Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-04-13
miscellaneous.
From the Boston Olive Branch.
POOR AGNES.

| The voice of the cfarmer-the voice of
the charmer-charm he ever SO wisely"
"What does she mean ?" asked turn
ing to my companion; but before be could
answer, the wild looking girl took off her bon
net letting shower Of curls fall over her
wan cheeka.
I've wandered through woods" she said
'and picked up the dry leaves every autumn,
to heap on my grave, but the red glory faded
away. and my grave is not ye: made. I've
stood by a,shiog rivers, and gone down to the
moon in their dark depths but the voice of
the charmer charm he ever 50 wisely--ah,
me-" and finging herself upon the green
bank, she laid as motionless as if she we're
dead.
Como with me, said my friend, turning
off into charming lane. be led me to beau
tiful spot. A little cottage stood in the midst
Of elump Of trees. 1t had new, yet de.
serted and sorrowful look The blinds were
covered with dust, weeds struggled around
its base, and one red sunbeam level with orr
glauces. gave an almost supernatural tingc to
the gloom within its walls.
That eestage, straags as il may seem To-
you was raised ten years ago, and no living
person has ever slept beneath its roof 1t
was built by Clesry Hale. young man born
and brought up in he village. This poor
crazy creature whom You just now saw was
his betrothcd, She was beautiful enough to
be the belle Of the place. Indeed can re-
member when with her thick glossly curls,
and vivid black eye, she engrossed all my
youthful attention But poor girl she was
the victim of SANDER. One who was Jealous
Of her influence aud envious of her beauty,
sought to work her rain The child was in.
uocent as she was amiabe and just the VIC
tim upon whom an artful mind might work
and never be suspected.
With stories plausibly told, linked together
with the little thoughtless actions and speech.
es of this unsuspectiug girl the base woman
succeeded in poisoning the mind of her lover.
Yet he did not turn as she had fondly count
ed to her Stung to tue heart, be cast off all
allegiance to the supposed false maiden, and
left Cor foreign land, The wonder OF her
companions, the suspicious and unspoken
taunts together with his desertion, drove poor
Agnes mad, and so she has been ever since.
Cleary never came back he left his house as
you see it, not quite finished. aud should
not wonder it it stood there uninhabited until
it falls 20 the ground
but was this Agnes guilty of any impru-
dence?"
g" Guilty. | wish 10 beaver ny soul vas
pure as hers; aud il Clsary but knew it. he
would condemn himself forever for his unjust
-"
AT this moment a quaint face startled us at
the window of the deserted house We sprung
to our feet, but hardly quicker than the man
hurried from the threshold and stood con-
fronting US.
"Cleary," said my friend, almost with
shout The figure seized his hand. but seem
ed unable to articulate, though his lips moved
At last he exclaimed, agnes; where is
she 2"
You have heard u.s. then--you heard
what have been telling"
/" Yes, every word-only carry me to her
let me see her-let me on my knees cntreat
her to forgive mel"
We walked burriedly to where we had left
the unhappy girl. She bad fallen asleep -
The contrast Of her almost jetty curls with
her very pale face, was almost startling
Sleary folded his arms and stood gazing upon
her. His form shook like leaftrcmbling in
the autumn wind his lips aud checks were
asby white. Some mysterious sympathy,
perhaps. awakened Agnes She looked dream
lily round aud began her old strain. "the
voice of the charmer, the voice--his voice
his face she shrioked. catching the eye Of
the sun burnt Clcary--" bis face, though al
tered Cleary--how could you stay so
long, hare been 40 lonely, and suffered