Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 218: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

E AGNES; OR, b#aUTY AND PLEASURE. as if she were about to fall: but suddenly exert- ing herself with all the energies that remained to her, she said in a voice of unnatural calmnness, | at “ T understand it now, Miss Pinnock! You have perhaps a better claim upon Gustavus ’—here her voice was for a moment choked—* than I bave? If so, believe me Lam not selfish—and it is with sincerity I exclaim, May God’s blessings be upon you both!” Such language from the lips of his injured cousin was far more terrible to the mind of Guas- tavus than if she had suddenly burst forth in vehement and passionate reproaches. “Winifred,” he said, throwing himself at her feet, “your words kill mo! Their very kindness 16a Sharper dagger than if yeu spoke in wrath and indignation !” “Rise, Gustavus,” said Winifred, struggling herd to keep beck an outburst of bitter weeping. * Whatever vows you may have plighted to this young lady, I entreat you to keep them!—for I now eomprehend that you love her—I now see what you meant when you have so emphatically | spoken of the sacrifices you made on my behalf!” “Fen, rise, Gustavus,” said the quadroon: “ your cousin forgives you! Miss Barrington,” continued Emily, who was now herself much af- fected—for she had anticipated a very different scene when Winifred made her appearange,— “your conduct is most admirable, and I shall ever think of you with friendship!” Gustavus had in the meanwhile risen from his suppliant posture; and hastily turning away to- blank despair. “ Thanks—e thousand thanks for that kind as- surance on your part, Miss Pinnock,” said Wini- fred, taking the guadroon’s hand. “ From the very bottom of my heart do I forgive my cousin; and therefore let not this circumstance trouble your happiness. I know that he loves you—I am confident of it!—it was a terribie -sacrifice of feeling for him to desert you—but it was with the most generous purposes on my behalf! Tell him when he is calm, Miss Pinnock,” preceeded Wini- fred, now speaking in a very low voice, “ that I entertain not the slightest rancour or ill-feeling towards him. On the contrary, I now know that the proposal he made to myself was inspired bya generous sense of what he deemed to be a duty. | my poor old grandfather ! How therefore can I be angry with him ?” Though these words were spoken in so low a| yet impressively in his ear es he was straining tone, yet they reached the ears of Gustavus; and | Winifred to his breast, “ you have sworn that I hastening towards Winifred, he exclaimed enthu- | shall be the arbitress of your destinies!” giastically, “You have the dispesition of an angel! But all you can say or do does not the less make | his arms from about Winifred’s form: “ but a man we feel like a villain—as indeed I know myself | may in a moment of desperation pledge his soul to be!” “Enough, Gustavus !— enough !” said Wini- | fred, whose countenance was now completely calm : “ you must not thus accuse yourself in the presence of her who is doubtless soon to become your bride! I conjure you, Gustavus—for my sake as well as Miss Pinnock’s—compose your feel- ings! I am confident you have erred more through the pressure of circumstances than through downright wicked intention;—and we i ere all liable to such error !” “ But can you be happy, Winifred ?” asked i Gustavus, his voice still broken with sobs: “ cap ’ | wards the window, he there stoed, the picture of | likewise,” she tit ! you recover that peace of mind which I fear I Ww have so cruelly disturbed ? Oh! let me give you } at least one tittle of joyful intelligence! It is that the treasure is diseovered—it shall be re- stored to you—and you shall yet enjoy the satis- faction of seeing our venerable grandsire come forth from prison !” “ Yes,” said the qua@droon; “the gold is safe, Miss Barrington. You can now perhaps full easily imagine how it came into my possession, and why I possessed myself of it.” “Enough, Miss Pinnock !” said Winifred ; these explanations are only too painful !” “Come then, Gustavus,” said the quadroon, “let us depart !—for the seene itself is most pain. ful! “all looked upon as eternal. “ Farewell, Gustavus,” said Winifred, still with calm countenance and with tearless eyes; and per- | haps there was even a slight soft smile upon lips, as she extended her hand to her cousin way which was intended to imply that to the shaking of hands was this farewell to be and that they must mot embrace in the of her who was soon ‘to be his bride: “ Gustavus !~—and may heaven bless you! you will not see your grandfather before part—perhaps you will not like to see | added significantly; “and therefore leave if to me to say everything kind tionate on your behalf. You may leave i Bg nities ekg EF Pie i ‘ ' grew somewhat tremulous, “ to tell a tale which shall properly aceount for your abrupt depar- ture.” Gustavus had at first teken the hand which was | extended to him ; and he had comprehended the | meaning with which it was so extended. He again weeping and sobbing—he felt as if his heart must break ; and auable to control his feel- ings, he caught Winifred i in his arms. “ No, no TI cannot leare you thus !” he pas- sionately exclaimed. “I will not leave you at all! Iam free to act as I choose! Emily shall not coerce me! Let her keep the gold!—but I will be true to you, Winifred—and I will not desert 1?) - Remember,” said Emily’s voice, speaking low “Oh, yes!” cried Gustavus, suddenly unwinding to Satan, and yet his guardian angel may step in to save him—and his virtue is greater in breaking the vow than even his crime would be in keeping I will not go with you, Euiily!—I will remain faithful to Winifred !” The young man was labouring under an almost frenzied excitement: his eyeballs glared, and bis white teeth gleamed between his ashy quivering lips. He held both Winifred’s hands tight im his own,—she vainly struggling to disengage them. The scene was now acquiring a terrible and fear- ful interest. The quadroon’s eyes were flashing fierce fires—the colour was coming aad going Gomichbooks