Year: 1876

From Ms. found among the private fami-
" papers of the Late Conyers Beverly. Esq. ol
Williamsburg. in Nirginia-l


Whether /, Agnes Conyers, spin
ster. be wrong ia committing to writ
ing, and thus exposing to the knowl-
edge of those who may come after
me, a secret which others who have
gone before did in shame and sorrow
seek forever to conceal, and which,
but for my accidental discovery
thereof, would have been a secret for
ever hidden from human knowledge
whether, indeed, be- wrong in so
doing / leave to others to judge. For
myself l feel not within my own
mind the power to settle clearly this
question, greatly as have striven to
discern the just answer thereof. For
in my heart, as peradventure in the
hearts Of ali who hold u secret un-
shared, is the craving to cast of the
burden of the secret so held by un-
yelling the same TO the eyes Of an
other. Wherefore, if certain persons
into whose hands this present writing
may fall shall feel themselves dis
posed to cavil and condemn in this
thing. l would pray that they, for
charity's sake, impute not the same
to either lightness or motive OF iil,
but rather to that law OF our minds
whereby we are urged to impart all
secret knowledge OF our own 10 the
understanding Of another, that thus
We by no means go in silence down
into that Valley OF the Shadow where
il the darkness of the grave doth
swallow up all unspokel knowledge.


1t was the first week OF the month
OF April, 1913. wherein John Conyers
did set sail for England in the good
ship Elizabeth. This date 1 do re-
member, for the reason that it was at
thAo biAi' TIC
hearts ease in our garden did yearly
come into blossom; and that on the
day before his departure we did walk
here together, when he did pluck the
irst flowers and present the same to
me with a gracious and courtly
speech. And in his so doing he knew
not that he was taking from and not
giving unto me my hearts ease,
which fed over the seas beneath the
sails OF the white-w winged vessel that
did bear him unto new fortune and
u new fate. What was the fortune
we did Of surety know beforehand :
but for the fate, that was haply for a
time concealed in the future.


Fair winds, answering our prayers.
| favored the Elizabeth, and in mid
summer came tidings OF John Con-
yer's safe arrival in the mother coun-
try. Thenceforth he did write often
letters elegant in style and correct
in sentiment, discoursing of all that
did befall him most new and pleasing
OF both court and country life. But
most he did speak OF the families OF
the nobility and gentry In the neigh
borhood OF the Conyers estate, where
on he did chiefly reside, and of the
kindness and courtesy wherewith he
was by them entreated. And il was
in one Of these letters-the third, as
now count them before me-that he
did first mention the name OF a Ger
tain Mistress Abigail Tempest, Of
Marion, whose estate did lie adjacen,
to his own, and OF whose grace and
beauty and accomplishments he did
thenceforth seem never weary OF dis
coursing. So that knew in my own
heart that the destiny of John Con
yers was fixed; and in the midst o.
my suffering-even 10 this present
moment heretofore unspoken-I did
pray, for love Of him, that she whom
he had chosen might prove herself il
all points most worthy of and satisfy.
ing unto him.


When another spring came around
and the garden banks were agaiT
purple with heart's-ease, then die
John Conyers return to US, bringing
with him his bride.


How we'll do 1 recall her as she frs
/ entered our hall door, tall and state
ly and elegant, a very queen in beau
ty and grace OF mien! / do remem
Der her costly purple cloth suit, will
dark style, and the heavy blacl
plumes, one whereof dropped lov
upon her shoulder, whilst the o:he
lowered above her brow, as symbol
ical OF the wearer's united grace an'
majesty. L can see, as 1 saw then
the proud, glad smile OF John Con
yers as he. presented her to his par
ents and to his elder sister, my cous
in Anne; and how my honored uncl
did advance and welcome her with


courtly bow and salute, whereunt


she cour.esied low, and bent her hea'
as might have beseemed sovereig


to subject. And then my cousi


John turned TO me aud impressed up


on my brow a cousinly salute, an


said unto his wife, This. Abigail,


my cousin Agnes" WhereupOn sh


did glance curiously at me, and bow


ell again, distantly. seeming uncon