The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-10-19
THE AGA SELIM.
CHAPTER I.

CHATTER l.
It was the dawn of sunny morning
in early spring, and the, sweet perfume
of the young dav, p,undsred by the glad
breeze from the cowslips and violets
which starred the greenward beneath the
trunks of the stately beeches that encir-
cled Lanercort Priory, was dallying with
the senses of the two young beings who
stood in their dense shadow.
The first Of these was young man,
scarcely in the prime of life. Yet, were
we to reckon his years by the quick and
determinate glance of his hazel eyes,
and the proud bearing and manner which
characterized him, although it left his
voice humble, winning and courteous
when he spoke with his companion, he
might well have been considered some
what older
The girl who was in converse with
him was merely of some eighteen sum-
mers.
All scribblers can pirate Of beauty
Yet, it is so impossible to paint it in
words, that all phrase-limning is thrown
away upon it.
Suffice it, that she Was one of those
light haired daughters of Saxon England
which are rarely met with in other coun'
tries, save, perhaps, in Normandy.
Not beyond the middle-size, and sha.
pen with the perfect proportion of grace
and that desirable degree of youthful
plumpness which may not unlikely ulti
mately merge into. the condition the
Partisan has named embonpoint, her
lovely gray eyes we're now turned appeal
ingly to her companion.
"Robert" she said, timidly, "you know
that cannot do son'
"Then, what am to do?"
She made him no answer
would you have me daily bow before
Sir Arthur Medlicott. like whipped
popinjay. and carry my Lady Medlicott's
Iong-eared spaniel, whenever she choos-
es to take q mornings turn on foot il
Lanercort Park, knowing that the one
has robbed me of the lands that are my
birthright.. and that the other treats my
fair cousin, pretty Margery Latham, like
a country hand-maiden ?"
s'You know it is not 80, Robert"
81 know it is, Margery."
As he SAID this. the young man caught
hold of Margery Latham's hand-as We
have just heard her ealled-and drew
her to him. Nor, truth to say, was Mis-:
Margery'very reluctant to find her rosy
cheek brought into such very suspicion:
proximity to his lips, although it blush
ed with an even warmer and roster col
or.
Now, listen to me, my birdlet!" hi
murmured. "To crafty You. once mor'
1 will speak with the Oldham. Heav
en- forgive NE! for l was about to cal
Margery's own uncle, if he can be callet
so. an old curmudgeon. But, if he re
fuses to listen to me, as he has done be
fore, mind me- that l shall not take you
No for an answer"
His lips had now come singularly Close
to her mouth, and, if aby-stander nigh
have Judged from the faint show of re
slstance made by Miss Margery, it Nigh
have been supposed that they had touch
ed that charming rosebud.
This occurred, however, in the latte
portion of the reign of George II.
Do we not know that. in those times
the young people were far more circum
spect in their demeanor toward eacl
other than they are at the present time
Hoops, embroidered farthingales. anC
quilted petticoats. then entrenched anC
hedged in the fair far more completed
than muslins and camhrics and Frenel
petticoats do now. Neither wsre tb'