The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-05-15

1uSlng my hand, than to you for Offering
it. | like Charles well for cousin, but
| should not like such husband at all;
so if this refusal be the worst that has !
happened, there is no great harm done"
And off the gipsey ran, declaring that !
she must put on her habit, for she had
promised to ride with Sir Edmund and
his sister, and expected them every
minute. |
The father and the favorie daughter
remained in the conservatory.
"1he heart is untouched, however,"
said Mr.. Molesworth, looking after her,
with smile.
"Untouched by Charles Woodrord,
undoubtedly replied Agnes, "but has
he really refused my sisterg'
"Undoubtedly."
"And does he love anotherln
Gle says he does, and belive him."
sis he loved again!'
"That he did not saw
"Did he tell the name of the lady!"
eyes"
sis she worthy of him -
"MoSt worthy"
"Has he any hope of gaining her af.
ilectlons oh! he must! What woman
could refuse him ~
"He is determined to try. The lady
whom he loves is above him in every
way, as much as he has counteracted
my wishes, it is an honorable part of
Charles Woodford's conduct, that he
intends to leave his affection unsuspect-
ed by its object
Here ensued short pause IN the dia-
logue, during which Agnes appeared
trying to occupy herself with collecting
the blossoms Of cape jcssamine, and
watering favorite geranium; but 1t
but 1t would not do; the subject was near
her heart, and she could not force her
mind to indifferent occupations. She
returned TO her father, who had been
anNiousl y watching her countenance,
and resumed the conversation.
! "tather! perhaps it is hardly maiden
~ to avow as much, but although YOU
never have in set words told me of your
intentions, | have yet seen and known,
cannot tell how, all that your kind
paltallty towards me has designed for
your children. You have mistaken me,
deares: father, doubly mistaken in think
ing me fit to fill a splendid place in So
clety; next in imagining that | desired
suchsplrndor. You meant to give Jessy
and the lucrative partnership to Wood
ford, and desi gned me and your large
possessions to your wealthy and titled
neighbor. And with little change of
person, those arrangements may still for
the most part hold good-Sir Edmund
may still be your son-in.law and heir,
for he loves Jessy and Jessy loves him.
Charles Wooaiord may still be your
partner and adopted son, for nothing has
7 passed that need diminish your affection
OR his merit. Marry him to the woman
he loves. She must be ambitious, in
deed, if she be not content with such a
destiny. And let me live on with you,
dear father, single and unwedded, with
no thought but to contribute to your
comfort, and to cheer and brighten your
declining years. Do not let your great
tondnesS for me stand in the wav of their
happiness! Make me not so odious to
them, and to myself, dear father! Let
me live always with you, and for you
always your own Agnes!" And blush
ing at the earncstness with which she
had spoken, she bent her head over the
marble basin, whose waters reflected her
fair image, as if she had really been the
Greclan statute 10 which, while he lis
tened, her fond fathers fancy had COM
pared her. "Let me live single with
you, and marry Charles to the woman
he loves"
"Have you heard the name of the
lady in question! Have you formed
any guess whom she may be I"
"Not the slightest. imagined from
what you sand that she was stranger to
me. Have | ever seen herr"
"lou may seen her-at,least you may
SEE her reflection in the water at this
very moment; for he has had the inf
mite presumption, the admirable good
taste, to fall in love with his cousin
Agnes"
"Father!"
"And now my own, my sweetest do
you still wish to live single with me Z"
ooh, father! father!"
cor do you desire that should marry
Charles to the woman of his heart -
"Father, dear father!"
"Choose, my Agnes! 1t shall be as
you command. Speak freely. Do not
cling around me, but speak"
"Oh, my father, cannot we all live
together? | cannot leave you. But
poor Charles--surely, father, we may
all live togethern'
And so it was settled And a very
few months proved that love had con
trlved better for Mr.. Wordsworth than
he had done for himself. Jessy, with
her prettlness, and her title. and her |