Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-02-09

you are trembling violently-lat me ring
for your sister!r ,ras1 ~ ~
aNo, no, shall be better soon---a sud.
dent fairtness-there, I'm quite recovered
I-you were speaking of your friend, you
@Howard-oh, yes-he's singular gen
ius, this Ralph ;lnever admits any one to
bis confidence, not even myself, and I have
known him fol. years; but haue heard
that someyearsAgo he became attached te
. very lovely gil, somewhere in New Eng
land-in fact bis native city, Boston, if
mistake nor-but that his fortune being
unequaled to hers, be would neither sue
her hand nor seek to bind her by any prom
ise ill he bad acquired the means to main
tain her in the position to which her beau
ty, wealth and requirements exalted her.
Noble generosity, certainly and worthy Of
the man; but he does not need wealth TO
recommend him-the fairest lady in the
land might be proud of such distinction as
his love can give, setting aside all the ac-
cessories of fortune. To this end be has
bent all his energies, as / am more and
more convinced, when 1 recall a certain
sentence in his letter; and so great is his
desire to get home that he is even reluc-
tant 10 bestow few hours upon his friends
here. And l am half inclined to believe
that it is only out of desire to see my fair
companion here that he consents to stop
at all for he says, at the close of his
missive: "The gifted authoress, about
whom you are so enthusiastic in your ad-
miration, is not unknown TO me, (though
her real name have sought in vain to dis
covert and am indebted to her for many
hours of refreshing, delightful companion
ship. Through the flashing of her wit as
through the graceful touches of her sadder
moments, l have traced pictures of living
beauty-pictures that have been sunshine
and dew to my aching, yearning heart, and,
before | hasten to one who, l am sure,
would prove herself kindred spirit if the
twain could meet, must render the trib-
ute of my gratitude and respect"
"As you have never met trust you will
have no objection to be introduced by your
popular nom de plume, the only name he
has learned to call you?"
"Certainly, if it will afford you any graf
ifcation." 'o
"Thank you. Happy to see you so fully
recovered; your eyes wear their own brill
fancy again-don't fail TO reserve yourself
for new pleasure this evening"
With these words the visitor took bis de-
parture, and Agnes was alone with the
great gladness of her overfowing heart
How nnconsciously had that gladness been
bestowed! How unconsciously had her
visitor reiterated the assurance of her own
soul, that, through all that painful separa-
tion, Ralph Howard had been faithful to
his early eheiee.. In q transport of wild
delight she flew to her sister with the
blessed tidings, and in the fearful kiss
which that sister imprinted upon her glow
ing cheek, received such sympathy as only
they have felt whose patient loving has
ended in perfect bliss.
Evening came, and they who looked up
on Agnes Bertrand as she glided in and
took seat where the mellow light fell
like new glory upon her beautiful head,
never felt so fully the spell of her wondrous
loyeliness and grace. There was gentle
ness about her, subdued vivacity, stri-
kingly at variance with her usual sparkling
1t came not from the utter ab-
sence of glistening ornament, from the
spotless purity of her feecy robe, falling
like snow.wreath around her, from that
single white rose lurking in the masses of
her dark hair-it came from spirit that
rarely turned its inmost beauty TO the
worlds gaze, a spirit strengthened and en-
nobled BY suffering, and Enlightened by re-
warded endurance.
There was stir, rustic in the ante
room, an approach of footsteps, and, with
out looking mp Agnes was conscious of an
added presence.
"Miss -, allow me the happiness of
my friend, Ralph Howard"
She had nerved herself TO meet his gaze,
but she had not prepared herself to meet
hat perfected and glorious manhood
How regally be stood before her, with that
ook efwonder merging into the light ofrec-
ignition, and flooding eye and lip and brow.
Then the strong arms were lifted, and the
music of other years welled
orth in the loving cadence
-"Agnes, Agnesr'
For moment only her slender figure
vas pressed to his manly heart, then with
,ne hand he pushed the tresses back from
Ter cleaning forehead, in the old way, and
aid:
"Agnes Bertrand stili"
"The same Agnes Bertrand.
"Thapk Godw
There was but one Interpretation to those
Who witnessed this unususai scene, and
hey, with delicate consideration, gradual
y increased the space around them till the
DOM was deserted by all save the two
those fidelity had been SO touehingly re-
'ealed. Non they understood why Agnes
Bertrand had remained unwon--now they
new the influences by which the garden
# her thoughts was kept redolent of living
blooms, and they who had turned the sad
lest from the prayers she could not bless,
Vere ths readiesl now to echo that fervent
Thank God r. in submissive gratitude that
IL the years Of her patient love had not
,een in vain, II
WELL DEsERyED.-The following COM