The Morning herald., 1876-09-30


REAL WISHES
.xr,xunp FROM YESTERDAYS EDITION.
o.;,, v,s Agnes frequent visitor at Ir-
l., of1l Tndoe still did Lady Irby and Helen
i've her with warmth and affection, and
TO- % %sometimes inclined Yer to believe that
nvps Ypsleome as a ''nearer q dearer' would
aot be withheld. Often pes was Helen
nv n the verge of touching bn the deilcate
ton;c y" Of Reginald's attS6tions; but the
'TrI;nking .UIIo sensibility a1( modesty Of the
;'r innocent Agnes, who, on the most distant
.IIn.ion to the matter, appeared wounded
and. snd distressed, withheld her. Helen, too.
suu srsued thus: that Agnes, being aware Of
shs % vast disparity Of rank between them,
,n',st NV regard her brothers devotion as the
m0rs moss ebullitjon of youthful gallantry, and
therefore I,e in nowise, as prudent maiden,
'.onld give undue encouragement Helen
Trhv Tu a. . vet knew love but by name, or she
would zu' have read the pages Of human life
containing that passage q little clearer as
thew were rapidly unfolded to her view.
She sa. was restless and uneasy, however; but
| !, was the underlined, vague anxiety 80 oft.
~ 0n experienced ssu by the light-hearted when
tho nreludes of storm are silently, though
With vii certainty, closing and gathering
AiYv Yes~it was in the sweet spring-tide that
o,l these forebodings or presentiments OF
OWL were too surely realized for it was in
the the sweet .pring-tide that Agnes Dormer
listened, with downcast eyes and throbolng
heart to music far more melodious and
soul.subduing than the chimes OF 81: Ed
Wins famed and familiar bells. This mu-
s;c stole on her enraptured ear at twl-
1icht hour, and caused her to shed lu1uri-
ols n tears amid the ivy grown ruins OF
Maud Chapel but the tears were Kissed
awav. as young Reginald Irby knelt at her
feet and breathed that oft-told tale, whlch
never will end while the world lasts-the
tale of first, earnest, passionate love =!
Then there rushed on her soul that vague
question which every one who truly loves
has asked-iawardly and silently asked,
IAN worthy Of him; am l good enough,
beautiful enough for him ? But who Is
deserving of Keginald?" 1nferiority OF
birth or station did not perple1 Agnes
because she was not cognizant OF the I'M
uortant fact; while her lover-O how glad
ho cIor;od IN the rich treasure of affection
he had won how he deceived himself in
to believing that his fond mother, his be-
loved sister Helen, would gladly receive
her, his own fairest young Agnes, as his
afianced bride her whom they already
regarded with so much appreciation and
friendship.
But the storm-clouds were gathering,
ready to burst and overwhelm the unfor-
tunates? Reginald paused ere he COM
municated to his family the rash step he
had taken. 1t was solemn pause, tor
his heart misgave him. Yet when Helen,
when his mo.her found he was in earnest,
that his life's happiness was at stake,
surely their absurd prejudices would van
ish away; the troth he had plighted with
Agnes would be respected by them; and
during his unavoidable absence, when ne
was striving to win way to independence
and fame, they would comfort, and cheer,
and sustain his betrothed Vain dreams!
vain as frail, weak woman's when cling
ing to last remnant of false hope:
Loves blissful hour was transient indeed!
The mist cleared away, and revealed lite,s
stern realities. There were bitter words
spoken on both sides, for Mr.. and Mrs.
Walsingham did not consider their grand
daughter at all fattered or honored by
Reginald Irby' selection-he the young
est son Of a spendthrift sire while Lady
Irby and Helen, in the first moment OF
CONSERVATION, conveyed in no measured
terms to the worthy couple at Maud Chap
Ell their sentiments on the extreme pre-
sumption of Agnes Dormer in contem-
plating an alliance with ian Irby r. Poor,
sensitive, shrinking Agnes! did they
think she needed this A less stern re-
Suke would have struck her low. 1t was
not trial--it was not endurance in any
shape that Agnes feared but it was so
dreadful to have this delicate topic rough
ly handled and discussed to hear them
speak Of it as worldly matter to hear
Lady lrby and Helen. '.reviled, even though
they had failed TO her womanly consldera-
tlon. Mr., v alsingham, too-as old peo-
pie are wont to do-spoke Of their love as
q boy and girls fancy. Fancy Agnes
knew it was the passion Of their lives
(ro BE coNT1NUED.)