Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-31
THE COUSINS.

One of the best stories we have lately
read, is entitled "The Cousins Country
Tale" 1t is from the chaste pen Of Miss
Milford, an English authoress of conside-
rable reputation. The whole is too long
for one paper, aAd il is a story which it
will spoil to divide. The first half of
the story, like the bigger portion of the
first volume of some Of Scott's novels, Is
merely Introductory to what follows. So
we will sun np the preparatory part in a
few words, and then give the denoaement
in Miss Mitford's own beautiful language.
Lawyer Molcsworth was rich landlord
in Cranley, the native town, of Miss Nit
ford. He had two daughters, to whom
his pleasant house owed its chief attrac-
ton. Agnes was pretty woman. Jes-
sic was pretty girl The fond father in
tended that Jessie should marry poor
relation, one Charles Woodford. Charles
had been brought up by his uncle's kind.
ness, and had recently returned into the
family from great Office in London
Charles was to be the immediate part
ner, and eventual successor to the Hour
iShing business of his benefactor, whose
regard seemed fully justified by the ex-
cellent conduct and remarkable talents OF
the orphan nephew. Agnes, who secret
" entertained an affection for Charles,
was destined by her father for a young
baronet, who had lately been much at the
house.
But in affairs of lore, es in al others.
says Miss Milford, man is born to disap-
pointments. "L'homme propose, ct Dieu
dispose" is never truer than in the great
matter of matrimony. So found poor Mr..
Molesworth, who, Jessie having arrived
at the age of eighteen, and Charles at
that of two and twenty, offered his pretty
daughter and the lucrative partnership to
his penniless relation, and was petriied
with astonishment and indignation to find
the connection very respectfully and firm
ly declined. The young man was very
much distressed and agitated; he had the
highest respect for Miss Jessie, but could
not marry her, he loved another And
then he poured forth Q confidence as un-
expected as it was undesired by his in
censed patron, who left him in undimin-
ished wrath and increased perplexity.
This interview had taken place immedi-
ately after breakfast, and when the con-
ference was ended, the provoked father
sought his daughters, who, happily un-
conscious of all that had occurred, were
amusing themselves in their splendid OBJ
serYatory-a scene always as becoming
as it is agreeable to youth and beauty
Jessie was fitting about like butterfly
among the fragrant orange trees and bright
geraniums. Agnes was standing under q
superb fuschida that hung over large
marble basin-her form and attitude. her
white dress, and the classical arrange
ment of her dark hair, giving her the ap-
pearance Of some nymph or naiad, rare
relic of Grecian art. Jessie was prating
gaily, as she wandered about, Of com
cert she had attended the evening before
at the country.
"I hate concerts" said the pretty little
flirt; "to sit bolt upright on ahard bench
for four hours, between the same four
people, without the possibility Of moving
or speaking to any body, or any body's
setting to u.s. OIL how tiresome it is p
al saw Sir Edmund trying TO slide
~, ..,.,.,. the crowd 10 reach YOU" said
snlossn ,,,s.tle archly-"hi presence