Agnes Vol. 2 — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. maker’a shop. She paused for a few moments: then she passed by the shop-——and darting a glance through the window, she saw the gunmaker ex- hibitiny’ and explaining to the quadroon the movement and actiun of a beautiful rovolver- pistol, Catrina passed ont but soon turning back, sho egain walked by the shop window; aud this timo she beheld the quadroon herself holding the pistol in her band, white the rapid succession of clicking sounds which reached Catriua’s eur made her awate that the new ledger was practising the mode of doaling with the pistol according to the explanation she had juat reecived from the gun- 227 was asking just now i perfume —-” “I have plenty up stairs,” ejaculated Emily. “Come with mo, wy girl, and I will give you some for your aunt,” Lhe young maiden followed tho quadroon up to my niece had got a little the apartinents on the first floar; and Emily said,. , “Wait one moment, my girl, while I pat awagt these purchases that Ihave been making.” “Pray do not butry yourself, signora,” said Petroro’s daughter. The quadroon opened a bureau in her bed- chambor; aud sho depusited on a shelf the par- maker himself. Catrina dated not hang any longer | chasea she bad been making—vone being a somes about the shop, for fear leet she should be observed | what large parcel, at least tor a laiy to carry—and and her condutt should seem suspicious: she ac- | the 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 minntes Emily eame forth from the gunmaker’s shop: then she scemed to hesitate for a moment as to the direction in which she should pro¢eed, or elso in roference to the next affair that she might have in hand: but that uan- certainty was soon cleared up, for it waa now with rapidity that the quadroon continued her way along the street. Catrina still fullgwedgt a suit- able distance; and af length she saw the quadroon turn into a chemist’s shop. Catrina passed tho window. which was brilliantly lighted; and at that very moment she saw the chewist who was stand- ing behind the counter, shake his head as if giving a decisive negative to some query that had been pat to him cr to some request that had been made by Inwily. Catrina darted away acroxs the streot ; and almost immediately afterwards the quadroun came forth from the chemist’s, Again bho stood with an air of uncertainty close by tho threshold: and then it seomed as it she once more made up her mind with a certain degree of abrupt- ness how to act. She sped along the street until another choetmist’s 8h8p was roached; and this sho enterod. Signora Petroro suffered a minute or two to elapse ; and then she passed by this window as she had dune in respect to the others. She now perceived tho waster of that shup filling a small phial from a large glass bottle; and as Catrina lingered for a fow moments, she observed that the chemist said something with a vory carnest look to the quadroon. Catrina retreated to the opposite side of the stroet, where she concealed herself under a gateway until Emily Barrington came forth from the chemist’s. Then, as the quadrvon began at once to retrace her steps without any appearance of deliberation, hesitation, or uncer- tainty, Catrina felt assurcd that her purchases were all made and that she was bending her way hooieward. Darting down a by-strect, Catrina aoon reached her brother’s dwelling. When the qthadroon returned to the house, the frout door wus opened by Petroro’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 1f 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,” eresponded Catrina; “but I really have not had Shoe locked the bureau, and secured the key about her pereon. She then opened an clegant dressing-case which she pussessed ; and taking forth a bottle, she ex- claimed, “ Here, my virl, give this perfumo to your aunt, and bid her batho her head withit, T | shall be much mistaken if it do nut benefit her.” The bed-chamber opened from the sitting-riom; and the young maiden now advanced from the throshoid where sbe had been standing ; and taking the bottle of perfume, she expressed her thanks for Mrs. Barringtou’s kindness, Deseending 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 reecive sume information which she seumed fo expect. “There are two parcels, aunt,” whispere! the niece, with a significant look. “ Ono isa talorably large one, and seomed heavy ” “Ah! this was from tho guusmith’s, the other Pp” “A vory small one indecd—nexatly envelopad iu blue paper i “'Phe one from the cheimist’s !” interjected the aunt. “it isasl thought. Waast else, my doar ur)?” “The lady has put thon away very carefully in the bureau in her bed-chamberg’ rejuinod the maiden; “and she has secured tho key about her person.” * Good, my dear girl!’’ said Catrina, tapping her pretty niece caressingly on the check: and then she mentally added, “ Furtunately there are two keys tu that bureau, and I havo gut one of them !” | Again did Catrina muffle bersolf in the cloak ; and ayain did she sally forth. She was not more than about half-an-hour absent; but when she returned, she also had two parcels in her posses- si0n,—one being sumowhat large and heavy, ani the other a very small one neatly envoluped in blue paper. On the following day, at about eleven o’olock in the forenoon, Charlies De Vere called at Petrero’s house; and after having had some little curnversa- tion withwCatrina, he asvended tu the sitting-room on the first fluor. upon the sofa in an elogant morning deshabilldée; and the masses of her dark hair were fluwing all negligently over her shoulders. She did not rise as be entered : but she extended hor band—and Well, and cograge to move trom my seat since you left the \in a languid tone, she said, “Sv you have come, I mean that I feel ev faint and ill. house I! Mr. De Vore: you hare come to hear my decision ? COLUM He found the quadroon seated »' ElLOOO® SS (©)