The Morning herald., 1876-10-06
REALIZED WISHES
CONTINUED rlonl YEsrERDAY's EDITION

CONTINUED raoA YEsrERDAr's EDITION.
She loved him too deeply, too devotedly,
to entail ruin on his prospects; besides,
there was gulf between then-the gull
of time and separation; and might Regi-
nald ever know Of her fathers threats or
her sore tribulations7 Was her image as
fresh on his heart as his on hers? II must
zee Helen Irby," she mused; "it amounts
to an impulse l cannot resist Something
whispers me: See Helen Irby face to face.5
1t was long time since Helen had alluded
to Reginald in her letters. "Helen Irby is
the soul Of truth and honor" again unused
Agnes. Agnes indeed believed 10; and
thus believing, she sought her early home.
Again she listened to 1t. Edwins' familiar
chimes, and the sweet, sad music thrilled
her inmost heart, recalling halloved men,
ories and associations as she passed up the
peaceful valley, and alighted amid the
greenerie Of Maud Chapel Farm, which,
coming as she did from crowded and dirty
seaport town, appeared to her a bower Of
sylvan teauties, almost realizing paradise.
Clasped to Mr.. and Mrs. Walsingham's
breast, wept over and embraced first by one
and then by the other, Agnes half-forgot
her sorrows: their close questions were
hard to evade or parry, for they beheld tho
shadow on their arl!ng's hitherto cloud
less beauty. But they we're too delicate.
and their notions of fila; duty too strict,
to admit Of their alluding pointedly to her
father-to ask if she was happy and con-
tented in her new home. Nevertheless
they probed her painfully; they spoke
slightiagly too of the Irby's, for report
said the family ruin and disgrace could not
be much longer averted or concealed, Sir
Felix and his eldest son vieing with each
other in reckless profigacy.
Nothing but the immediate decease Of
these men can save the ancient name from
downfall and shame" said Mr.. Walsing-
ham, "The younger son in that case may
still have a chance of retrieving the tar
nished honor and redeeniug the mortgaged
estates" And this was all the mention
made Of Reginald Irby by Mr.. Walsing-
ham.
Agnes remained at Maud Chapel for
many weeks. She left it in far different
frame of mind from that in which she had
arrived. These weeks had wrought a
change in the aspect of all earthly things
to her. She had had several interviews
with Lady Irby and Helen, and these in
terviews decided her fate. ,
Had any one accused the proud and fas-
tidious Helen Irby of falsehood, she would
spurned the charge with naughty indigna-
tion. A direct untruth-vulgarly termed
a alie-she abhorred and condemned. But,
alas! there are looks and tones which im-
ply far more than the tongue utters: inpli-
cation is one thing, falsehood an
other. So thought the high-spirited, high
born Helen Irby. Poor Agnes was no
match for women brought up under world
ly aaspices, and in some measure hardened
BY the reversea and anxieties they endured.
Without Agnes being in the least aware Of
IT. they soon made themselves perfectly &C.
quainted with her position: her fathers
commands that she should marry her hand
some Cousin Wilfred, and her refusal to
comply. Poor, guileless Agnesl they also
found out what she would not willingly
have betrayed to any one for worlds-
namely, that she clung to Reginald's mem.
orE relied on his constancy and truth with
enduring affection; and that, while this re.
lance continued unshaken, no power
would induce her to prove false-to give
herself to another. Then it was that Helen
lroy, who read Agnes Dormers nature
arsht determined to aid Captain Dsrmer
IN hls legitimate rule over his disobedient
daughter. The aid she extended was mas
,seIrly, Jesuitical, and efectual. She ex-
: alnlted to Agnes likeness Of Lady Isa-
oella L---. 1t was copy which Re-
klnald had taken from an original by an
af'lst Of celebrity. Beneath were some
verses, in Reginald's handwriting,
breathing the ardent admiration and graft
;aae V1 Of an accepted and favored lover.
were the verses composed as we'll as copied
" Eeginald Irby7 Foolish Agnesl she
usrea not ask the question, nor did she
1p1op to consider how unlikely it was that
reginald would have parted with either
'Aelch or verses if he had attached the
'alae to them which Helen was endeavor-
.ne to impress upon her he did. Her eyes
grey grew dim and her cheek pale as she re.
garded the drawing which Helen placed
sareessly in her hands. Vainly Agnes
sssayed to be calm and self-possessed: a
Psng Of intense agony shot through her
e asaft as Helen laughingly remarked-aa
E.:, Agnes was in nowise interested 70 the
tMhae'mlndedness ~ Of women, heroinea
". .u9ash they sometimes beD-"Dear Regi-
Ta1a used to be sad ineorrigible firt, but
.e uont think Lady Isabel is person who
W. would tolerate Irritation, she is 80 serious,
We pear, in all her doings.'
nelen Irby knew that Lady Isabel
-. was afianced, and on tho point oi
n,slrlage with foreign nobleman, whose
u;;mposltlon n;a. those verse were beneath the
t,Sture, translated for his mother and sis
J II, oy Reginald, to whom the amiable lisa.
va WAS like sister from her womanly