The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-12-22

| use trying to mince matters-if | can't
win Miss Agnes, l shall take arsenic"
Jack squeezed my hand. He had been
''throuSh The mil'' himself
''Do you think she cares torInc, Jack ?"
| asked, plaintively, about month after
ward. 81 declare, honestly, I've great
mind to jump off the pier, or hang myself,
or die by starvation. Now, what does she
mean by flirting with that red whiskered
Carew? On, Jack, do be mercilul-te tell
ME what you really think"
Poor Maycliffe 1t was about the thir-
question.
"Why, how can [ tell, Arthur? You
might as well ask me to read the Hindoo
alphabet as to decipher the mysteries of
woman's heart. Why don't you ask her
yourself ?'
"Me ask her - and the cold chills ran
through me like veins of ice. "Jack, [
dare not, for my life -
Jack burst into laugh.
"Well, | can't give any better advice"
said he; ''only remember, my boy, faint
heart never won fair lady,"
lie turned away, ana left me standing
in the amber flush OF the twilight, among
the crimson clusters of cinnamon roses and
the tall coronals of cleaning lilies. Up
in the rosy sky the new moon hung,
curved thread Of silver, and one bright
star bore its lance of pearl against thc "a
diant horizon. l looked absently up at
the fair atmosphere-down at the bios
soming garGeE of flowers, thinking, in the
midst of my perplexity, how ike the blue
heaven was to Agnes eyes, and marveliug
that the pink roses were so near akin to
the dainty color that came and went upon
her sik-soft cheek.
Beside the low French window that
opened upon the piazza floor, I saw the
flow OF muslin drapery through the fra
grant glnom-it was where Mrs Marclyffc
was wont to sit, with her baby L caught
the refrain of the low, delicious cradle
song warbled in the tiny sleeper's ear A
bright thought struck me-I would take
woinan's wit into my counsel
Mary" said /, sitting down on the
piazza step, and leaning nv head against
the rose-wreathed pillar just opposite the
window, 81 wish you d tell me what to do;
I'm desperately in love with your sister
Agnes, and-don't laugh now-I haven't
the courage to tell her So.
| paused an instant, and then went or:
81 love her better than life. No, that is
not saying enough would die 10 make
her happy. Oh, Mary, can't you give me
word OF encouragement? L dare not
tell her my love, because my heart sinks
so in dread of the one little word, NO y
Will she speak it, do you think ?''
There was no answer still
MARY, will she break my heart ?"
[ spoke with trembling accents, fresh
from the deepest rccesses of my SOUL,
One instant of silence, in the soft, pull
sing fragrance cf the midsummer twilight,
and then there was a futtering OF light
azure robes, the fall of fairy footstep
Ere I could look up, soft, white arm,
cleaning with the clasp of blood red
coral bracelet, was around my ucck-a
shower Of brown curls nestled on my
breast
'.She Will not-never will -
The voice was that of Agnes Day. l
held the coy, coquettish charmer to my
heart
Life has been brimming with sweets
ever since-many golden moment has
paused to sprinkle its chalice of JOY around
my footsteps, as it passed on into the
world OF the bygone, but in all my exis-
tence there never came a second time like
that.
l had been pleading to Agnes herself!
Mary stood smiling in the background,
the veriest spice of roguery cleaning in
her hazel eyes, through dim quiver OF
joyous tears.
$50 I'm really to have a brother-;n-
law 2" she said, putting aside the roses
and coming forward, just as the wicket
fastening clicked under Jacks hand, anG
the fiery spark of his cigar flashed thro'
the purple sloaming, slowly travelling up
the garden walk.
"Hallo!" said he, pausing abruptly as
he came into our presence, while Agnes
tried vainly TO escape from my de,aining
arm. ooh. see now Well-upon- |
for such bashful young gen
tlemaI, you've been remarkably expcdi-
tious Accept my gratulations, Agsie
ditto, Arthur"