The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-03-09

{ W s.ft5'f y ~ 1hN' ~ ""Nie va 'N'AN VIZ
lexplaihed4eason, Agatha neSermen,
/ Itioned his Haac to her aunt,
I 0fAeourse, the gentlemen called
and so immsiligtely before luncheon
that be was askcst to stay; and the
tafternoonswqs far.adygnccd when he
took his leave,
| And Agatha was conscious Of a
feeling offtgret when he left, so rich
lend yIrigd gas his conversation, and
lso quietly Gid he contriyc to draw
Eopt her sentiments, while confessing
!! big own different subjects,
\ Bltt.any idea Of his dreaming Of
/ Hove, or ofsASE yielding to a tender
passion for a mature widower, was
8.esir llg5bapisAsls is IL eyep.ohtqrsl
! Apdat the same remarkable acct
dent seem to govern Anncrly'smovc-
mcnts rs had induced him to arrive
at MIS- Coles at SO unusual hour
that morning,
He was extremely solicitous about
Mrs. Betsys health; and, luckily for
him, the excellent lady fell i'll of a
bad cold, which confined her to her
private sitting-room, and gave an ex-
ccllent reason for kind and frequent
inquiries.
Still Agatha gave a hoIf-smilc half
sigh at the grave respect Of his man
ncr, considering his privileged semi
ority in age.
Gle is terribly afraid | should mis-
take him. He need not alarm him
self. am a tolcrable salamander in
such attentions from his scx," she
said to herself, bitterly, as she return
ed from ushuring him to her aunt's
boudoir and settled herself in the
drawing-room.
She had scarcely rakcd up her net
ting, and made some exceedingly
awkward long stitches, when the
door rcopcncd, and the object of her
animadvcrsions appeared.
lie walked straight up to her. with
peculiar rcsolutc step and rigid
features.
"NIiss Somcrs-Agatha," he said,
rapidly, 81 cannot go round about
when my whole peace isin question.
| have. without my will, against my
resolves, learned to love YOU YiSh-nay
IwheIs htart 4agsyeh. on iigst
by y60r sqser1ttMce' 10 d most dear
,'and honored wife, and you have com
plcted-tho charm b." your intellect
and playful wit, your womanly grace,
and rcticoncc. | am a vain fool, per-
haps, to think of your accepting a
gray-haircd widoweH but your aunt
has given me leave to try my fate,
and | have too much at stake not to
risk the hazard At least, you will
be Kind in your refusal, if you can
not love or accept me as your hus-
band.
Agatha had listened in bycathlcss
astonishmenttothc frank, trembling,
earnest words. She longcd to put
him out of suspense, She felt in her
mind and heart that she could be
happy, could be proud of such man
as her lovcr-hcr husband, and that
her love was gradually deepening at
every fresh insight into the oharae-
ter of this noble, high-brcd and in
tcllectualman. But helitcrally was
too much petriiod TO speak She
held ont her hand to him with alools
that was certainly not discouraging.
And when he clasped it inhis and
whispered, agatha, is it mine her
lips did frame the "Ycs" that COM
plctcd his happiness. A few days
aftcrward She returned to town, and
Mr., Anncily followed to ask her
mothers permission to claim her
promise. And ere the summer had
decpcncd into autumn the day was
fixed for their wedding, though once
again postponed by the sudden death
of his cousin, Lord Fcrnley, towhosc
titles and estates he was heir. There
was no surprise now among the gay
world that the beautiful Miss Somers
had accepted II groy-haircd widowcr
for her husband, since he was able TO
place a coronct on her own raven
locks; and only Lord Fernlcy himself
and the delighted Sophie IIarcourt
ever were aware Of the remarkable