New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-16

| O0CA
her, and speaking cas- ~ what, with my ole
fashioned notions, l fancied it would b
wise 10 say, 'he's in the hall. The maste
has been talking to him of his weddin
with Miss Luxleigh. l was rearranging tn
curtains, and the master told me not to &c
so heard them"
She was facing me now, innocently an
wistfully meeting my eyes, 80 my mex
words almost choked me.
For years this has been on understood
thing. Miss Agnes, did you never hear it
You see the Luxleigh property touches
Wesmede north, south, and east. Ut coUrs
it will be wise marriage"
She WAS looking at me still. and the Oh
light was within her eyes. and the gentl
smile upon her lips: but oh, the whltenes
of her face.
81 dare say. Miss Agnes said l. bendin!
over my fire. that you had never evel
heard OF it,
"N0t-yet."
When she went away from the room 81
quietly. of course | wished | hadn't said
word; but still I'd done it with the fame
that it might be kinder TO do it at once
Somehow it never seemed to enter thu
Squires bead that there could be danger Il
his plans in the close intimacy between hi
son and Miss Agnes; or in the charm to MIR
Will of such sweet girlcOmpaniUn ID TIT
home in which he'd never known mother
or a sister As for Mr.. Will l don't think
he ever even tried to feel that Miss Agnes
was like sister to him. for from the tirst
he had loved her as brothers don't love
and-yes; after all these years l can say il
as confidently as l said it then-firmly a:
MIR. Capleton's heart was Get upon that pro
iected marriage for his son, everything
would have ended happily for Miss Agnes
| and Mr.. Will, it it had not been for Captain
| WarIav Nc avon vat I ran NOT tpl1 how
| but feel as sure of it as | am that that's
the wind, sobbing on its way across the
| heath.
When the day came for Mr.. VIII to leave
home, no one saw his parting with Miss
| Agnes, but two hours after | had watched
| the carriage out of sight found her stand
| ing at the window with her eyes fixed on
| the spot where it had disappeared, and
| though they were filled with tears, l never
saw that trustful look upon her face so
| trusttul as it was at that minute.
think that Miss Agnes had made a de-
termination that, as far as she possibly
could, she would be both son and daughter
to Mr.. Capleton in his sons absence, and it
was prettier than any picture to see them
together-always together. She would
walk with him round the estate, discussing
alterations and improvements just as his
son would have done; his arm in hers, and
always the brightest interest in her face.
She would drive him for hours among his
tenants, remembering everything for him,
and doing as much, in her gentle. quiet
way to win their hearts as he could do with
all his wealth and power. She would ride
beside him into Exeter on his weekly visits,
and the two horses, by force of habit. kept
80 closely together that it became proverb
there. She would go with him to the heavy
county dinners. leaning on his arm Is his
own daughter would have done, and SO
grateful TO him for her plain white dress
land making so much of it in her pleasant
way that often when I've watched them
Of, my eyes have been too full to meet
hers-the idea of il! Tears, because she
loved the old man so we'll.
But best of all was it to see them together
through thoes long winter evenings at
him, talk to him-ah. WELL it is such a ma
ture as hers. think. that can make home
tor q man, in its highest and hottest sense.
For many weeks after Mr.. Will left us,
Captain Warder did not show himself at
Wesmede, ald when he came at last. walk
ing quietly and undemOnstratively through
the little eastern door, it wasn't very won
derful that none of US could suspect or be
guarded against the misery he brought
After that first visit, others followed rap
idly: and understood very well how the
Squire, having planned that marriage be-
tween Captain Warder and Miss Agnes,
should be very willing to throw them
together.
But still Miss Agnes avoided him when
ever she could; and once when | asked her
Gust for no purpose at ALL which of her
cousins she liked best. the rush of pink to
her face, and the trembling of her lips when |
she said zone was all truth and honor
and then failed for words-was proof !
enough that she had sounded Captain |
Warders nature.
Gradually during those visits of Captain |
Warden to Wesmede, there came con-
seriousness of something being wrong. 1 |
don't suppose can make you understand. |
for l couldn't understand it myself, but all |
the peaceful calm of the old house seemed |
rutfied, and not only did we zee that the |
Squire had grown suspicious of his adopted |
daughter, but we noticed that in every |
word he uttered of his absent son his voice |
had a tretfulness which had never beard in
it before. Quite sure l felt that Captain
W arder's influence was etfecting this
change, but could never have fully com
pretended it if had not once CHANGED to
,verhear him speaking unrestrainedly. The
master had sent for me to the library to
,heck some bills for him, and while did it
captain Warder came in, bringing two for
ign letters which ne had called for in Exc
or, thinking-so he said-to please his
Ousin bv anticipating next mornings post.
The masters eyes frightened at sight of
lis sons hand but with a slow smile-I
emember thinking it the ugliest smile l
yer saw-Captain Warder laid upon the
quire's letter one addressed in the same
and to Miss Agness.
''Well!' questioned Mr.. CapletOn.
MAY hear, before deliver this, OF my
ousln Wills health and welfare!" asked
'aptain Warder, putting his arm through
he Sluire's, and sauntering with him to
he next room, Miss Agnes letter in one |
and didn't pretend to 60 on with my
cures. tor every word they uttered reach
d me- through the curtains, and presently
understood well enough rho was making
Ir. Wills absence fatal to the dear old
ONE. From that very hour the end fol-
WED so naturally in spite of its misery,
lat seemed to have been expecting it all '
lst as it came.
That very night, when | was sitting =,
one in my room, fancying the whole
ousehOld was in bed, my door was softly I
,ened and Mlss Agnes came in in her I
hite dress, far more like ghost than -.
le came in. | say, almost without sound, '
Id dropped upon her knees at my side g
st as she might have done if l bad been G
n mother, and she-brOken hearted. | a
uldn't say word; l only put my hands
bon her soft dark hair, and tried to keep
'ck the tears; old women are SO silly with b
cir tears. g
This is good-by,' che said presently, 9
Using her white face, and at that moment +
Q steadfast light within her eyes was sad
see. Good by. This dear life is over q
r me-from tonight" 9
MY dear" l cried, as l took both her II
lily hands in mine, "what is it that you Il
ean, Miss Agnes" n
II am-going." Her voice sank to a very Z
lisper at the last word, go no wonder / .
uld not feel sure had heard Alright Yet Il
t for anything could l ask her again, be- Il
use l seemed to understand it so we'll, | I.