The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-03-04

we do not open our ears to the tones OF
melody, and close them to the far holier
cries of distress.
When the mother saw that the voice of
Agatha brought all the relief thcv need
Ell, she buried herself for weeks and months
IN her poor room, nor went abroad, al
though her child brought her the sweetest
fruits and flowers, and urged her with all
the dear pleadings of childhood. From
tins cause her health began to decline. so
that she was really unable to move. but
would sit for hours with folded hands. and
that helpless smile belonging to the GEN
tier stages of lunacy upon her lips, rcrard-
less % everything but the presence Of A.
gatha. No sooner did she appear than
she caught her in Ter arms, and held her
to her breast as if at each separation ma
tenal love were born anew. These excl
! tlH% moments, with the intervals ofsolita-
ry dependence, made sad havoc upon tho
health of tic victcm and now, when A.
gatha returned fs0m her painful interview
with Guido, she found her mother stretch
ed upon the couch nearly inssnsible. The
voice of her child reused her to conscious
ness, but this time there was no burst Of
emotion; she put her arms about her
neck, kissed her softly, and pattcd her
cheek, az if fondimg an infant.
" am i'll, dear Agatha" she at length
sald, land may leave thee at any time.
Let me tell me thee what much concerns
| thee"
She opened lfcr breast, and produced
smaI! emerald ornament, suspended around
her neck. 1t was in the shape of a ser
pent, cXquisitcly mounted with gold. She
showed Agatha how to turn n screw in
the neck, by which it appeared to he hol
lowed to contain a liquid. SuSpcndinr
this around the neck Of the girl she CON
timed.
"NoN listen. child. Some time will
tell the all our story. All. sweet, will
sleep now,' and she icn back half ncon-
scious. As she did 50, her land Instinct
lively sought the bauble in hc: bosom.
which not finding, she started up with an
expression of terror.
Here, mother here" said Agatha,
presenting the emerald.
An. yes, child, might have dicd,and
not have revealed the secret Thou must
hear. In my my own land we are taught
less than women learn hcrc-but oh A
gatha, we learn TO love with an intensity
and devotion unknown in this place of
false and tickle hearts. knowledge is the
tomb OF love, Agatha, and we who feel
that III one heart is the circle of our oyis-
tencc, lavish our all of life and love there,
nor care for the wreck that may cnsuc.-
1t was thus | loved thy father. Sweet,
th"u art like him-I will tell the story.
lie was Of noble bood-and I-chiId,
child never change thy robc-wcar the
green as most fit, as will tell thee why
some day, when thou dost return"
Again she rc,apscd into silence, but
missing the emerald, she started up once
more, and resumed her narrative.
In our land, Agatha, we talk b. flow
crs, and learn our little destinies by the
star. Now, loso not word. Jh0u art
a creature of paSsion-thy every drought
Is lovers impulse, and thy cp otions even
beyond this chime, fcrvcnt as IL is. 1t has
been predicted of thee, tha', thou shalt
cause the drath-not of tl.v lover, child.
but thy husband. Now rlc.rk. in conso-
qucnc thou wilt be in dc llv pcril-thcy
will take thee to their vile prisons. and
rack thy tender limhs and chains, the
scaifold. and death await thee. 70 that
hour keep this, wea. it about thy person
secretly, and never part thcrefrom. Look
dear, It's but drop, and death will be
easy and certain ~
She drew IL 6 girl to her bosom rs she
spoke, and b SEED her lips amid showers
OF tears, as IF chc hour of parting were G.
ven then a. nand. Agatha also clung 10
her neck in tears, for she saw the cbbing
pulse OF hcr poor parent, and knew that
she w' dying. All night she lathcd her
temp IS, and s"othed her faint and inco-
hor' nt visions, but, when the day broke,
the spirit had fled.
agatha knew not that the body of the
uncomcsscd woman was carried to tnnhal-
lowed ground; she knew not that she was
looked harshly upon by the priest, and
that in her grief no one sypathised; for
except her mother and Guido, she had
lived nearly alone, and knew nothing of
the usages Of those about her. Guido had
taught her 10 kneel at certain indications,
anu 10 repeat prayers To the Virgin, in
which she found comfort; but then she
thad learned so much from her lover.
which had been most pleasant to learn,
shat poor Agatha. when she knelt, and
when she prayed, knew little of the sancti-
ty implied therein, and supposed the whole
matter means of pleasing him. Had
she not stood to Guido for Madonna,
and did he not kneel daily before it and
had she not refused to stand for any 9th
er artist, only because ho desired her not {!
and was not everything that pleased Gui-
dc most delightful to hcrselfl Alas poor
Agatha's knowledge was slight indeed; !;
but out of such a'soul the combinations Of
even few thoughts are infinite ..ile more
when love only is the suggester,