Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-07-07
From Chambers Edinburgh Journal
T H z C0UN T ER.ST ROKE
OR,
THE ADOPTED CHILD.

Just after breakfast one fine sprinc
morning in 1887, an advertisement, in
the Times for curate caught and fixed
my attention. The salary was .uiTi
ciently remunerate for a bachelor, and
the parish. a. | personally knew, one OF
the mos, pleasantly situated in all Somer.
sesshire. Having said that. the reader
will readily understand that il could no,
have been hundred miles from Taun.
ton. | Instantly wrote. enclosing te.ti-
monials with which the Rev. Mr. Town.
ley, the rector, was SO entirely satisfied,
that the return post brought me . posi-.
tive engagement. unclogged with the
slightest objection to one or two subsi
dary items had stipulated for, and ac.
companied by an invitation TO make the
rectory my home ill could convent.
entity suit myself else where. This wa.
both kind and handsome; and the next
day but one | took coach, with ligh,
heart for my new destination. 1t thus
happened that we became acquainted,
and in some degree mixed up, with the
train OF events it is my presen, purpose
10 relate.
The rector found to be a stout, por,ly
gentleman, whose years already reached
to between sixty and seventy. So ma.
ny winters, although they had plentifully
besprinkled HE hair with gray, shone
out with ruddy brightness in his still
handsome face, and keen, kindly bright.
hazel eyes; and his voice, hearty and
ringing. had no. as yet one quaver of age
in 1t. | met him at breakfast on the
morning after my arrival, and his recep,
ion of me was most friendly. We had
spoken together but for few minutes,
when one of the French windows, tha,
led from the breakfast room into shrub.
berry and flower garden, gently opened
and admitted lady, just then, as af.
terwards learned, in her nineteenth
spring. use this term almost uncon-
sciously, for | cannot even now, in the
glowing summer Of her life. dissocia,e
her image from that season of youth and
joyousness. She was introduced to, me
with old-fashioned simplicity, as my
grand daughter, Agnes Townley." II is
difficult to look a, beauty through other
mems eyes, and, in the present instance,
| feel that | should fail miserably in the
endeavor 10 stamp upon this blank, dead
paper any adequate idea Of the fresh
loneliness, the rose and beauty of ,ha,
young girl. l will merely say, tha, her
perfectly Grecian head, wreaihed with
wavy Jandeaur of brigh, hair. undula.
ing with golden light, wildly brought to
my mind Raphael's halo tinted portraits
OF the VIrgln-with this difference, ,ha,
IN place of the holy calm and resignation
of the painting, there was in Agnes
Townley a sparkling youth and life,
that even amidst the hea, and glare of
crowded ballroom or of theatre, is re-
sisIibly suggested and recalled the fresh
ness and perfume of the morning-of a
cloudless. rosy morning of May. And,
far higher charm than feature beauty,
however exquisite, a sweetness of dispo.
sinon. q kind gentleaess of mind and
temper, was evinced in every line of her
face, in every accent Of her low pitched,
silver voice, that brcathed through lips
made only to smile.
Let me own. that was steadily struck
by 80 remarkable combination of rare
endowmenta. and this. | think The sharp
eyed rector must have perceived, or he
might not perhaps have been SO imme.
diately communicative with respect 10
the near prospects of his idolised grand.
child, as he was the moment the young
lady, after presiding at the breakfast Ia
BILE, had Withdrawn.
1--WE shall have gay doings. Mr.. Tyr
rel, at the rectory shortly" he said.
Next Monday three weeks will. with
the blessing of God. will be Agnes Town
ley's wedding-day."
Yes" rejoined the rector, turning
towards and examining some flowers
which Miss Townley had brought in and
placed on the table. "Yes, il has been
Tor some lime settled that Agnes shall on
that day be united in holy wedlock to
Mr.. Arbu,hnot."
"Mr, Arbuthnoi of Elm Park!"
"A great match. is it not. in worldly
poin. of ,iew!' replied Townley. with
a pleasant smile at the tone of my ex-
"and much better than that
Rober. Arbuthnot il q young man OF
high and noble nature. doubt not, prove
in every respect husband deserving and
worthy of her; and tha. from the lips of
a doting old grandpapa mus, be esteemed
high praise. You will see him pres.
emily"
! did see him often. and quits agreed
in the rector's estimate Of HE future
grandson-in-law. have not frequently
seen finer-looking young man-hi. age
was twenty-six, and certainly one of
more honorable and kindly spirit, of a
more genial temper than he. has never
come within my observation. He had
drawn great prize 10 the matrimonial
lottery. and | feI,. deserved his high for
tune.
They were married at the time agreed
upon, and the day was kept no. only At
Elm Park. and in its neighborhood. but
through our parish, as > general holi-
day. And. strangely enough-at least
| have never met with another instance