Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 188: what you’re looking at

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180 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, tled upon the words “ Mysterious MURDER AT St. Joun’s Woop:” and glancing down the column, he beheld the name of Winifred Bar- rington ! All was now confusion, consternation, and dis- may in that drawing-room. Gustavus had sunk in horror upon a chair, the newspaper dropping from his hand; while Emily, springing towards him, threw her arms about his neck, exclaiming wildly, “ No, no! it is impossible!—it must be some fearful mistake !” * Good heavens, Gustavus! what is the matter, my dear boy ?” cried Mr. Pinnock, who under- stood nothing of the cause of this strange and alarming scene, As for the two bridesmaids, they were likewise seized with consternation, which was blended with horror, because they did suspect semething of the actual truth. ‘She is innocent ! she is innocent !” exclaimed Gustavus wildly: and in his fearful excitement he pushed Emily away from him. “ What! Wini- fred a murderess? No—impossible! But it is for me to make her innocence apparent !” With these words, uttered in accents of the most thrilling excitement, Gustavus sprang from his seat, and he rushed from the rvom. Cries burst from the lips of the bride and the brides- maids, while Mr. Pinnock bounded after the fugi- tive bridegroom. Upon the landing Gustavus met the two Miss Thurlows, who were just de- scending from the chamber where they had been amending their toilet ; and he dashed madly past them. On the stairs he encountered Mr. Adair and Mr. Thurlow, who were ascending from the refreshment-room : — and past them he likewise in frenzy sped, Snatching up his hat in the hall, he darted forth from the house. Mr. Pinnock’s phaeton was at the door: Gus- tavus sprang into it—seized the reins—and urged the horses away at their fleetest pace ; so that the domestic who was standing close by their heads, had only just time to step aside to save himself from being run over. Towards Kingston drove the half-frenzied youth. The image of Winifred was now uppermost in his mind as that of an angel of innocence “unjustly accused ; while the image of Emily Pinnock was like that of a tempt- ress who had seduced him away from his duty towards the other. For such was the morbid, almost maddened state of his mind, that he was utterly unable to deliberate rationally ; and he was labouring under the poignant, anguished im- pression that everything which -had occurred to Winifred might have been avoided but for his per- fidy towards her. In this wildly excited frame of mind Gustavus reached the harbour and sprang from the vehicle. The mail-steamer was at that moment about to start ; and in a few seconds he was on board. His agitated appearance — the strange precipitation with which he had sprung upon the deck of the vessel—together with his full-dress costume as a bridegroom, naturally excited a lively sensation on the part of the spectators on the quay and the passengers on board. The captain of the steam- packet hastened to accost the youth and to de- mand an explanation : but Gustavus, tossing his purse towards him, bade him take the passage- money. The captain had nothing more to say: = the youth could pay his fare—no officer of justice appeared to oppose his departure from the island —and he had consequently a right to be on board that vessel. The ropes were on the very point of being cast loose, when a person was seen making his way quickly through the crowd of spectators ; and he reached the steam-packet’s side. He sprang on board, and in a few moments accosted Gustavus Barrington. All who beheld the proceeding, fan- cied that there was about to be a scene of some kind or another: but they were disappointed. Nothing more than a brief rapid colloquy took place; and this may be described in a few words. “Ah, Mr. Hargrave! is it you P” ejaculated Gustavus, as that singular individual accosted him. “And you are going to England ?” said the misanthrope ; “ and [ can understand why :—for alas, poor young man! I have just been reading the English newspapers 8: “ Oh! is it not dreadful ?” exclaimed Gustavus: “and I who was beguiled to remain so long in the island !” “Give this letter to your grandfather,” said Mr. Hargrave. ‘“ I had prepared it expressly to send by this packet: but little did I think that you yourself would become the bearer of it. Fare- well—and may God bless you !” Mr. Hargrave wrung the youth’s hand ; and then hastening away, leapt out of the vessel— which he had only just time to do, for the ropes were now cast loose and the huge paddle-wheels were turning. The stately steamer began to move out of the harbour ; and now a carriage arrived amidst the spectators on the shore. That carriage belonged to Mr. Thurlow, who was himself in it, as well as Mr. Pinnock. The latter was very much excited ; and when he found that the steamer had already taken its departure, he exclaimed, “ By heaven, we are too late! How can I carry back this intelligence to poor Emily, who isalready well- nigh heart-broken !” CHAPTER XXXI. AFTER THE TRIAL. THE scene once more shifts to England; and we return to the Old Bailey, where we left Winifred Barrington at the moment when the emphatic verdict of Not Guilty had been delivered by the foreman of the jury. Winifred fainted; and she was at once borne from the dock. The Judge, without passing a single comment upon the ver- dict which had been returned, ordered that the young girl’s discharge from custody should imme- diately take place; and he was then about to quit the bench, when Mr. Wardour made an application that the ring which had figured as so important an item in the evidence, might ve given up to Winifred. The Judge at once complied with his demand; and he then retired. One of the jury- men instantaneously availed himself of the termi- nation of the proceedings to glide out of the box ; and he quickly disappeared. This was the one who had held out and who had succeeded in the long run in bringing all the others round to his own Opinion. But the eleven other jurymen lin- = ~ o —. —$—————— $e ss ie Te ale Doe — Gomichbooks:com f