Sunday dispatch. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1845-1854, 1852-04-18
NEW YORK, SUNDAY MORNING5, APF

in breathless expectation she listened to wha
followed
"But what then? ?" continued She speaker
=" he marries for money merely. The truth is
his father has lately come TO a leng-disputet
barony, and with scarcely an acre of land K
support the dignity of it so his son has con
sented to marry an heiress, in order TO max,
the family rich, as well as noble You mus
know, have ry Information from the fountain
head. Chi1ord's mother IS my relation, and the
good woman thought proper to acquaint me IL
| form with the adUantagesus alliance which hel
hopeful son was about to make"
This confirmation of the truth of story
which she till now hoped might be mere report
was more than Agnes could well bear but
made Courageous by desperation, she resolved
to listen while they continued to talk on this
subject. Mrs. Askew, in the meanwhile, was
leaning over the box, too much engrossed by
the farce to attend to what was passing behind
her.
just as the gentleman concluded the last
sentence, Agnes saw Clifford go out with his
friend and she who had but the minute before
gazed on him with looks of admirDg fondness,
now wished, in the bitterness of her soul, shat
she might never behold him again
al never WISH" said the colouol, match
of interest to be happy one I"
4" NOT will this be so, depend on it, answered
his companion; for, besides Mat Miss Sand
ford is ugly and disagreeable, she has a formi
dable rival"
"Indeed !" cried the other; favOrite mis-
tress, suppose"
Here the breath Of Agnes grew shorter and
shorter; she suspected that they were going to
talk OF her. and, under other circumstances,
her nice sense Of honor would have prevented
her attending to conversation which she was
certain was not meant for her ear but so great
was the Importance of the present discourse to
her future peace and well being that it aDnibl-
oil Of q.
Yes, he has fa1orite mistress; girl who
was worthy of better fate"
" You know her then p' asked the colonel
" No" replied he, " by name only; but when
was in the neighborhood of the town where
she lived, heard continually of her beauty and
accomplishments ; her name is Agnes Fitz-
Fitz-"
"Fitzhenry, / suppose" said the other.
Yes, that is the. .name," said his lordship
How came you to guess ?"
Because Agnes Fitzhsnry is a name have
often heard toasted; she sings well does she
!" She does everything WELL" reioined the
other; "and was once the pride of her father.
and the town in which she iived.p
Agnes could scarcely forbear groaning aloud
at this faithful picture of what she once was
Poor thing !" resumed his lordship; "that
ever she should be the victim of villain 1t
seems he seduced her from her fathers house,
under pretence OF carrying her to GEetna Green;
her to London
Here the agitation of Agnes became so visi-
BILE as to attract Mrs. Askew's notice but as
she assured her that she should be well pre-
sently, Mrs. Askew again gave herself TO the
illusion Of the scene. Little did the speaker |
think how severely he was woundng the peace |
OF one for whom he felt such compassion.
g You seem much interested about this I'M |
happy girl" said the colonel
g am so" replied the other, "and full of the |
subject too; for Clifford's factotum, Wilson, |
has been with me this morning, and l learned |
from him some of his masters tricks. which |
made me still more anxious about his victim.
It seems she is very fond of her father, though |
she was prevailed on to desert him, aud has
never known happy moment since her elope-
mont, nor could she be easy without making
frequent bat secret inquiEes concerning his
health.
Strange inconsistency !" muttered the colo
nell
"This anxiety gave Clifford room to fear that
she might at some future moment, if discon
tented with him, return to her afflicted parent
1eiore he was tired Of her; so what do you
.hink he did ?''
AT this moment Agnes, far more eager to
near what followed than the colonel, turned
ound' and' fixing her eyes on her unknown
flend with wild anxiety, could scarcely helm
aylng' " what did Clifford do, my lord ?''
y lie got his factotum, the maa | mentioned,
o persoHate messenger, and TO pretend that
le had been to her native town, and then he
rave ner such accounts as were best calculated
o calm her anxiety; but the master-stroke
Shlch secured her remaining with him was,
is mofs TREIy, poor utSdp GasF IA
cad, than that he is married"
At the mention Of this horrible probability,
Agnes lost all selfcommand, and, screaming
loud, fell back on the knees of the astonished
narrator, reiterating her cries with all the
alarming helplessness of phre nsy.
" Turn her out turn her out" echoed
hrough the theatre-fer the audience supposed
hat the noise proceeded from some intoxicated
md abandoned woman and a man in the next
,ox struck a blow on the shoulder, and, calling
Ter by name too gross to repeat, desired her
o leave the house and act her drunken freaks
elsewhere
Agnes, whom the gentlemen behind were
with great kindness and compassion
leard nothing of this speech save the injurious
spithet applied to herself; and alive only to
what she thought the justice of it. g. Did you
hear that" she exclaimed, starting up with |
The look and tone of phrensy-" did you hear
that Oh my brain is on fire /" Then, spring
ing over the seat, she rushed out of the box,
by the trembling and astonished Mrs
skew, who in vain tried to keep pace with
The desperate speed of Agnes.
To he Continued