The Morning herald., 1876-10-14
REALIZED WISHES
.,,.,rnrp FROM YEsrERDAY's EDITIoN.

CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAr's SDiTioN'
auo,eo. YOU know ALL" whispered
Aones land knowing all, what would
van g have me to dor
"" %Bring Reginald to our dying. mother,
Aones. % !" replied Helen with pleading earn
Asns a.tnsss "entreat him to forgive his only
ss'e, .;s.er even as you have done, and Heaven
li'ss h1ess and reward your endeavors:" she
"out;nned O,rI; more calmly: Reginald is my
onlv brother now-he is the representative
% of our ancient race. Need l say that ne is
pe generosity itself to us 50 far as this worlds
sgeaIth Is concerned, and that he would
~our out money like dross to alleviate a
rTa rs;nale pang Of hers ;-pointing to LADY
f,I frby. who lay pale and utterly exhausted;
1but' alas he heeds not the bitterest pang
II aIl-he refuses to forgive her, to forgive
y, NO + for bis lost love and happiness. Plead
With witt him, Agnes: Reginald will not reject
", m ur prayers: you alone can bring comfort
and and peace to the.dying"
Silently Agnes embraced Helen Irby,
hit the silence was far more eloquent than
sneech ~ She wrote few words to Regi-
naId-words which brought him to the
side of bis dying parent at once but there
was not hope for the lover in this, and he
instinctively knew it.
"Helen-Helen p he exclaimed bitterly,
"vou know not half that l have conquered
ere take you to my bosom again, for is
mi ones lost to me for everW
In stern, calm fortitude, though misery
was traced on every ineament of his
speaking countenance, Reginal awaited his
mothers dissolution. His silence wounded
Agnes to the soul-the reproach conveyed
by his looks was almost more than she had
power to endure. The very strength and
passion of her affection for Reginald had
made her fremble to encounter him but
now Lady Irby's dying eyes reproached
her too, or Agnes fancied 80, as with her
hand clasped in her sons day after day the
patient sufferer meekly awaited her end.
A succession Of faintlng fits during the
night at length prepared them for the
speedy termination Of Lady 1rby's mortal
career but she rallied toward morning,
and requested to have the curtains drawn
aside that she might witness the glorious
sunrise for the last time.
Sunrise for the last timep' Ponder we
these words, for we too must witness sunrise
or sunset for the last time.
She expressed wish to be left alone
with Agnes, and for space Of time none
knew what was passing within the sick
chamber; then Reginald was summoned,
and his mother motioned him to her side,
where Agnes was kneeling, white and
trembling. The rosy tints Of morning il
Eliminated Lady Irby's wan features, and
a bright smile fitted across them, as with a
sudden effort she claspcd their hands to-
gether in her own cold, attenuated ones,
with difficulty articulating: "She is yours
my son: she has promised, and l am hap
py. Helen But all was over. They
were alone with the dead withdraw we
not the veil which ohscures their thousand
conflicting feelings.
They were wed, and what a brilliant LOT
seemed that of these married lovers ! Agnes
young, surprisingly lovely, and united tc
the object Of her fondest affection, worship.
ped in return with passionate idolatory, ye'
strank from happiness. Reginald's wishes
were realized; the beloved Of his youth
the dream of his manhood, was his own
his wife! And was he happy-happy in the
real significant sense of the term? Was
there no drawback-no dash of bitterness
in his cup, SO apparently full Of sweets te
overAowing7 Alas for the realised wishes
of human beings, with their long train o.
yanities, vexations, and disappointments
Despite all her efforts to chase away the
cloud which overshadowed her it,Agnes
was still evidently suffering from nervous
ness; she often started and trembled with
out any perceptible cause then bursting
into tears, woald clasp her husband to he1
throbbing heart, straing him to her bosom
and gazing around with a wild, scared ap
prehensive glance, as if she feared to b
torcibly carried away by means ofsoms un
seen agency. Her cheek was pale, and hel
frame wasted; but when Reginald tendeely
questioned her, she ever replied: II an
too happy, my love. fear to be SO happy
such happiness may not last"
"Your nerves are still in an excited STATE
my Agnes" responded her husband; "it i
anervous affection you are suffering from:
And the medical men whom Sir REGINALD
lrby in his anxiety consulted corroboratee
this opinion. They recommended chang
obscene, amusement, travel, and all thos'
pleasant things which money can procure
Agnes assured them that she was not i'll
that she would rather remain in the retire
ment Of Irby, and promised with smile II
be better soon.
Gro BE CONTINUED.
TbA ElYfMU Snf60E.