Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; Of, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, done for me. I was coldly received. ‘I might have remained in their service; but the moment I had got their money I had left them. For years they had heard nothing of me: they did not know what I might have been doing in the interval. They would therefyre rather not renew the connexion.’ Such was the language that was held towards me. I went elsewhere, svliciting employment; for it was actually the means of subsistence that I now needed. And I found employment,—mean and poor it is true, but etill productive of sufficient to give me my bread. Again, after the lapse of two or three years, I realized a sum of money :—again I Joft New York, and bent my restless steps through the Union. _ But this time I gave no alms and suffered myself to be moved by no tulo of dis- tress. I became completely cynical. After a whilo I arrived a second time at New Orleans. The cholera was again raging there; and I can scarcely tell what morbid feeling it was that in- duced me to penetrate into that city of desolation. Perhaps it was to fling a cartel at Death hineelf! But no matter. Thither I went: and I bebeld an opportunity of turnjug to advantage the little money which remained to me; for Death broke up some of the oldest and grandest establishueuts— and the same causo which filled the cemeteries with corpses, glutted the markets with goods. Well, to be brict, I made somo movey; and after a while I went and sottled in Jamaica. Many long years had then passed since I left England Oh! so many years that I scarcely dared louk back upon them !—and if ever there wero a * earn- ing in wy heart to institute inquiries rolative to one who might possibly be alive in my native land —I allude to yourself, dear Agnes !—there wasan- other feeling, sternly morbid, cynical, and unna- tural, which spoke as it were with a loud voice in my soul, proclaiming the word No! And thus time passed on, and circumstances threw me in the way of Ctustavus Barrington. Ob! conceive, my dear Agnes, how strongly a certain chord was touched in my heart whpn Gustavus, in speaking of bis uncle’s affairs, chanced to mention the name of Timperley! A thousand memories of the past were conjured up; and kuowing Timperley to bea villain, 1 resulved to take some measures to put old Mr. Barrington on bis guard againat him, In this I succeeded. Well, Gustavus went to Eng- land; and then he returned to Jamaica again. Atter a while my acquaiutance was renowed with him; and then it was that providence made him the instrument of placing in my hands a document which showed me at once that atter all I was no impostor, but that the title and tho revenues of 181 away to Eogland I sped, the bearer of an im- portant ducument which was to accomplish old Mr. Barriogton’s reloase. I called upon Winifred : she mentioned your namo—the name of Miss Evelyn! Good heavens! what sensations took possession of me! 1 cannot explain what my feelings were when I inquired the Christian name of that Miss Evelyn to whom she had just alluded. It was Agnes! Ah, then it was my own daughter! —there could be no doubt of it! I learnt where you lived; and that very samo afternoon I made a thousand inquiries concerning you in this neigh- bourhood. But enough on that pvint for the pre- sent! Other inquiries I instituted in respect to the past: I found that no legal proceedings had ever been taken against me by the Government— that all which concerned me at the time when I fled from England, was more or less enveloped in mystery—aad that as so little was known in refer- ence to the real motives which had induced me to flee, my claims might now be prosecuted without couch chance of reviving scandal or evil reports, aod without the danger of throwing opprobrium on the memories of the dead. And now, Agnes,” added Lord Ormsby, “I think that I have nothing more to say,—unless it be to tell you that for the present I am shrouding all my proceodings in secrecy, because I wish not to be kaown to the world at large until tho formal recognition of my claims shall place me at onco upon that svcial pin. nacle which [ must henceforth occupy.” “And now, deurest father,” said Agnes, “ that you have told me of all you have gone through and of all you have suffered, promise me—On! promiso moe, that the subjrct aball be revived no more, and that the unpleasant task being accom- plished, it shall nut again enter amongst the tupics of our discourse !” “* Kest assured, Agnes,” answered Lord Ormaby, that I euall be only too glad to bury the past in oblivion, whilo enjoying the happiness of the pro- sent. Alas, that your cousin Floribel should not be here !” “Qh, poor Floribel!”” murmured Agnes, with tears in hor eyes. “Think not too harably of her! I havo every reason to suppyse that she is cumpletely penitent—that she is dwelling in some seclusion—and that she is unflinchingly pursuing the path of virtue into which she has returned. But, wy dear father,” said Agnes, as a sudden idea seemed to strike her, and while a blush crossed her beauteous countenance—yet it was with the must ingenuous frankness that her large blue eyes were turned upon ber sire, a8 she went on to aay, “ You have evidently made many, many inquiries con- the Evelyns of Ormsby were indeed all legally | cerning all in whom you were in any way in- mine own, took place within me ‘‘T can well understand it, dearest father !” ex- claimed Agnos, now embracing him with renewed scasations of joy; for the affectionate girl had been all alung identifying herself with her sire in every- thing he had undergone, felt, and suffered. * Yes,” continued Ormsby, “everything now suddenly appeared to me under a different aspect. The whole world had abruptly changed its hues, as if it were a kaleidoscope that I was surveying. Might there not be yet a something worth living for? Perhaps you, wy child, atill existed! It was*thus that I thought within myself. Then 1? e Ob, then what a revulsion of feeling | terested. ifas it come to your knowledge that I have accepted the attentions of a young gentlo- man- — “Yes—Mr. De Vere,” responded Lord Ormsby, | * Corinna told me this much. Ah! believe me, dearest Agnes, Corinna is a genorous-hearted girl - ~—truthful in character and sincere in disposition + She loves you » * And you know that I love her well in return,” replied Agnes. ‘“ But may I hope, dearcst father, that you are not in any way dissatisfied at the en- gagement into which I have entered with Charles De Vere?” “You love him, my dear child,” said Lord comicbaoo S