The mountain Democrat., 1863-09-05
Love and Moral Courage.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.
"But Why don't you like him, AgathaH'
Oh-because I"

tory of this true woman's reason "Be.
cause" means ten thousand things that
pretty, dimpled lips don't choose to put
into shape it means they know why per-
fectly we'll themselves but won't tell ;
and not all the coaxing of curiosity can
get it out Of them.
And so pretty Agatha Mine played
with knot of scarlet roses, whose velvet
petals glowed in her belt ribbon, and lift
ed up her soft zel.brown eyes with a
provokingly absent, unconscious look.
but, Agatha" pursued Ruth Ellen
wood, stopping for a moment in her occu-
patton OF braiding and arranging Aga
tha's beautiful waves Of auburn-gOl
hair, "rn sure I've heard you say, again
and again, he was such pleasant part.
ner at balls and parties, and-oh Agatha,
don't jerk your head so, or shall have
to braid all these strands over again."
"Nonsense-that's no test at all !" said
Agatha, pettishly, the peach like crimson
mounting her cheek what can you tell
about young man, from a mere ball
room acquaintance? Any one can be
agreeable enough to hold your boquet, or
bring you an ice-cream that is, if he
knows enough not to tread on your toes
in the polka, nor to step on your 6ounceS
in promenade"
81 know it, said Ruth, but the ques.
ton IS
But the question is" interrupted the
imperious young beauty, "how do |
know that Mr.. Fitz Aubyn, silver tongued
as he is to me, with his homage and com
pIiments, don't GO home and swear at his
mother and sisters? How do know
that Mr.. Jennings, who has the whole
dictionary at his fnger-ends, docs not
cheat his landlady? What means have
| of ascertaining that young St. Simons,
who is such graceful waltzer and agree
able small talker, does not finish his even.
ings in a drinking saloon? Oh. Ruth
we have tests for ascertaining spurious
dollars and counterfeit bank notes, but
how on earth are We to know a counter
! felt husband, until he is tied to our un.
lucky aprOn-Strings for life?'
She laughed as she sprang up to look
for her bonnet, but the long eye-lashes
dropped low with very suspicious mois
tuTe.
"W ell, said Ruth, caressingly patting
Agatha's tiny hand, 81 am very, very
thank full that Providence didn't make me
a beauty AID an heress, since it has a
tendency to awake suspicion and dstrust
But. Agatha, in spite of all you have
said, feel firmly convinced that Charles
Stanton is a noble fellow"
VERY likely" said Agatha lightly /;
"but here is Fitz Aubyn, with those
splendid white horses OF his, so give me
my shawl
And whittier are your footsteps to be
directed to day :"
"Oh We are going to that private view
Of pictures in - street, you know"
And Agatha swept out Of the room
with the imperial port of young queen.
The white lustre Of moonlight pouring
down through the circular dome of the
frosted glass, gave lie.like glow to the
superb paintings whose gilded frames lit
Of apartments. Here and there groups
of absorbed dilettanti moved with sub
dued whispers and brandiShed opera
glasses, Us if it were forbidden thing to
speak above ones breath in the presence
Of those fair landscapes and classic scenes
from history's page.
Directly in front OF one Of the finest
works of art stood a pair who had un.
consciously been the object of many a
curious glance and whispered observation
of the other sight-secrs-a tall, stylish
looking young man, with an old lady
leaning on his arm, whose antique dress
of snuff colorcd bombazine and oddly
shaped beaver bonnet occasioned a good
many covert slnlcs and alfconcealed
filters from the various observers.
20, by the way, Miss Milne" said Filz
Aubyn, as, in their progress round the
roouS. this couple gradually came in
view, lyon haven't seen the greatest GU.
rio>ity Of all, yet"
Where!" said Agatha, raising her
opera glass.
"You are mistaken-it don't hang on
the walls" returned Fitz Aubyn, laugh
ing. Look little nearer the earth, if
you want to sec Stanton and his fossil
aunt"
Agatha turned her head accordingly,
without remark she smiled little, how
ever, which was all that Fitz Aubyn
wanted.
should you suppose any mortal youth
would have the courage to bring such a
last.century specimen to place like this,
where he might know he would meet all
his fashionable acquaintances Upon
my word, believe he'll take her to tine
opera next! See him carrying her mo-
rocco bag and cptton umbrella! Don't
he remind you of Don Quixote in his
youthful days?"
Probably she has money to leave one
of these days, said Agatha, the distrust'
ful element uppermost in her mind for
the moment.
"Not red cent. know, for I've in
quired. She is in reduced circumstan-
ces'-that's the term, believe but
Stanton is very fond of her, nevertheless.
She has come up to town from the back
woods for few days, and"-
He paused abruptly as the very pair
in question approached, still absorbed in
picture gazing.
MY dear Charles" said the old lady,
at length, "you cannot imagine what
treat this is to mel have not seen such
pictures as these since was a child.
How thoughtful Of you to bring me here"
al knew you would enjoy it, aunt"
"And you are not ashamed of your
old. fashioned relative among these gay
young peoplep"
"On the contrary, dear aunt, | am as
proud as monarch while you are lean.
ing on my arm" :,
Agatha heard it all, and she also heard
him answer, in reply to the gay challenge
Of some companion -
"Thank you, but don't reckon upon
me as one of your party at the opera this
evening, am going with nv aunt, who