Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-05-13

been ungrateful, and have discharged him."
Agnes stood as if petrifed. Ungrateful!-
OH father"
"You can't have discharged him, to be sure.
papa" said Jessy, always gOod-natured "poor
Charles what can he haze done ?"
Refused your hand, my child" said the an
cry parent refused to be my partner and son 10.
law, and fallen in love with another lady =
What have you to say to him now9"
Why, really, papa" replied Jessy "Im
much more obliged to him for refunding my
hand. than to you for offering it. l like Charles
we'll for cousin, but should not like such
husband at all; so if this refusal be the worst
that has happened. there's no great harm done"
And off the gypsy ran, ecIarin that she mus
put on her habit. fov shs had promised to ride
with Sir Edmund and his sister, and expected
them every minute.
The father and the favOrite daughter remained
in the conservatory.
"The heart is untouched, however" said Mr..
MoIesworth, looking after her with nile.
"Untouched by Charles Woodford, undoubt-
edly," replied Agnes but has he really refused
my sister,"
Undoubtedly"
"And does he love another?"
He says he docs, and believe him."
{" Is hc loved again?"
THAT he did not say"
"Did he tell the name of the lady ?"
eyes"
Is she worthy Of him."
Most worthy"
Has he any hope Of gaining her affections
Oh! he must! What woman could refuse him ?"
He is determined to try. Tne lady whom
he loves is above him in every way, and as
much as he has counteracted my wishes, it is an
honorable part of Charles Woodford's 8 conduct
that he intends to leave his affection unsuspected
by its object"
Here ensued a short pause in the dialogue,
during which Anges appeared trying to occupy
herself with collecting the blossoms of cape
Jessamne, and watering favorite geranum
but it would not do ;the subject was near her
heart, and she could not force her mind to indif.
ferent occupations She returned to her father
who had been anxiously watching her counte-
nance, and resumed the conversation.
" Father perhaps it is hardly maidenly to
avow as much, but although you never have in
set words told me of your intentions, | have yet
seen and known, cannot tell how, all that your
kind pariality towards me has designed for your
children. You have mistaken me, dearest father,
doubly mistaken in thinking me at to ALI a
splendid place in soeiey; next in imagining
that desired snch s:alezdUHr Ysa meant 10
give Jcssey and the lucrative partnership to
Woodford, and designed me and your large pos
h ,,,,,o cbnr@s ss.hs ~ and titled neighbor. And
may still for the most part hold good-Sir Ed
mund may still be your son-in law and heir, for
he loves Jessey and Jessey loves him. Charles
Woodford may still be your partner and adopted
son, for nothing has passed that need diminish
your affection or his merit. Marry him to the
woman he loves. She must be ambitious, in.
deed, if she be not content with such destiny
And let me live on with you, dear father, single
and unwedded, with no thought but to contribute
to your comfort, and 10 cheer and brighten your
declining years. Do not let your too great fond
ness for me stand in the way of their happiness I!
Make me not so odious to them, and to myself
dear father Let me live always with you, and
for your-always your own Agnes And,
blushng at the esrnestness with which she had
spoken, she bent her head over the marble basin
whose waters reflected her fair image, as if she
had really been the Grecian statue to which,
while he listened, her fond fathers fancy had
compared her. I" Let me live single with you
and marry Charles to the woman he loves"
lave you heard the name of the lady in
question !? Have you formed any guess whom
she may be ?" ....
"NOt the slightest. Imagined from what
you said that she was stranger to me. Have
ever seen her ?"
You may see her at least you may see her
reflection in the water at this very moment ;for
he has had the infinite presumption, the admra-
BILE good taste, to fall in love with his cousin
Agnes "
Father ="
Sand now own, my sweetest do you still wish
to live single with me?"
"Ob, father father
Cor do you desire that Bhonld marry Charles
to the woman Of his heart ?"
Father dear father"
"Choose, my Agnes 1t shall be as you CON-
rnand. Speak freely. Do not cling around me,
but speak"
"Oh my father, cannot we all live together
cannot leave you. But poor Charles-surely
father, we may all live together "
And so it was settled. And very few
months proved that love had contrived better for
Nj. Molesworth than he had done for himself
Jessey, with her prettiness. and her title, and he
fopperes, was the very thing to be vain of-th,
very thing to for day. But Agnes, and tn
cousins whose noble character and splendid tai
ents SO well deserved her, made the pride AM
L happiness of his home.