The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-03-09

obliged to entertain him; and though
felt somewhat awkward at first, ! wa
soon quite at my ease. Helen came il
and rallied her cousin numerically upor
"his Agnes" asking him "if he had We
caught a ray from her brilliant powers
of imagination"
at is very strange, cousin Hubert
continued she, that her imagination was
so dim few years ago when Clara and
myself were her schoolmates; for should
have supposed that some few sparks
might have emitted there, but on the
contrary size was voted rather dull. I
presume, however, some splendid me-
tcoric phenomenon must have suddenly
burst forth from her hitherto clouded
brain dazzling the literary world in gen
'raI, and our young divine here in part:"-
uIar. Eh, Clara, what say you?"
81 know nothing of Miss Is talents
at present." l replied; "and you know
was not much acquainted with her at
school,"
81 already know that she formerly at
tended school with Helen, but think she
did not recognize you last evening, Miss
Clara; why did you mt make yourself
known as an old acquaintance"
was silent, but Helen replied,
"Gou need not tell me Clara was not
rccognizcd; she could not SO soon have
forgotten her; and did you but know Cla-
ra's school girl history, you would not
wonder that she did not claim acquaintance
with Miss l.. dare say she asked YOU
who she was and all about her, as if she
had never seen her before, did she not."
Mr.. n. smiled and confessed that she
did, but still averred that she must have
forgotten me.
Just inform her." said Helen, chat
she is now my adopted sister, and see if it
does not revive her memory somewhat"
The next day as Heen and myself were
walking cut, we met her cousin Hubert
who joined us. He seemed very serious,
and even Helcn's raillery could not elicit
from him smile. AS We came near
mompn @ eH'P9 SF 2GHp in sneak Helen lh observed
seen walking with automation, or even
a rcrorcnd who looks as if he were going
10 be s"$pCmded.--Comc, Clara" and away
she bounded up the steps, but Mr. N. fol-
lowed, saying.
"lou will not so unccremoniously take
your leave Of me, for was about to call
here to procure book Of your uncle; and
as to the 'bcing seen ,'whv, don't know
what yon fear, but surely my dignity
of which you tell so much, might well
suffer s"$pc"sion, if | am seen cscorting
such Il sad madcap rs yourself"
"Ah, if you have entered the lists
against me, | will, to use a vulgarism,
back out '"said the laughing girl, as we
entered the Office.
We were informed that Mr.. Il. had
"stcppcl out for a few momnts," and,
invited to await his return. Helen took
n seat at her uncrs desk, to the great
lsarrang"ment Of his numerous papers,
and Mr.. n. retired to the recess Of win
dow, to examine n volume. In% few mo-
mcnts Mr.. Z. entered, and without
pcrcciying Mr.. y, he advanced hastily
towards me, eXclaimng,
"Why, hclo is my little Agnes. ] did
not expect to see you out, for have inst
heard from my brother about your advcn-
luIC. w ldI bltS HISS llitNc YOU W NC OUT
after dark fighting with rowdies? la! ha.
did not suppose you possessed SO much
spirit, | should like to have seen the
blow you gave the rascal with your hand
which see you have bound up, but
fear it has deprived us Of the use of your
pen at present. Jump up, you sauce
box, ont Of my editorial chair, and pick
up those papers you have scattered about"
said he to his ncicc, "whilst Agnes tells
me the particulars Of the rascally affair.""
and as the old gentleman adjusted his
specs and seated himself he perceived
Mr.. ~, who hal come forward.
Eagerly Mr.. n. seized his hand, rs he
ejaculatcd. "Do hear arightl Did you
call Miss s, Agnesl Is it indeed so!"
Poor Mr.. r. dropped into hls editorial,
family crying "Bless me, girls. | have ex-
posed your secret, and | suppose it is all
over with me now! Have mercy, Helen,
for did not know you had hidden the
rery man ,0ho shouldn't know, in my
sanctum!"
lie was interrupted bv Mr.. n, who ear
nestly enquired, Is not Miss l.. your con
tributor Agnes
Don't know any Miss L.--nsvcr heard
of her growlcd the crest fallss editor
All can say is that the Only Agnes my
paper ever had, is that little anti-non-res
istant, who looks, now, like anything bu
knocking down Yowdies; and il you desir
any further explanation, just ask that era
~ consin Of yours, who is madeup Of mis-
chief, and stands there and looks as if sh
would gladly box my ears. It's the las
secret Of hers I'll have anything to d
WITH" and the discomfited old gentlema
wiped the perspira,ion from his brow, fc
he was quite mortified that Mr.. N. sboul
discover that he had entered into Helen
stratagem, as he now perceived he ha'
unwitingly exposed some rogiish plan Q
hers, the full particulars Of which hc rc
manned in ignorance.
q Scarcely knowing what I did, | LETT tn
office, and wended my way bone. leavin,
; Mr., r. and Helen to explain as the
might. q