The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-11-29

ny, VINO would have thought tina
the young man would turn out so bad
He promised so we'll and now he won
work any more-he drinks all day. an,
has become a good for nothing loafer =
was the general remark
There was only one dav when Simon
Stoddard broke the even tenor Of his dis
solute life. Early one morning Mr.
Middleton was thrown from his horse,
and dangerously injured. Everybod,
sighed when the physicians said there wa,
scarcely chance for his recovery. 81.
mon Stoddard alone secretly rejoiced
If he dies" he said to himself,
"Agnes will be mine"
Mr.. Middleton did die. He left his
family almost penniIess.
After the funeral Simon Stoddard call
ed upon the widow
Mrs. Middleton" he said to her.
you know | love your daughter Agnes
| am not-unaware of your circumstances.
l can work and make money. Let me
marry Agnes, and | will support both Of
/ you"
Mrs. Middleton was not a proud wo-
| man, but she was avaricious. She
| thought her beautiful daughter would be
certain to catch rich sutton. Hence
she drove poor Simon Stoddard, with
harsh words, from her door.
" What !" she cried to him, my dar-
ling daughter marry a loafer like YOU
Get out; and if you ever come near me
or my daughter again, will have Squire
Beckwith put you under bonds to keep
the peace"
Vainly did Simon Stoddard try to OBJ
tain an interview with Agnes. He still
believed that the girl reciprocated his
affection, and that, if left to herself she
would marry him. But the lynx eyed
mother succeeded in preventing their
meeting one another.
Meanwhile things did not take the turn
Mrs. Middleton had hoped they would.
The rich suitors for her daughters hand
did not come forward. Finally the wild
ow became so pinched for money that
nothing remained for Agnes but to take
service in the family of Zophar Went
worth, rich old farmer
At this juncture Simon Stoddard re.
newed his offer Of marriage once more,
but Mrs. Middleton had already noticed
Zophar Wentworth, who was an old
widower, had become smitten with Agnes
charms. She hoped the rich old fellow
would marry Agnes, although his repu-
tation was bad. He was reputed to be
an unbridled voluptuary and lbertine,
despite his sixty-three years, and people
said he had at least a dozen Legitimate
children.
Agnes Middleton was sorely humbled
upon becoming a servant girl, but what
added to her distress was that old To-
phar Wentworth began to follow her with
amorous chances. At first she had en-
deavored to overlook his unseemly CON /
duet towards her, but when his attentions !
grew more and more importunate, and !
when one day he took her in his arms !
and covered her lips and checks with |
kisses, she ran to her mothers house, and !
with a stream of tears told her what had |
occurred
But that worldly minded woman per
suaded her to return to Iophar Went
worth's house.
q You must do it, Agnes, she said,
F" to protect your reputation !"
The girl obeyed. That very night the
old libertine broke into her bed cham Der,
and committed fendish assault upon
flee forthwith from the house of the old
miscreant, but at daylight she went out.
AT the front door she was met by a boy
who handed her a note from Simon Stod-
dard, lmploring her to grant him an in
terview at certain point in the woods.
She said she would be there. She want
ed. to throw herself into the arms of her
faithful lover and tell him that she would
become his wife.
When he came, he was under the in
huence of liquor, and as usual when in
such condition, exceedingly quarresome.
Do you know, Agnes" he said bru-
tally to her, 'what people say of you|
" What do they say" she asked,
turning pale.
That your mother, the internal bag,
has sold you to old Zophar Wentworth to
become his mistress !"
Stung to the quick by these cruel
words, she retorted, angrily:
"They lie !" she cried. e And il j.
the height of meanness OH your part to
tell me such thing"
These words were overheard by a far
mer and his son, who at that moment
passed by at a very short distance from
where the two were standing. The quar-
rel waxed hotter and hotter. Simon,
drunk as he was, tainted her merciess-
y. He told her her good name WAS
gone, and finally she hurried away from
him.
From the words Of the Judge, upon (
sentence upon Simon StOd-
dard, we know in what condition he was
found not long after this interview.
The fact was he left the spot where
ne saw Agnes in a sort of stupor.
When the position in which he was
placed finally dawned upon him, be drew ,
| razor from his pocket and brought it /.
Up to his throat, which he slightly cut /,
With it. The pain, though not severe,
Ill suicidal intentions. He staggered to !
he neighboring tavern, where he drank
70 much more whisky that he was soon
uttered, until his senses left him entirely, '
we're curses against Agnes Middleton and '
Ter mother.
But what had become of Agnes Mid c
lleton in the meantime? She had fed +
nto the thicket in her distress, but was c
loosely followed by old Zophar Went g
Yorth. Fearful lest she should prefer S
against him for what he had I
lone during the preceding night, he had $
tealthily followed her after she had left a
lis house. Hidden in the thicket, he
lad overheard the whole of her CONVEX
alton with her unhappy sutton.
Simon Stoddard's allusion to him had 7
made it plain that Agnes never would re-
urn to his house. Now the old libertine
vas animated by an irresistible passion !
or the handsome girl. AS he followed /,
Ter, this passion became more and more !