cheek, and crimsoned her neck
down TO the bosom, which began to heave in agi-
tation. But her Iiue hand remained hanging
IistlessIy over the arm Of the fautueil, and Len.
nox encouraged by her demeanor, took it again
and pressed IL The pressure was gently return
ed.
An hour after this, Lennox and Agnes still sa,
together in that paror. The interval had been
employed in those mutual confessions which are
50 dear TO lovers. Agnes had told Lennox her
history since they last parted, and he, in return,
had informed her Of his. But with most of
this she was already acquainted. Mrs. Stewart
having been the agent who had kept her inform.
ed Oft.
The story OF Agnes is soon told. Arrived in
England, her cousin earnestly pressed his suit.
But Agnes. after struggle with herself, resolved
to make him her confdant in order that he might
know her motives in refusing him. Beaufort
was Disappointed, and perhaps, Rlso, his vanity
suffered somewhat, but he acted like a man Of
honor and took on himself the responsibility Of
declining to Mr. Courtenay the projected alliance
Fortunately, however, his feelings were not very
deeply interested in his suit; he was indeed one
Of those persons easily impressible, but with
whom no passion is very profound or lasting;
and in less than year he married young lady
Of disposition similar TO his own, and having
besides the recommendation Of very large for
tune. He was, Agnes said, as happy as he
could be in consequence.
About this lime her father was taken i'll. His
sickness was long and lingering, and during its
progress he had leisure 10 reconsider some of
his prejudces, and among Others those which he
entertained against the American atriols. In
the quiet of the sick chamber he saw events in u
different light from what he had during the heat
ed parisanship of active life; and Agnes, ere
she closed his eyes, had the qualification to learn
that he inclined to those opinions which she her
self had so long secretly entertained.
Ifnny thing could mitigate the poignancy of
her grief for so great loss as that OF her only
surviving parent, it was the intelligence which
she received from Mrs. Stewart in letter about
this time. After detailing her visit to the cell
of Lennox, and her own convictions of his unal-
terable love, that lady proceeded TO state that it
was no secret among the friends of our hero, who
was now again in The army, that he continued
deeply and irrevocably attached 10 Agnes. Mrs.
Stewart implored our heroine no orger TO do
injustice 10 LennOx. 81 would have written all
this BEFORE" she concluded, "but | thought it
OSSl DOl W uU oO uHlIl was sure WIlelIlST or
you were engaged TO Mr.. Beaufort"
Agnes was different being from the hour she
received This letter. Her old buoyancy of spirits
was not long in returning. The year of mourn.
ing for her fulher was now nearly elapsed, and
she determined 10 return to America and make
amends TO Lennox for the injustice she had done
to him But she resolved that, in doing so; she
would carry out lille plot of her own, in order
TO satisfy herself that Lennox still continued to
love her.
Accordingly she wrote to Mr.. Stewart and Mrs
Stewart to meet her at Philadelphia. offering the
former the situation Of steward of her estates,
and intending 10 travel under his escort to
Charleston. She had scarcely arrived in port,
however, when she heard that Lennox was in
Philadelphia.
From Mrs. Stewart she obtained the ring
which summoned Lennox to her presence; and
in his flushed and embarrassed manner she saw
G,ll nroof of his conStancv, The house whore