The Van Buren press., 1874-08-18
MISCELLANY.
Agnes Fowler S Ideal,
BY ANNI Y FISHER.

Agnes Fowler was not beauty Her
complexion had neither the pure fresh
ness of the perfect blonde, nor yet The
darkness OF the brunette. Her features
were irregular, and but for her eyes, her
face i'm repose would have been called
very plain, If not ugly Every one who
knew her acknowledged the beauty of
her eyes Large brown eyes they were,
with, at times. wistful light in their
depths at others a Hash aud sparkle
that quite won the observer, despite the
plain features Like fine painting hung
IN pla II frame, You forget that the
frame exists. and only see the heaules
which the artist has placed upon tue can
vsss Agnes was the oaiy daughter o'
Ia widow. A little cot a2e in tn village
was their only fortune. unleSs we c",sni
the untiring energy and the vigorous
lIiivated Intellect of our heroine She
was the orgauist in the village church
AM the teacher in the village academy
One spring afternoon Agnes was walk
ing slowly homeward enjoying a bath I'
the spring Sunshine She te.t litlle
weary with her day labor, but content
ed and happy withal. As she was pass
ing Judge Brnton's, she SAW stranger
entering the house with Arthur Benton.
20, there is cousin Ralph, cried litlle
Jennie Benton, as she II sw past her teach
er and up the walk To speak TO her cousin
Who cousin Ralph wa Agnes had not
the remotest idea She walked on, hum
ming IL tune us she turned into the cross
street that led To her home, wholly IN.
mindful OF the remarks thnt were BEN e
made concerning her
There is the little organist told YOU
Of Rail Arthur Benton said. hast ~
drawing his coasn out upon the pIazza
"W hat that homely little thing in q
calico gown? Whcw! and he gave Q
hong low whistle ." thought from your
description, Art, she must be equal ~
Venus at least
Arthur shrugged his shoulders, smiled
an odd little smile, and led The way NJ
siairs His mental comment was f" Agnes
! is no nirt but there is witehery about
her that few can resist | want 10 sec
how Ralph will make it, | rather think
that both have found their match.
The next sabbath Ralph and Arthur
were in their pew when Agnes came in
One sweeping glance she east over The
congregation, as she seated herself dt TIE
organ, then bent her eyes lntcnily upon
her book Ralph started slight, rs he
encountered those eyes. Arthur was ON
the watch, and something very like u
smile curved his lips. Strange rs it may
seem, Arthur was anxious that Agnes
sloila Iascinale Ralph Perhaps tIf,
truest explanation Of his feeling was, It
did not relish the idea Of his most init
mate friend Ralph, being more invnlner
able than himself He had Yielded to the
charm Of Agnes's presence, had offered
| himself aud had been refused in SO deli
cate manner that he felt none Of the lit
| 'lelicss usual on such occasions. He was
still her friend and esteemed her highly
He did not speak Of her again to Ralph
and, as his cousin had no preteXt foI
mentioning her, the subject was dropped
| One May day the academy had u pic
mic A May picnic with its Nav queen.
MAY pole, and all the pleasant accompa
nlmenis and all the annoying details oil
such an occasion.
Agnes led her little troop, AMI when
their wants had been attended to and
their appctites appeascd, she left them
merry with theil games. and wandered
down the brook n little way She was
tired. and wanted a few quiet moments
Seating herself on grassy plat hencatl
an old oak slfe leaned back against til,
friendly trunk. her eyes half closed. hci
little brown hands lying l.slessly in hel
lap
a delicious languor stole over her
Suddenly she heard a step beside her anc
started up. slightly bewillered to lin,
| Arthur Benton aud his cousin beside her
Her sell.possession returned in AN IN
sant rs Arthur presented his cousin
Mr. wilson In week, Ralph Wilson
had forgotten every hing save the sweet
ness Of smile, The rose.clarm that hun2
like witchery about her, and the sh,
gIancrs he now and then caught from
those brown eyes usually vciled bencatl
their long lasnes. Two, three tom
months passed and yet Ralph fingered
anxious, yet fearful to tell the little vii
lage maiden Of his love
lie ha firtcd desperately with mans
city bellies, had lrcotllcl sweet nctliiig'
| in their cars Time and again Why shout,
he stand in awe ofthis liule country girl
he could not laihom the Reason II
had never said to her What he had su'
to them In fact, there had been 10 lov
passages between them.
lie had fingered near her, he had Sud
led her ever, word and look. bat sh
was sacred To him rs goddess He
manner puzzled him He believed he
not altogether indifferent to- him; yet
sometimes he fanciei he saw look o
contempt upon her face, as she sat upol
a rustic seat IN the yard, her hands al
ways busy with some useful work, whi
be, lounging upon The grecnsward near
toyed IDLY with his cane, or threaded th,
wayy masses of his hait with his whit
Ijewelcd hand
September c.me, and RI, y was ooug
! ell to rcIu.r.. 49, tuc city "D, You kaow
Agnes, " he said one niaht, why hav,
linz red here SO long r The brown eye
gave him one qnick, puGzilng glance, the
were resolutely yeiied
" Because our village is n charmin:
place to tarry in, | presume, she an
swered qnel!y
Agnes, he said earnestly, yo'
know why have fingered. II IS becaus