Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-29
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AGNES PERCY;
OR,
The Rival Heirs Of AhbotswOld.
Tie Heir Of AbbolsleoLd.

The Heir Of dbboiscoid.
On pleasant afternoon in carly autumn,
in the year 1880, q small party Of ladies and
gentlemen stood upon one Of the terraces in
front of an old English Castle, called Abbots-
void
That middlc-agcd man, of bold front, and
roodlv presence, dressed in black velvet, with
buckles of gold upon his shoes, and a spark
ling diamond of wondrous size and beauty in |
his frilled shirt-front, is John Percy, the pres
cnt Marquis of Abbotswold.
The youth By the lords side, with a book
in his hand, is Eustace Percy, son Of the
marquis. but not his heir No,--Eustace is
only eighteen and his brother Albert is TWEEN
ty. Albert, bold, dashing, and handsome,
Just home from Oxford for hunting vacation,
is to succeed to the lordship of this great es
tate, for in England the oldest son is sole heir
to the real property-and Eustace is hesitat-
ing between the Church and the Army. The
marquis says nothing to influence the boy
either way the marchioness pleads for the
church, while the boy himself prefers the ar
my. And, wonderful and paradoxical as 1t
may seem. certain beautiful maiden, named
Isabel St. John, who even now steals sly and
FACILITATING glancos at the pale student, whis-
pers to him that he shall be a soldier. She
knows there will be danger; but she thinks
she could love a hero and she knows Eus-
tace Percy would be a hero if he were a SOL
dicr; for she knows that he is noble and true,
and that a Drawer youth never lived.
Eustacc Percy was tall and well formed.
His face was strikingly handsome His brow
broad and high his eyes large and brilliant,
and of clear, ccrulean blue the outline of
his profile of the finest Grecian cast; while
his hair, Of golden brown, cropped short
over the white, full brow, was suffered to float
away over his shoulders and back in a mass
of natural curls.
At a short distance from the marquis stood
the warehouses engaged in conversation with
bevy of girls who were her guests for the
time. She was a handsome woman, and fit
companion for the lord of Abbotswold.
" Eustace," said the marquis, regarding his
son with u look of tender regard--a look such
as he never gave to the older son, " If you
feel as you look, you must feel rather sad,
What is the matter2 | am afraid | shall
have to shut your books away from you for
awhile. The doctor says your temperament
! - INNuildlil NNh0iAANN bhi hhu L beAi'N'
he is right"
Eyes murmured the lad, half to himself,
" and am as sensitive to things yet to come
as / am to things already in the present. My
father there is a heavy load upon my heart
this day."
| "There, boy--no more of that | never
knew you to fall into one Of these fits but
something ill came to pass directly thereafter
The last time you were so sad under heart
load, our little Bertha was taken from us
the third and last of my Notwithstanding
you and Albert alone for US to love. q, no
more Of it, Eustace Cheer up, and look of
to where the sun shines. See how it makes
the thatch upon Callington's cot look like
FURNISHED gold !"
The marquis gazed off upon the fsherman's
cot, as he spoke, and directly heavy shadow
rested upon his own face.
"By the way" he said speaking in low
tone, and looking to see that only his sou
could hear his words, shave you noticed
whether Albert visits Callington's cottage OF
late as he used to do ?"
Eustace shook his head without answering
know what you mean," said Sir John,
sadly. Albert goes there too often, and |
tremble for the consequences. Agatha CAL
lington is very beautiful, and | wonder not
that the boy is smitten; but he should re-
member his station, and not bring stain up
ON his name directly under the shadow of his
own home. will speak with him. | should
have done so before. | have neglected my
duty"
Aye, John Percy, you HAVE neglected your
| Ipttr and fbot parlaat hath arit birth IA a
curse that shall fall so heavily upon your
house in the coming time that one whom you
now love and cherish SHALL under its fiery
touch, wish that he had never been born
" Indeed, my father" returned Eustacc
hopefully, " do not think Albert would dc
anything wrong. Is he not Percy2"
" All, my boy there have been some yer,
bad qualities in the characters of men bearinI
that name But | will not borrow"
Ha! !" cried Isabel st. John, jumping u
G and clapping her hands at that moment, an
+ thus interrupting the marquis in his speech
" here come the hunters. Come, Mr.. Percy,
d she continued, approaching Eustace, "yo
Is must smile now, for you know we are to hay
e grand time this evening-Eustace VIII,
is it? You are ill2'
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