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


red himself above his kind {
"Oh, he does not, he does not ~ cried Agnes.
,agerly. "He is more charitable than YOU. for
he will even be very civil and friendly to Dick
Sullivan, whom | must not say you despise
after all this, but only rather disapproye. Dick
las a handsome sister, however; that NAV be
IN assistant to his charity Agnes hesitated,
doubtful whether little Jealousy might not be
introduced with good effect. One look at
Mary's calm, superior face, made her ashamed
Of the thought. She went on:
But Mary, dear, certainly saw him look
up once with a most animated, delightful kind
Of look, that could not have accompanied a
stiff remark, dull conyersation-how was it!0
" Really, Agnes returned her friend 'you
are rather hard upon me. lfyou had warned
me that the context of every look, up, down,
and sideways, was to be called for, ! might
have prepared myself to give it. really had
not supposed it to be more interesting to you
than it was to me-
Agnes began to feel herself in the position of
the good old baronet in Camilla, whose fayorite
match fell through, for no reason in the world
but the mortal hatred between the parties
" For indifference she wisely reasoned is
more fatal than hatred" She was Mt least
convinced that her schemes would be best pur-
sued in silence.
But leaving this forbidden ground, there re-.
manned hundred things between Mary and
herself which could on nc account be kept
over till daylight Hour after hour was stolen
from sleep, till at length, in the very middle of
one of her most interesting harangues Agnes
dropped away into slumber, the words faltering
rtaI = L.. &c
Mary and Rodney Decker at the altar A no.
BILE, beautiful pair, truly but just as Mr..
Heath's deep voice was prOnolncing them man
and wife, they commenced making faces at one
another, with that entire disregard of appear
ances and proprieties, which 20 often charac-
terizes the heroes and herones of dreams.
A nes woke, and with James Fiu-James, men
tally exclaimed-"Fll dream no more!n Had
she carried the resolution into her waking life
it had been better for her peace through the
coming month.
The next days sun bad but just risen, when
Agnes flung open her favorite east window, and
Mary to her side She might well
be proud of the burst of morning beauty it
at that moment
"A true Sabbath morning, Mary exclaimed.
"Ah, | had quite forgotten that was just
going to propose ride to those hills to-day"
"But you are not sorry now that you do re-
member it. dear Agnes?"
"You are thinking how impatient used to
be of those long Sundays at Madame Records, +"
ent here, at least since Mr.. Heath came. When
you hear him, you will understand it, He is so
good and earnest himself, and feel always in
my heart witness that what he says is true.
| often find myself looking forward to the Sab
bath almost in the same way that you do"
Marys eyes alone spoke the pleasure she
felt. She could appreciate the confidence inn
piled in even so simple an expression of serious
feeling, and she would not startle it back by u
word
what sheet of water is tina" she asked,
after moments silence, cleaning beyond
the woods over there?"
=" Wannee lake. said Agnes in low, chang
ed voice
Mary looked inquiringly at her.
-" have told you of my lost brother, Mary.
1t was there that hislittle boat went down
never look at it now without heavy sinking
at my heart. And my poor father! !"
How long ago vas 81"
Five summers since Oh, Mary how diff
ferent my life would have been, with the com
panionship of brother No one knows how
much still miss him-niss what he would
have been, as well as what he was"
think of him as he is, dear Agnes!"
II do, Mary; but sometimes his lonely dealt
comes up SO yividIy before me. fancy his last
struggles and zee again his little lfeless form
rescued Just too late by passing foot-traveller
Al. tha an c,a
them again with the same shudder of despair
that came over me, that strange, wretched af
ternOOn We were 80 stunned that none of us
even spoke to this stranger, and he went away,
without leaving any word by which we might
know whom to thank | wish now that could
meet that man again, just to let my full heart
speak out its gratitude
Do you ever 90 to the lake now?"
"No, Mary, | cannot. know the very spot
where all this happened, and see it often,
both waking and in dreams. But kept away
1t first from kind of fear, and now | cannot
bring myself to break the spell Dick Sulli-
7an has tcazcd me often to 90 boating there
with him. He does not know and have never
old him, why will not CO. ought, suppose,
)ut | cannot confide q sorrow to such a person
Is he. He is altogether unfit for it,
He must be unfit for this world, then, for it
place of sorrow"
Do you feel it So Nary" asked Agnes
surprised. Vacations, petty annoyances,
,now you have had, but not real affection,
urely"
81 have not suffered in the way that you
rave, Agnes, nor in any way Of which can
peak to you"
Agnes was puzzled, but she had no excuse
or inquiring farther. She c0ntented herself
With showing by looks and ways of new ten
lerness, the warm sympathy she felt in sor-
ow whose nature was unknown to her.
When Mary heard Mr.. Heath she was not
urprised that his influence over Agnes had
,een a happy one. There was depth of
bought in his sermon, of earnestness in his
,rayers, that seemed to bear with it an irresst-
lie power. And while pure taste controlled
lis style, it's simplicity and directncss made it
and appropriate to the humblest
lisciple, the rudest worshippcr in that village
congregation.
Upon leaving the church, the girls were join
ID by MIR. Sullivan, whose presence and COM
trihings seemed to bring them alb
uptly down to earth. Mary continued, how
ver to express the warm admiration she felt
or Mr.. Heath, with an animation that should
ave been gratifying to Agnes But at this
'oint Agnes experienced perverse revulsion of
ceiling. Highly as she exalted Mr.. Heath in
Ter own eyes, and much rs she had longed for
dary's sympathy in the matter, it struck her
With an uncomfortable sensation ut the mo-
nent, how terribly well suited they were to
ne another "He is outshining Rodney Deck
~ she said to herself; III is inexpressbly pro-
oking" Her reply was cold one.
"Mr. Heath is superior to the majority of
ountry preachers, TO be sure; but in the city,
1here one has choice, the chance Of being
ntircly suited must be greater, of course"
ooh, unquestionably,o interposed Mr. Sull-
an. Every well now as you say, Miss Agnes,
Or country church, but in the city one would
ardly feel satisfied with such preaching as
ir Heath's The sermon this morning, for
suitable enough for the ignorant,
Misguided part of his congregation, but rather |