Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-13

thy, but her person with its adornments, |
was all that she bestowed upon her hus- I
band. They commenced life in a bril-. !
liant style, in the house that had been
built and furnished for Lucy Lee.
In about a year Mr.. Bailey found that
their extravagant mode Of living, dress
ing and entertaining, would, if persisted
IN, soon prove his ruin SO he expostu-
lated with his wife who had previously
given him several specimens Of her spir-
it. She rallied violently against his mig
gardliness, and when he assured her
that he must and would retrench, she
told him she would not share his humil-
ity, and tauntingly declared that she was
not his legal wife; that she forsook her
first husband on account Of his parsimo-
ny, that if she must live with a miser,
she would 90 back to him for he was not
drunk one half his time-Mr. Bailey
took her word for the ebullition of tenn
per-but within a week she went off
with a traveller, during his absence, ia
king with her all the money, plate and
valuables in the house, that could be
crowded into trunks. Mr.. Bailey was
at first very angry, and threatened pur-
suit ; but he finally declared that he was
glad TO get rid of her, that he did not
value what she had taken. He then
plunged into dissipation more recklessly
than ever.
About four years from his cruel de-
sertion of Lucy Lee, he called on an &C.
quaintance, in a distant part Of the city,
and on entering the parlor, was aston
ished at seeing Lucy seated before him.
She had regained her health and reason,
her form vas full, and of womanly ma
jesty, her hair had grown out richer than
ever; and only two or three scars re-
manned to dimple her sweet smooth face.
He gazed upon her a moment, reeled,
and half fell upon a chair. She arose
and left the room; and though he ear
nestly besought it, utterly refused him
an interview.
He learned, however, that she was 60
ing directly home !; and he addressed a
letter to her there, pleading every ten
der consideration, that she would forgive
The wrong he had done her; and prove
her kindness by at least permitting him
TO make her one visit, and plead his
cause in person. He protested that he
loved her now, truly and soberly, with
all his heart. He told her that his mar
riage had been illegal, and so was void
and appealed to her young love, and all
that that they both had suffered, to for
get the past, and renew her engagement
with him.
Poor Lucy wept very bitterly over The
strange letter. He never loved me, shemur
INJURED he does not love me now. No hu
man argument can persuade me that he Low
ed me, and yet fOrsOok me, because | wa
marred by sickness. So she wrote to hin
that she had forgiven him long ago, and al
so ceased to love or respect him. You cal
never she said, be what in my young love
imagined that you were the shadow Of tina
love will darken my path forever; But
shall never love again. The romance of m,
life has been too rudely dissipated F.; l hav
seen man as he is, and | can never agail
worship at his shrine. Do not endeavor t
see me, or write to me again it will onl
harrass me, and humiia,e you, for my decil
ion is unalterable.
Bailey read the letter, raved like a mani
&c, cursed himself, and rallied against Lucy
swearing that there was nothing so diabOlica
and bitter, as a woman's revenge. Soon a
ter he gathered the wreck of his property tt
gether, and left for the Great West.
Hitherto, although he drank, he had NJ
learned to gamble but on board the steam
boats of the western waters, he fell in con
pany with those who soon taught him I'll
mysteries of their games, and he became ii
colleague Of a set of sharpers. While
is lodging with them from city to city, son
times playing the gentleman, the officer
foreign lord and sometimes fleeing an
skulking like a felon as he was, we wi
leave him, and return to Lucy.
Her sisters and two brothers were all ma
ried and settled and she remained, the $
lace and blessing of her parents in their d
cline. They sunk, one after the other,
that during three years Lucy was a constar
attendant at the bed of helplessness and pal
and her affectionate care made peaceful Il
days which without it must have been paint
IN the extereme. Very precious to the so
were the blessings bestowed upon her
her dying parents who both departed in pea
and JOY.
l have not lived in vain, she said, even
my career we're to end here. After h
mothers burial she was left alone, and qut
reduced in health and spirits. She the
fore concluded to spend a yearin visiting b
brothers and sisters. After spending s,
eral months with her brother, very please
ly, she proceeded to Cincinnati, to VIII
ed soon after their marriage. Here she
joyed herself exceedingly during the fine
tum, and early part of a keen snowy whit
Rot,r,I,n III I