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

One of the best stories that we have lately
read is entitled, "The Cousins Country
Tale" It is from the chaste pen of Miss Nit
lord, an English authoress of considerable repu-
tation. The whole is too long for one paper.
and it is story which it will not spoil to divide
The first half of the story, like the bigger DOR.
ton 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 dsnouement in Miss Mitfords
own beautiful language.
Lawyer Molesworth was a rich landlord in
Cramley, the native town of Miss Milford He
had two daughters; to whom his pleasant house
owed ITS ehaet attraction. Agnes was beauti-
inl woman; Jessy was a pretty girl. The fond
miner Intended that Jesse should marry a poor
relation, one Charles Woodford. Charles had
been brought up by his uncle's kind meas, and
had recently returned into the family from a
great Office in London Charles was to be the
immediate partner and eventual successor to the
fourishirg business of his benefactor. whose re
gard seemed fully justified by the excellent con.
duct and remarkable talents of the orphan neph-
ew. Agnes, who secretly entertained an affec
ton for Charles, was destined by her father for
a young baronet, who had lately been much at
the house.
But in affairs of love, as in all others, saws
Miss Milford, man is born to disappointment -
L homme propose, ct Dieu dispose" is never
trucr than in the great matters of matrmony -
So found poor Mr.. Molesworh. who -Jessev
having arrived at the age Of eighteen, and
Charles at that Of two and twenty, offered his
pretty dNughter and the lucrative partnership to
his pennilcss relation, and was pctrifed with as
tonishment and Indignation to find the connec-
'ion very respectfully and firmly denied. The
vouug man was verv much distressed and agi-
tated he had the highest respect for Miss Jessy
mt could not marry hNr-he loved another -
And then he poured forth confidence as Mnex-
nected rs it wns nndesirpd hv his incensed pat
ron. who left him in undminshed wrath and IN.
censed pnrplrxitv.
The interview had taken place Immediately af-
rpr breakfast; and when the conference was
ended, the provoked father sought his daughters,
who, happily unconscons of all that had occur.
red, were amusing themselves in their splendid
agreeable to youth md beauty. Jessv WINS fit
ting about like n butterfly among the fragrant
orange trees and bright gerannms. Agnes was
standing under superb fischde that hung over
n large marble basin-her form and attitude. hel
white dress ard the classical Hna ngement ofhrl
dark hair, giving her the look of some nvmph or
nniad. rare relic Of Grecan art. Jesay wat
prattling gayly as she wandered ahout Of a con
cert she had attended the evening before.
"I hate concerts" said the pretty little fiirt
"to sit bolt upright m a hard bench Ffor fou
hours, between the same people, without th
possibility NJ moving or speaking 10 anybody, q
anybody's getting TO us !Oh how tiresome II is
"Tsaw Edmund trying to slide through III,
crowd to reach you," said Agnes little arohlv
"his presence would, perhaps, have mitigate
the evil. But the baricade WAS TOO complete
he was forced to retreat without accompIishn
his object"
ayes, assure you, he thought it verV tire
some. he told me so when we were coming on
And then the mnsic!" pursued Jessy, 9th
mise that they called Ro: Sir Edward says tina
he likes no music except nv guitar, or fu'
m the water and like none except our p'ayin
. On The organ and singing Handel m a sunda
evening. or Charles woodforA's reading Milto,
and hits Of Hamlet"
"Do you call that nnsic ?" asked Asne
launching. "And yet" continued she, cit
more truly go, with his rich, Pasta.liEe voic'
. and bis fine sense Of sound and to Won, who
2 NOT greatly love it for its sake. It is doubles
d n plensnre much resembling in kind that Of II
most thrilling Of melodies on the noblest instr
e menis. 7 myself have such qualification
J. hearing that voice recite the verses Of Homer
|. SophocIes in the original Greek-Charles Woo
d ford's reading is music"
IS alt is music which neither Of you are like
to b. ear again." interrupted Mr.. Molesworth,