Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-05-30

edcn OInef 3 cuaracleFS more CLOSELY uuTiuS
that time. with the additional request, that
our betrothal should not be made public
/ If at the expiration of that time we both re-
mained unchanged they promised that she
should become mine. Ipleaded in vain for
speedy marriage I feared that the prize
which | had won might possibly be lost to
me :; and with all my natural impetuosity of
temper, I sought to secure Immediately what
I hoped would perfect my day-dream of hap
piness. They were firm.
Their daughter" they said, was very
young, and might possibly have mistaken a
girlish liking for a more serious attachment.
/, too, might be influenced by passing fan
ey.'
| I yielded to what I could not control.
but there was a source of satisfaction min
gled with my disappointment. | saw that
my wealth had no influence in their decision,
and the fear which had always haunted me
of being married from mercenary motives,
was destroyed at length l was loved-fond-
| ly and deyotedly loved, and for myself a
4 lone.
/ The year passed away more rapidly than
| had anticipated Oh what happy year
was that Friendless, alone, sorrow-strick-
en- old man, on the verge of the grave, look
back upon that period as the sunny hour Of
my existence In my dreams recall it,
and once again those happy days, with their
bright hopes, their blissful realities, are
mine. But to my story
Z Daily my betrothed grew nearer and dear
er to me though modesty restrained any
protestations of love, her silence was more
eloquent than words The year passed hap
PLY away, and my wedding-day arrived.
would have made it the occasion of grand
festival wished the world to witness my
proud joy but my bride looked on marriage
as too solemn, too serious thing for mirth
= A prouder, if not happier man, was
: when, after we had finished the bridal tour
: she was at last installed as mistress of my
i magnificent mansion-when / received thu
J congratulations of my friends, and heard thu
e whispered murmur of admiration which hei
q beauty excited. Fete after fete was giver
I to her, and we plunged into the maelstrom o
IS fashionable matrimonial dissipation. Emily
S however, preferred the quiet pleasures o
/ home to the gay scenes into which she wa
} lintroduced-and SO, in truth, did but my
vanity rejoiced in her triumphs. Secludet
IS as she had been from society, she had non,
IS of the faults of the initiated, and was prouc
It to contrast her artless, unaffected mien, ant
IS modest dignity. with the stately pretension
: of those around her.
a At length the bridal parties were oter
7 and in the quietude of our home our charac
V ters began gradually to unfold themselves il
L each others view. found that was nc
/ mistaken in my estimate of my wife's love
ie 1t was deeper and moro devoted afectio
than had even dreaired would ever be
t come mine. She loved me with all th
N warmth Of her warm, impetuous nature be
D. faults were not called into action, and she wa
N radiant with all those good qualities whic
ie so delight man. How very happy we were
p how very happy we might have remained
My moon of perfect love was at its full.
stood on the topmost pinnacle of happiness
y Hitherto | had nused over the poets lay {
y love (; | had burned at the novelist's dc
IN cription Of the intensity of the passion ; bl
r. their widest, their most visionary dream
&c fell short of that Elysium of delight-th;
ct Eden Of bliss which | enjoyed with Emil.
OF All was JOY, all was brightness ). but IL
II; shadow descended on my hearth-I brougl
I'D it there-I fed i'll nursed it, until ii
iss light Of joy was xtinguished-until the su
'm of happiness had departed forever
have said that my temper was natural
ac- violent that was selfish Previous to n
marriage, circumstances had kept this infr1
M ity of disposition in check, and for son
ex- months after controlled it. 1t had /
rs. slumbered-it was not quenched and
by who had undertaken to correct this We
hat fault in another, now, myself, became
te slave. The bonds were soon broken t
er- first unkind words were spoken-tho
= words which are so easily repeated after tn
ing have once occurred. The first quarrel
ye, that sad era in married life-had taken pla
ted between us, and both felt that, hencefort
'er, that perfect love which we had hitherto
BON joyed could return no more. Could we
1t 1 er divest ourselves of the memory of thu
cen cruel words But we might still be CO
and paratively happy if this evil occurred
and more;' so said my weeping wife, when, af
ed a passion of tears, she offered me her hal
she Things passed on smoothly for time
S a the bonds were broken, and l ceased
ear check the ebullitions of anger which
met slightest circumstances called forth Bef
the second year of my married life had I
1an sed away, became that worst of all opp
ne sors-a household tyrant At any ann
her ance. no matter how slipbt-if nv m,
the were not prepared at the appointed hour
t, | if a paper, or a book was mislaid-I wo
| on give way to expressions of anger of VIII
mis- afterward, really felt ashamed, know
reat how unworthy they were of man and
card when again angered, | repeated them,
n,ar - IL r.. lofoo