Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND FLEASURE. 227 maker’s shop. She paused for a few moments: was asking just now if my niece had got a little then sbe passed by the shop-—and darting a glance through the window, she saw the gunmaker ex- hibiting’ and explaining to the quadroon the movement and action of a beautiful rovulver- pistol, Catrina passed ont but soon turning back, she egain walked by tho shop window; and this timo she beheld the quadroon horself holding the perfume —-” “T have plenty up stairs,” ejaculated Emily. “Come with me, my girl, and I will give you some for your aunt,” The young maiden followed the quadroon up to the apartments on the first floor; aud Emily said,.. “Wait one moment, my girl, while I pat awagt4 pistol in her band, while the rapid succession of these purchases that I have been making.” clicking sounds which reached Catriua’s eur made her awate that the now lodger was practisiag the mode of doaling with the pistol according to the explanation she had juat reccived from the gun- “Pray do not hurry yourself, signora,” said Petroro’s daughter. The quadroon opened a bureau in her bed- chambor; aud sho depusited on a shelf the pur- maker himself. Catrina dared not bang any longer | chases she had been making—vne being a sume- about the shop, for fear leet she should be observed | what large parcel, at least tor a laiy to carry—aud and her condust should seem suspicious: she ac- }tho other a very small one. cordingly retreated to a little distauce, where from beneath a gateway sho kept watch on the qua- droon’s movements. In about ten minutes Emily eame forth from the gunmaker’s Shop: then she scomed to hesitate for a moment as to the direction in which she should proteed, or elso in roference to the next affair that she might have in hand: but that un- certainty was soon cleared up, for it waa now with rapidity that the quadroon continued her way along the street. Catrina still fullgwedegt a suit- able distance; and af length sho saw the quadroon turn into a chemist’s shop. Cutrina passed the window. which was brilliantly lighted; and at that very moment she saw the cheuist who was stand- ing bohind the counter, shake his head as if giving ® decisive negative to some query that had been put to him or to some request that had been made by wily. Catrina darted away across the street ; and almost immediately aftorwards the quadroon came forth frum the chemist’s, Again she stood with an air of uncertainty close by tho threshold: and then it seemed as it she once more mado up her mind with a certain degrec of abrupt- ness how to act. She sped along the street until another chetuist’s Sh8p was roached; and this sho entered. Signora Petroro suffered a minute or two to elapse ; and then she passed by this window as she had duno in respect to the others. Sho now perceived tho master of that shup filling a small phial from a large glass bottle; and as Catriva lingered for a fow moments, she observed that the chemist said something with a vory oarnest look to the quadroon. Catrina retreated to the opposite side of tho street, where she concealed herself under a gateway until Emily Barrington came forth from tho chemist’s. Then, as the quadrvon began at once to retrace her steps without any appearance of deliberation, hesitation, or uncer- taioty, Catrina felt assurcd that her purchascs were all made and that she was bending her way hoateward. Darting down a by-strect, Catrina goon reached her brother’s dwelling. When the qhadroon returned to the house, the frout door was opened by Potroro’s daughtor: but Catrina was seen‘seated in the little parlour, with a kerchief tied over her head, which was supported by her arm, as if she were still ill and suffering. “What!” ejaculated the quadroon; “ have you not taken my advice and retired to rest ?” “I thank you, signora, for your kind sympathy,” e@responded Catrina; “but I really bave not had courage to move trom my seat since you left the house I mean that I feel ao faint andill, I | { Y | She locked the bureau, and secured the key ubout her pereon. She then opened an oclegant dressing-case which she pussessed ; and taking forth «# bottle, she ex- claimed, “ Here, my virl, give this perfume to your auot, and bid her batho her head with it, T shal} be much mistukcn if it do not benefit her.” The bed-chamber opened from the sitting-riom; and the young maiden now advanced from the throshoid where she had been standing ; and taking the bottle of perfume, she expressed bor thanks for Mrs. Barringtou’s kiudness. Descending tho stairs, she suught the parlour where she had lett her aunt, who now nv longer looked liked one that had a headache, but she was all eager curi- osity to reccive sume information which she seumed to expect. “There are two parcels, aunt,” whispere! toe niece, with a significant luvok. “ Oxo isa talorably large one, and seomed heavy-——” “Ah! this was from tho guusmith’s, the other Pp” “A very small one indecd—neatly envelopod in blue paper ‘- “'Pho one from the cheiwist’s !” interjected the aunt. “it isas IT thought. Woaat else, my dear ur] P”? “The lady has put thou away very carefully in the bureau in her bed-chamberg” rejuinued the maiden ; “and she has secured tho key about her persom.” * Good, my dear girl!’ said Catrina, tapping her pretty niece caressingly on the chook; and then she mentally added, “ Fortunately there are two keys to that bureau, and I havo gut one of them !” | Again did Catrina muffle hersolf in the cloak ; and again did she sally forth. She was not more than about half-an-hour absent; but when she returnad, she also had two parcels in her posses- sion,—one being sumowhat large and heavy, and the other a very small cue neatly envoluped in blue paper. On the following day, at about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, Charlies De Vere called at Petrero’s house; and after having had some little curversa- tion withCatrina, he asvended tu the sitting-room on the fist fluor. upon the sofa in an elogant morning deshabdillée; and the masses of her dark hair were fluwing all negligently over her shuulders. She did not rise as he entered : but she extended her band—and in a languid tone, she said, “Sv you have come, Mr. De Vero: you have come to hear my decision ? Well, and CO He found the quadroun seated »° MICLOO CO