The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-06
sire, but always with the sound the influence

died.
"For all those songs that you like best" she
said as she rose from the music-stoOl at last
0you are indebted to Miss Eustace for learn.
| ed them all from her"
| II am everlastingly obliged But has Miss
Eustace q monopoly of all sweet songs? Might
not music-store have done as much for my
happiness-that is, supposing you could have
been induced to receive instruction through so
commonplace channel!"
gNot at all They are all stray gems, which
Miss Eustace has caught, remembered, gather
ed up. where no one else would find them But
be as ungrateful as you please, your time is
very Short she mentally added
| At this moment Mr.. Heath and Mr. Levi
son were deserted coming up the walk Agnes
was dismayed. Father will never forgive me"
said she, "if ! am not ready. Mr.. Decker, you
must meet them, and keep them out three min
utes longer. Ask father for the history of any
little scrubby tree out there. And stay-you
are going to the village take my letter, too
The mail closes very soon"
She thrust the letter into his hand, and dart
ed up the staircase. Decker called after her,
Miss Agnes, you have left this unsealed"
Seal it yourself then. cannot stay now"
"Do you trust my honor 50 implicitly"
eyes, where there is 20 little temptation
Mary Eustace was not unworthy of the love
bestowed on her by Agnes. Indeed, it was
promising token in the character of the lat
ter, that she could so warmly appreciate the
more mature and serious spirit of her friend
Mary had experienced harder training, a
more subduing discipline, than herself De-
pendent from infancy on the will OF fond but
capricious and selfish grandfather she had
/ L.. harA vyIsh hos
and personal pleasures, while none could be
more firm on every question of duty.
She sincerely returned the conhdng affec-
ton of Agnes, and it was not taking too much
for granted to suppose her heart would lead
her ioylully to accept the invitation. Yet Agnes
| trembled, in spite of the confident air which she
had assumed with Mr.. Decker for she had
dark and lowering visions of that abominabe
| grandfather. She was therefore almost as
| much surprised as delighted, when one Satur-
day afternoon, some three weeks from the date
| of her letter. she was called home from her
ramble to welcome Miss Eustace.
Wearied with her tedious Journey how sweet
were the affectionate words and caresses of
Agnes to Mary Eustace! How beautiful the
scene that met her enchanted eyes from every
window, contrasted with the dull city she had
left behind Yet the happiest contrast was
that of the loving attention she received to the
wearying self.denying service, which at her
| own home it was her lot to pay, with little
chance of satisfying her grandfather's exacting
temper. This visit would be a blisstul oasis in
| her life, and with its memory she would return
more cheerfully to her duties.
"Oh, Agnes, | shall be happy here' she
could not help excaming, and her kindling
eyes bore witness to her words.
And now, fast flowed the stream of gay and
girlsh talk, Numberless incidents of their
school life were lived over again with new de-
light, and even the SORROWS of that time took
merry tone as they recalled them.
Rodney Decker came in, as usual, at evening.
Agnes was in proud and happy expectation.
Mary was 30 beautiful that night. Agnes had
never seen her look so well :
| III have talked so much and SO foolishly to-
her about this man. thought she, us she rose
to introduce them, "that she really must blush
o little, which will be quite becoming. Yes
that will do; a very pretty, lady-ke color.
Now, what does he think of her?
What he thought of her it was difficult to
decide Agnes thought he was not quite 50
polite and attentive as so courteous man
should be to q stranger. But it was too soon
to despair; he was not o man to be fascinated
at first sight Mary should sing if he did not
appreciate her voice, she would givehim up.
Mary sang, as she always did, when asked,
but she was not quite in voice, though the ex-
quiste tenderness, which was the chief charm
of her singing could not be wanting Agnes
stole glance at MIR. Decker He had turned
from the piano. and aslooking over some prints
that lay on the table. In moment he came
| back and Joined bis praises to those of the
others, but it was cold performance, Agnes
thought.
Considerable mani she said to herself
Absolutely he is so conceited he can think of
no one but himself ! believe that is the secret
of it. after all To look at her now, as she
| stands talking to my father, in that peculiarly
graceful attitude; such intelligence in those
dark eyes who that has heart or soul could
help being charmedW
Not Mr., Levson. He took the opportunity
when Mr.. Decker did at last approach Miss
Eustace to say to his daughter in low voice,
Agnes, your friend does you credit; she is
worth ten of you, however. That lady-like re-
pose of manner is as lovely as it is rare. Hand
some too, as any woman need care to be-"
After this tribute Agnes could not refuse
her father his favorite Scotch song. But while
hunting for it through an immense pile of mu
sic, her eyes were busy sending covert glances
towards the opposite corner of the room.
"My dear father, Roy's Wife is not here. She
is as great a cheat as ever. (tie IS talking,
certainly, but in that low, monotonous kind Of
way) really believe have passed it. Now
must 90 over the whole again. Of he would
but look at her, instead of tanglng my unfor-
tunate purse, with his eyes bent on his own
mischief) All, here we come to the Scotch
music had forgotten my last systematic ar
rangement Do admire it, father There cas
look! Why, that was quite glorious; but now
at the purse again. eyes and fingers. do be-
lieve the man is vain of his handsD Found at
last; the last of the pile, as usual. Now let
us see if Mary's music has not spoiled mine for
you"
But still, while her father listened delighted
| to her voice, her thoughts were occupied with
nearer wooings, or what she would fain have
such than those of the "bracs O. Ballocho
Poor Agnes she did not realize how powerless
were such memories as hers, to change or link
| the destinies of two human hearts forever. The
| thought with which her foolish heart was now
| full had been borne there with laugh in an
hour of mirth, but these fruitless endeavors
| were giving it every moment deeper hold
upon her will and as the evening closed, she
was almost ready, with tears Of disappointment,
| to baptize it into a sacred aim OF life
The girls had retired for the night before
Agnes yentured to utter one word of the vexa-
ton she felt. Mary stood by the dressing-ta-
BILE, her eyes cast thoughtfully down, while she
slowly unbranded her long hair. Agnes APP
preached her, and twiniDg her little fingers
caressngly in those wcll.known glossy waves
looked up peadingly into Mays eyes, and
startled her from her revcrie with a sudden
aNow, Mary do not say that Rodney Decker
is the most disagreeabe person you ever saw in
your fep
Mary smiled at the earnestness OF this APP
.oal q Certanlu not had no Thought of |