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

she put some night clothes, and deli0acies
in basket, and went directly to the no
tel. The poor girl was delirious, and in
a burning fever. Lucy had the doctor
sent for, and having made the poor girl
comfortable, for she was laying in trav-
elling dress, she sat down beside her.
! The doctor was from home, and Lucy
done such things as her experience war
ranted, for the relief of the sufferer.
Early in the morning the doctor arrived.
and as an eruption began to appear, he
declaredthe girl had the smallpox. Lucy
was very much distressed, as none of her
family had ever had the disease; but
the doctor said he would inoculate them
all directly, and provide nurses so that
the disease should not spread. Lucy
went home very sorrowful. Every pre-
caution was taken, but the fears of the
!, family were increased by the death Of
the poor lone girl, occasioned as the
doctor declared, by exposure, during the
primary fever of the disease. The day
, the stranger was buried, Lucy Lee took
| to her bed. Notice of the state Of af-
] fairs was sent to Mr.. Bailey that he
9 might not expose himself by calling at
: the house, during the season of infection
: Lucy was very sick, for several days de-
. lirious, and covered with eruption. 9th
0 er members of the family suffered severe
C ly from incubation, but the good doctor,
# and the nurses, were indefatigable, and
t after few days they were all GONZALES
d cent.
is When Lucy was able 70 open her eyes.
h and set up little she got view of
it herself in a mirror and was terribly
/? shocked at her swollen and discolored
p. face and person. But the doctor as
le sured her that the discoIorations would
,e soon disappear, and that she would not
r. be badly marked. She was glad TO hear
/? this, for her lovers sake, who she thought
II would be grieved to see her badly dis
r, figured. But she was happy to believe
,'s that her own and her family's health
Of would be re-established, SO that there
in need be no disappointment in Bailey's
l. arrangement. The simple girl earnest
ly returned thanks TO heaven that she
,at was spared, for his sake, as during her
Mt illness, the thought of his sorrow for his
;s- loss, had been the most Of her fears.
ed As soon as all danger of infection
an was over, Mr.. Bailey hastened to visit
r. his betrothed. But when he saw her
mr. weak and emaciated, her hair gone, and
MI her head covered with close cap, her
ifs face swollen in spots and blotched with
in purple, he shrunk from the lean, spotted
nm hand she extended toward him, sank
., i back upon a sofa, and gave way TO tears
NV Lucy was surprised. His emotion
vo, might have been sympathy for what she
nor had undergone, but there was notender.
om ness in it.
IN There is no danger, assure you, she
.oIo said, and offered to take his hand. liz
,ta TecoileG with shudder, exclaiming-
n5 don't touch me- | cannot recognize il
+bo you, the object Of my affection. Oh i
~ were better to have died, than to liv,
ir,o. such a wreck of all loveliness. am ut
terly bereaved. l cannot marry you
as you are now. / would give the worl
m had not seen you. Good bye, Lucy
- | shall die if remain in your presence
Forgive me. | am more unhappy tha
you can be. And he hurried out of tn
- house and departed.
For while Lucy sat utterly conloun
ded. She had never supposed the maj
mo- ring of her beauty could excite any 9th
and er feeling than tender pity, in his bosom
,en- He had exhibited utter loathing. A
tied first she could not comprehend her mi:
Itbv fortune, her brain seemed bewildere
botn and dreamy but at last the truth bega
it of 10 appear uls'ihcty oe'ofe her. AL u u
into him, passed in review. She saw all h
apparent excellencies, and all his affet
bod tionate words and actions.
Co. She remembered every link in I'll
,h;Ia magic chain that had bound her soul
ID him. She reviewed all the hopes of th
nra. last year and saw them wrecked aroun,
herself wreck. A cry of the most il
low terse agony escaped her, and she fell "
all on the floor just as her mother, summon
and ed by her voice, entered the room. tt
,nc,, doctor was called and soon conclude
way that something dreadful had occurred b
ern. tween her and Mr.. Bailey.
he Thirteen hours she remained withol
up- sense or motion, and then she revive
/, her but her reason had departed. Very pit
: old Iful it was to see her, with her meek pa
Yet face and wasted form, lamenting for ii
e his death of her lover and parents. F,
Id no tho she knew them sometimes, she W;
were haunted with the belief that her fatht
e ell and mother had died of small pox.-
and Bailey she insisted had fallen dead at h'
COM feet.
Lucy And so she would weep, and sir
from mournful songs, in low broken voic
pro- And then she would pray for streng
ely and resignation.
1iage In the meantime Mr.. Bailey w
. was drawn into hasty marriage with a das