Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 207: what you’re looking at

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. ee OO SS - ra eeeeees ees OU ™”"-S—stl uh * AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 199 “And I have recovered all my just rights!” eja- —enlated the old man. “Lot me think over it for a few moments! It seems almost too good to be true! I am afraid that I shall awake and find it a dream !” “ No—it is not a dream,” whispered Winifred’s sweet voice: “it is a reality!” Her grandfather covered his faco with his hands, and gave way to his reflections. _“ Well,” he at length said, as he slowly withdrew his hands from his countenance, “I could not have Beatieht that I should have taken it so coolly and tamely! I fancied that I should have gone almost wild with joy—that I should have danced and sung i * Reomomber,” whispered Winnie, “that you have been very ill, dear grandfather—that you are weak and feeble! But now you will soon get well again i “ Yes—I shall soon be well,” he cried; and then thore was a sudden bursting forth of sobs and tears—the pent-up feelings were at length forcing for themselves a vent. ‘ Yos, yes—I shal! soon be well,” ho whimpered, “and I will dance and sing —and we will be all so happy! But, Ah! don’t forget that the people in that place you know where I mean Let orders be given at once; and you must go yourself, Winnie, and see Mr. Robus—and tell him that he is to preside on my behalf. Ob, now I begin to feel my heart lighter !—yes, lighter and lighter every moment! Give me your hand, Mr. Hargrave—ane@ you too, Roderick—and you kiss me, dear Winnie!”—and then he went on whim- pering and crying like a child. ‘My dear Mr. Barrington,” said Ormsby, with whose real rank the old man was still unacquainted, “everything shall bo done according to your desire in reference to the dinner in the prison. Tais is an hour of supreme happiness for you; and God grant that it may be prolonged into many equally joyous hours—aye, and into years also! But excuse me for reminding you x “Good heavens! I recollect !” ejaculated tho old man, as @ light now broke in upon his mind, making him aware how he had lost his conscious- ness at a very particular crisis. “I was about to make you my heiress, decr Winnie! Ah, well, it is not too late! Draw up the document, Mr. Hargrave! Make haste! make haste!” “Do you not feel well, dear grandfather ?” asked Winifred, gazing upon bim with a look of sudden anxiety. “Yes, to be sure! quite well—quite well!” he answered. ‘Happiness has made me well !—and it is becauso I am in such a hurry to ensure your happiness likewise, my dearest child, that I am impatient. Come, come, Mr. Hargrave 7” “T have set to work, my dear sir,” said tho nobleman, who was already seated at the table and busy in drawing up the will. “In two mi- nutes us “But the darkness is setting in!” ejaculated Barrington, “ You can’t see to write !” A groan burst from Winifred’s tips as her grand- father thus spoke, and as at a glance sho per- ceived how ghastly wan his face had just become, end how strange was its exprossion; for it was only about two o’clock in the afternoon—the day bappened to be remarkably Gne for the November must have a grand banquet.’ now ’tis pitch dark! season of the year—and the darkness whereof the old man had spoken was evidently in his cwa vision, “Do not excite him now,” hastily whispered Winifred as she turned towards Lord Ormsby. “ Roderick, go for tho surgeon. I fear there will be a relapse! Ob, my God!” she murmured, “now, now, he is dying! I see that this is death !” ‘Where are you, Winnie P” asked the old man. “Why have you sbut the curtains? why don’t you light the candles? It is growing darker and darker! And so we aro rich again, WinnieP But have you ordered the banquet P—havo you been to Robus? Ah, fool that Iam! fool that I am! it is alla dream! Yes, yes—I know why it is get- ting darker and darker! It is because I am still locked in that dreadful place ** No, dearest grandfather,” whispered Winifred, with difficulty composing her voice for the purpose amidst the intense anguish which wrung her heart; “you aro not in that dreadful place! You are*in the enjoyment of freedom !” “Wo, no—it is your kindness that makes you tell me so, dear Winnie!” said the old man. “I understand it all now. Judgment stands over until vext Term! Oh, my God! to drag oa ex- istence hore till mewt Term! Hold your joers, Robus! ‘Tell him not to tauntme, Winnie! Ab, Darkness in a prison !” His voice was lost in the gurgling, rattling sounds which were coming up from his throat ; and these were mingled with the low, deep, agoniz- ing sobs of poo,’ Winifred, as she bent over her dying grandfather, with her arms thrown round bis neck, plaintiff in the great lawsuit which was that day decided, ceased to exist! Winifred was borno in a half-fainting condition from the chamber which death had just visited ; and she received the kindest ministreations from her husband. Lord Ormsby left them tuogether, that he might go and visit his daughter Agues and communicate to her how tho lawsuit had been decided—how old Mr. Barrington had awakened to consciousness—and how the excitemont of ey at gaining the long-disputed fight in tho arena of the Chancery Court had pr roved fatal to him ! A. couple of hours elapsed after the cld mac had brenthed his last; and Winifred was now more tranquil in her mind: sho was strengthened by a feeling of holy resignation. “Gustavus is now the heir to all this great wealth,” she said to her husband, ‘ Must wo not find out where he is, dear Roderick, and commu- nicate with him as speedily as possible ?” “‘¥Wos, Winifred,” replied Dalham; “ this is a sacred duty, and it shall be performed with the least possiblo delay. You know who are tho London agents of Mr, Pinnock of Jamaica ?” “ Yes—Mesers. Millard and Co., West India roerchants, Lime Street, City.” “Tt is probable that they may know whore Qus- tavus and his wife are,” continued Roderick ; “ for tho young couple doubtless apply to those agents for money as they require it.” At this moment there was a tap at the door of the room where Roderick and his wife were seated together; and Mrs. Slater made her appearance. “JT beg your pardon for intruding,’ she said: © (©) (9) Soon all wags over—and the successful , lNOOLK co S|