Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-05-12
miscellaneous.
THE COUSINS.

One Of the best stories that we have lately
read is entitled The Cousins Country
Tale" 1t is from the chaste pen Of Miss
Milford, an English authorcss Of considerable
reputation. The whole is too long for one
paper, and it is a story which it will not spoil
to divide. The first half Of the story, like the
bigger portion of the first volume Of some of
SCOTS novels, is merely Introductory to what
follows So we will sum up the preparatory
part in few words. and then give the Be-
monument in Miss Mitfords OWE beautiful Ian
guage.
Lawyer Wordsworth was rich landlord in
Cramlay, the native town Of Miss Milford -
lie had two daughters. to whom his pleasant
house owed its chief attraction Agnes was
a beautiful woman; Jessy was pretty girl
The fond father intended that Jessy should
marry poor relation, one Charles Woodford
Charles had been brought up by his uuclc's
kindness and had recently returned into the
family from great office in London. Charles
was to be the immediate partner and eventual
successor to The fourisbing business Of bis
benefactor whole regard seemed fully justi-
fed by the excellent conduct and remarkable
talents of the orphan nephew. Agnes who
secretly entertained an affection for Charles.
vas destined hy her father for u young baro,
net. WHO had lately been much at the hoase
But in affairs Of love as in all others. safs
Mss Milford man is born to disappointment
'L'homme propose, ct Dicudispose," is never
truer than il the great matters Of matrimony.
So found poor Mr.. Molesworth, who-Jessy
hoVip arrival ,f tha &c 81. 4
Charles at that of two and twenty offered
his pretty daughter and the lucrative partner
ship to his pcnniless relation, and was petri-
fed with astonishmcnt and Indignation to find
the connection very respectfully and firmly
declined The young man was very much
distressed aud agitated he had the highest
respect for Miss Jessy. but could not marry
her--Ee loved apother! And then he pour
ed forth confidence as unexpected as it was
undesired by his ineensed patron, who left
| him in undiminisGcd wrath and increased per-
plexity
This interview had taken place Immediate
| ly after breakfast; and when the conference
was ended, the provoked father sought his
daughters, who, happily unconscious of oil
that had occurred, were amusing themselves
in their splendid observatory scene al
ways becoming as it is agreeable to youth
and beauty Jcssy was fitting about like a
butterfly among the fragrant orange trees
aud bright gcraniums Agnes was standing
under supurb fuschido that hung over a
marble basn-her form and attitude, her
white dress. and the classical arrangement
Of her dark hair, giving her the look of some
nymph or maid, rare relic of Grecian art
Jessy was prattling gayly as she wandered
about, of a concert she had attended the even
ing before.
II hate concerts" said the pretty little
flir;; "to sit belt upright on hard bench for
four hours, between the same people, without
the possibility Of moving or speaking to any
body. or anybody's getting to us Oh. how
tiresome it is p
Il saw Sir Edmund trying to slide through
the crowd 10 reach you" said Agnes, little
archly "hs presence would, perhaps, have
mitigatcd the evil But the barricade was
too complete; he was forced to retreat with
out accomplishing his object"
"Yes, ! assure you, be thought it very
tiresome; he told me so when we were com
ing out. And then the music"' pursued
Jessy, "the noise that he called so; Sir Ed
mund says that he likes no music except my
guitar, or flute on the water; and / like
none except our playing on the organ and
singing Handel on Sunday evening, or
Charles Woodford's reading Milton, and bits
Of Hamlet
"Do you call that music?" asked Agnes,
laughing "And yet" continued she, sit is
most truly so, with his rich Pasta like voice,
and his fine sense of sound; and to you, who
do not greatly love it for its sake, it is. doubt
less, pleasure much resembling in kind that
of the most thrilling of melodies on the no.
best instruments. | myself have such
qualification in hearing that voice recite the
verses of Homer or Sophocles in the original
Greek Charles Wood!ord's reading is mu
SIC"
at is music which neither of you are like
ly to hear again" interrupted Mr.. Molcs-
worth advancing suddenly towards them !;
''tor he has seen ungratcful, and have dis
charged him ttst
Agnes stood as pctriied. "Ungratefull
oh father?" H@t Trts
"You can't have discharged him, to be
sure, papa, said Jessy, always good natured;
"poor Charles what can he have done y
Refused your hand, my child" said the