Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 250: what you’re looking at

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

z; arc weak and feeble ! AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. “ And I have recovered all my just rights!” eja. culated the old man. “ Lot me think ovor it for a few moments! 16 seems almust tuo good to be truco! : I am afraid that I shall awake and find — a dream !” “ No—it is not a dream,” whispered Winifred’s sweet voice: “it is a reality !” Iter grandfather covered his face with his bands, and geve way to his reflections. “Well,” he at length said, as he slowly withdrew his hands from his countenance, “ I could not have thought that I should have taken it so coolly and tamely! I fancied that I should have gone almost wild with sjoy—that I should have danced and sung m “Rcmomber,” whispered Winnie, “ that you *havo been very ill, dear grandfathor—that you But now you will soon got well again * Yes—I shall soon be well,” ho cried; and then thero was a sudden bursting forth of sobs and tcars—the pont-up fectings were at length forcing for themselves a vent. ‘“ Yes, yes—I shall soon bo well,” he whimpered, “and*I will and sing —and we will be all go happy | don’t forget that the people in that place yar know where I mean-——must have a grand banquet. 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. Ilargrave—and you too, Roderick—and you kiss me, dear Winnie!”—and thon 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 be done according to your desire in reference to the dinner in the prison. Thies is an hour of supreme happiness for you; and God grant that it may be prolonged into many equally joyous bours—aye, and into years also! But excuse me for reminding you-———” “Good heavens! I recollect !” ejaculated the old map, as a light now broke in upon his mind, making him aware how ho had lost his conscious- ness at a very particular crisis. “I was about to make you my heiress, dear 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 P” asked Winifred, gasing upon him with a look of suddon anxiety. “Yea, to be sure! quite well—quite well!” he answored. ‘“ Happiness has made me well !—and it is because I am in such a hurry to ensure your happiness likewise, my dearest child, that I am impatient. Come, come, Mr. Hargrave——" “T have set to work, my dear sir,” said the nobleman, who was already seated at the table and busy in drawing up the wil. “In two mi- nutes ” “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 she per- ceited how ghastly wan his face had just become, and how strange was its exprossion; for it was only about two o’cluck in the afternoon—the day happened.to be remarkably fino for the November 199 season of the year—and the darkness whereof the old man had spoken was evidently in his own Vision. “Do not excite him now,” hastily whispered Winifred as she turned towards Lord Ormaby. “Roderick, go for the surgeon. I fear there will be a relapse! Oh, my God!” she murmured, “now, now, he is dying! I see that this is death !” “ ‘Where are you, Winnie ?” asked the old man. “Why have you ebut the curtains? why don’t you light the candles? It is growing darker and darker! And 60 we are rich again, Winnie? But have you ordered the banquet P—have you been to RobusP Ah, fool that I am! fool that I am! it is alla dream! Yes, yea—I know why it is got- ting darker and darker! It is because I am still locked in that dreadful placo——” “No, dearest grandfather,” whispered Winifred, with difficulty composing her voice for the purpose amidst the intengo anguish which wrung her heart; “you are not in that dreadful place! You are in the enjoyment of freedom !” “No, no—it is your kindness that makes you tell me eo, dear Winnie!” said the old man. “I understand it all now. Judgment stands over until next Term! Oh, my God! to drag va ex- istence here till sext Term! Hold your jeers, Robus! Tell him not to taunt me, Winnie! Ab, now ’tis pitch dark! Darkness in a prison !”’ Ifis 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 poor Winifred,*sas she bent over her dying grandfather, with her arme thrown round his neck. Soon all was over—and the succossful plaintiff in the great lawsuit which was that day decided, ceased to exist ! Winifred was borne in a half-fainting condition from the chamber which death had just visited ; and she received the kindest ministrations from her husband. Lord Ormsby left them together, that he might go and visit his daughter Agnes and communicate to her how the lawsuit had been decided—how old Mr. Barrington had awakened to consciousness—and how the excitement of joy at gaining the long-disputed fight ia the arona of the Chancory Oourt had proved fatal to him ! A couple of hours elapsed after the old man had breathed hie last; and Winifred was now more tranquil in her mind: she was strengthened by a feeling of holy resignation. “Gustavus is now the beir to all this great vealth,” sho said to her husband. ‘“ Must wo not find out where he is, dear Roderick, and commu- nicate with him as speedily as possible P” ‘‘ Yes, Winifred,” replied Dalham ; “ this is a sacred duty, and it shall be performed with the least possible delay. You know who are the London agents of Mr. Pinnock of Jamaica ?” ““Yes—Mesers. Millard and Co., West India merchants, Lime Street, City.” “It is probable that they may know where Gus- tavue 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 mado her appearance. “I bog your pardon for intruding,” she said: (a Conn ElODOOIKKS CO