The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-29

besH 1onQ Oh tseT fie " 10. ~ 49,,
! rdantsr in love with her. Remcus beringi
- Aunea did poor GIenderning's jealousy
n fine yoang man in London, II was with |
same mental tlisquictudes and outward
struggle that she allowed kersef to yield,o
the feelings that she could lore again, aud
love her Cousin George.
However, his courtship WINS so far sue.
cessfni that she promised to marry him
when she had passed The fifth anniversary
OF her husbands dca4h. That date, which
was 70 divide her old allegiance from her
new, was the 28Gn Of August, 1866. The
day passed quietly in the pleasant coun-
trr-housc. George Dana was 10 come IN
the evening, and Agnes rose when she
beard the train whistiing at the bend, and
said she would walk across the ieics 10
meet her lover. Every one smiled, anu
no one offered TO accompany her. Ihe
family, consisting OF the father ana mother
OF Agnes, her three sisters, ana TOUR OF ner
married sisters children, all sat on the
piazza waiting for Agnes and George to re-
turn to tea.
Suddenly Mary Holt exclaimed, of
Hugh Gsendcnning were aliye, l should
saw that was ie''; and she pointed to man
who passed the house at distance OF some
two rods, and who now, at her eXclama"
ton, lifted his hat and bowed.
The sight OF this man created the most
powerful sensation in the group, and Mr.
Holt sprang to his feet and went down 10
the gate; but he had vanished. The Ike
ness to Hugh Glendcnning had been start
ling: not only his face, but his attitude and
gesture agd gait seemed to have declared
that il was Hugh Glendenning himself. In
another moment George Dana came running
up, calling fer help. He had, be said, "hlsc
crossing the fields to meet Agnes, seen her
i'm conversation with man who looked IKE
Hugh Glendenning, and who strobe away
on his approach, and when he himself
reached her she had swooncd away and was
lying on the ground.
The trouble which now overwhelmed
Agnes aud her family was one OF those
cruel enigmatical troubles which take all
freshness out OF life. Agnes, when re-
stored to consciousness, declared that while
she was crossing the fields her husband had
suddenly started out from behind a tree.
caught her by the arm, held her tightly
clutcEed, and said to her in horrible tone,
81 Do not dare TO marry that man - aud
that she remembered no more until she
opened her eyes and saw her mother bend
ing over her. A frightful bruiSe on the
tender flesh Of her arm corroborated her
story. The family had all seen man who,
if not Hugh Glendenn:ng, was his absolute
likeness.
George Dana was the only one who COM
batted The truth Of these ideas. lie declared
it to be wholly impossible that Glendennin@
should be alive; be himself had questioned
the captain and officers on board The steamer
after the suicide five years before. Every
thing pointed concluslvcly to the BELIEF that
the unhappy man bad been drowned. The
hoI hnfl
On the fatal day Of the disappearance they
had not even sighted avessel ora boat; thus
there could have been no rescue from the
sea. He was dead, George declared with
irresistible decision. When confronted
with the fact that they had all seen Hugh
or bis ghost, he declared it to be chance
resemblance; that Alice was disprtcd and
nervous, ard when the man touched her,
her diserdered imagination supplied tie
words she believed him to have spoken.
George. however, being broken-heartcd |
at the failure OF his engagement, was not to
be trusted as counsellor in such Il crisis |
The marriage was given up. Advertise |
ments were put in the principal papers for
a year imploring Hugh Glendenning, il
alive, to communicate with his wife and |
family, but not a word was heard from him.
Agnes naturally suffered the crueIest form |
OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ard dread and help |
less and hopeless misery. Her past WAS |
present she had none, and the |
future was full of doubts and teri'ors.
Gradually. as two years, then three years, |
passed, every one save herself ceased to be-
leve in the reality OF the apparition which |
had startled them all that 2Gth day Of Au-
gust. And at times even Agnes herself
doubted the evidence of her senses. How
could ii be possible that Hugh was still alive
when all these past eight years he had only
once disclosed himself to The sight OF any
Of his friends? When he might come and
claim her before all the world, what posi-
BILE object could he have for lurking in
shadow, only caring to overwhclm her
when she made an effort at renewed ties?
George Dana naturally was not slow to
help her in these questions and doubts. He
Tried, too, TO inspire her with courage
hat insteau Of covering helpless before
vague and nameltss shadows in the dark
ness, she should rcsolute!y 60 on and meet
ind grasp and defy them. By this time,
90, she was legally freed from her hus-
oand, even il he were alive, according TO
be laws Of her State; more than eight
years had passed since his apparent death
Agnes was at last persuaded TO emu tile
ong suspense. She suffered not only lor
herself, but for George, whose life she wa;
spelling, and finally consented to marry
him privately from her sisters house, In
New York. Their plans were not discuss
I'd beyoud the family circle; 1t was de- |
:ided that the two shond quietly walk out
% the city church, and then and there be
married by a strange clergyman. Thus
unpleasant would be avoided,
and before consequences were faced they
would be actually met and conquered.
The plan seemed destined 10 bring the
happicst results. The morning Of the we'd
ding-Gay dawned. Agnes quietly ate her |
breakfast, then went to her room and put |
on her bonnet to go out and be married.
AS she stood at the window drawing on
her gloves man stopped suddenly on the
pavement, looked up, and gave q warning
gesture, and then assembled The doorstep.
4 moment later her sister entered the
room and found her sitting down by the
fire, budding as If to warm herself. "Why,
Agnes" said she, II expected to fud you
all ready to start. Here is n little package
which some one has just brought you. Un-
less it were q secret about the wedding, |
should suppose this was present"
"Tbcre will beao wedding" said Agnes,
in hopeless tone. 81 have just seen Hugh
again. 1t was he who brought that. Let
me see it,
She opened the little parcel list|essly. 1t
contained a riug-a mau's weddIng-ring-
they very one she had given Hugh nine years
before.
Agnes has never seen her husband since.
Whether he is alive she does not know;
vhefha no 6iad on that 0cth dow of ,,pusj