The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-06


sumo Mr.. Decker will be happy to accompany
you
"Oh, certainly" replied Agnes, and Mr..
Sullivan. too How fortunate that he should
have arrived just at this time -
Really. my dear, Mr. Sulliyan's visits are
not so infrequent as to render each one worthy
of jubilee | was not aware he had been
away
"Why dear father, he has been gone these
three weeks" exclaimed Agnes, affecting great
| seriousness of manner.
9" Has he indeed Well it may be so.
Where persons coming and going seems to
bear upon no object or result of any kind,
rarely charge my mind with it."
MIR. Sullivan may have objects in his visits,
with which you are unacquainted, said Agnes,
stealing an. arch glance at Mary. MIR. Levi
son rose hastily. AT all events, this one shall
have the result of enlivening our ride to-day"
| Her father left the room without speaking
"See, Mary, father has gone away really dis
turbed know am perverse, but why should
he not give me credit for a little sense and dis
elimination mysef?n
Because you never give yourself credit for
any, when you are with him"
81 don see that. | am sure have implied
no more than that Dick Sullivan will be val
liable addition to our party, and that is both
sensible and discriminating. For, firstly, he and
his hne horse will give more imposing ap-
pearancc to our cavalcade Secondly, he who
under any circumstances in life, changes three
into four, confers favor ON all parties. And
laStlyn-
AT this moment Mr.. Levison returned to say,
agnes | should like you to invite Mr. Heath
to take tea with us this evening"
"Certainly, sir. Have you any particular
reason!"
None, but that like now and then to see
Il man OF sense and worth in my house. Have
you any particular objection, my DEAR
Yes !" thought Agnes, but she only laugh
ed, and promised to see that the invitation was
given.
Within an hour, horses and escorts were nj
the disposal of the ladies' Little black San
contemplated the setting forth of the party
with very justifable admiration. That all thu
maneuvres of Agnes had not availed to keel
Decker from being at her own side instead o
Mary's, was matter of annoyance to her at first
But the fresh air and exhilarating motion were
death to such light cares as hers. Mr. Decker
was besides, so kind and agreeable, and espe
cially so eloquent in the praises of her favoritc
Princess, and the Princess herself 80 glOriously
spirited that it was impossible to be dissatis
fed with anything.
The view of which they were in search was
almost attained when Agnes began by gen
tie approaches, to attempt an investigation o.
Mr. Deckers mind in regard to Miss Eustace
Miss Eustace is pleasing" said he, in an
swer 10 some cautious interrogatory.
Pleasing" thought Agnes in lively de.
spair; "why not call her fool at once!
{" Her eyes are not blue he continued, in Il
tone, it seemed to Agnes as if that might be
rather her misfortune than her fault.
III hope not !" she Indignantly exclaimed
The bright, laughing blue of his own met
hers with such n look of archness, that she was
more than ever provoked.
81 you expected" she said " to find in Miss
Eustace a mere mirror of your own PROJECTIONS
no wonder you are disappointed
"Come," said he, laughing yet more hearth
ly this is rather un Just But you described
her as being 50 different from yourself, and
your eyes certainly have not the misfortune to
be blue
"They are not farther from it, however, thar
: from that glorious depth of darkness which
think 80 beautiful in hers. How well she look
' on horseback !"
/ ayes, her figure is graceful Has she beer
as much accustomed to riding as you?
thought she looked timid once or twice
"You had better ride with her. then as W
/ return, and take care of her"
Certainly, Miss Agnes. | should not thinl
of inhicting myself longer on you and stand
ing in the way of such superior attractions,
he added, with a backward glance at Dici
Sullivan.
|, "Mr. Sullivan has the superior attraction Of
possessing some slight susceptibility to what il
lovely"
" You can speak understandingly on that
point, Miss Agnes, no doubt" he answered,
bowing as he turned away, to give place to MIR
Sullivan.
II never knew this man in such impairment
ly high spirits" she said to herself, "lt is
fortunate for Mary that he has not known her
long enough to dare vent this tornentlng splr-
il upon her And yet she looks for all the
world, as if he were doing it now-so depreca-
ting. yet half amused. She will begin to think
him presuming rather than stupid"
| Agnes turned the Princess head toward the
objects of her socitude but she found Mr.
Decker expatating on the beauties of the scene
before them, with the sobriety of Guide book
As they left the spot, Miss Eustaee and Mr.
Decker taking to lead, Agnes looked admiring-
ly after them, and said to herself "What n
| pity that they cannot see themselves as | do,
and understand how beautifully they look to-
gether 1t would settle the thing at once"
They now wound past a turn in the road,
and Agnes, resgning them to their own devices,
gave herself up quite oarelessly to the enjoy
ment of all that was fascinating in Mr.. Suli-
van. His fine appearance on horseback, his
easy nonsense, and graceful attentions, were
not without certain charm for Agnes. She
was Just now in q mood when trihing was
agreeable 10 her Mr. Sullivan had some new
tricks of craftsmanship to teach her. Agnes,
always fearless and now brimful Of excite
ment and frolic, forgot everything but the fun
of the moment Dick Sullivan found himself
in such apparently high favor, that his vanity
rose to fever heat Various little attentions on
his part which at another time Agnes would
have instinctively repressed, she now received
without stopping to consider their import.
She was suddenly recalled to herself by tAe
unexpected apparition of Mr.. Heath, who was
taking his customary walk along shady part
of the road.
Now, gnes had already suffered some en-
barrassment on behalf Of her friend Mr.. Sulli-
van, especially in presence of Mr. Heath on
whose respect she placed high value. twas
ciety of n coxcomb was peculiarly congenal
and satisfying to her "Yet it must be so, in
part" reasoned Agnes "or why do ] ever like
10 have him about me? And this being the
truth, it would be dishonorable in me to dis
guisc it. If am 10 unfortunately constituted
a. to enjoy frivolous society, the world and
Mr.. Heath are welcome to know it,
On the present occasion, however, her men
tai ejaculation, How much Of this nonsense
has he seem" seemed to imply that he was
not 40 very welcome to know. Perhaps she had
been carrying her honorable principles trhe
too far. The cause Of truth really did not re-
quire her to iiirt with Mr.. Sullivan At all
events, she could have wished Mr.. Heath to