Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-08-01

vered invalid rcposed with smile upon his
lips. An hour thus passed away, and then
another, and still she watched beside her pa /
tient The servants were constantly COM
ing in noisy groups to the door, to enquire
about their master; but Fanny, ever on the /
alert, would shake her pretty head at them, I
and lay her finger on her lip with a charm
ing gesture, aud perform many other de-
lightful feats; part of which the colonel, |
with half-closed eyes. saw. This guardian, !
to use an old Virginia phrase. was really
playing possum,' while he watched his
witching ward as she went through her grace
ful evolutions-now stirring glass of lem
onade, and dropping in another piece of ice
that it might be cool for him when be awoke i
now looking at her tiny watch, aud then
casting dreamy glance at the powders, for
it was time for them to be taken, according
to the prescriptions, and this threw our inn
portant little nurse in quandary--' must
she awake him. or permit the hour to pass
! without giving the powders? ? that was the
question and then again, with her eloquent
pantomime. she turned off troop who had
: marched up to the very door in the midst of
d her rumnations,
Fanny, am awake, said the colonel.
: sOh, am SO glad-you must take these
powders now, am afraid we are too late
!. with them
II Oh no nectar was ever more delightful
!, to luxurious god, than were those powders
5, to our enamored colonel. And then the
II fairy nurse trpped away, bearing in her bo-
som his promise to send for her again.
If Colonel Roland himself had placed these
stern barriers between himself and bis fair
/ ward, which had been to her so inexplcahle
and tormenting. Why should there be no
t. free social intercourse in family so seclu-
IS, ded? :? Poor Fanny tried to break down the
e barriers with all her might. but the obdu.
ct rate colonel persisted. He only saw the
ladies at dinner and tea. He was usually
I'd very grave. and Mrs. Brander always OF
N. stills so, between the two. our heroine lee
i'd sad life of it. There must have teen somc
strong reason which could have forced gen
| tleman of Colonel Roland's extreme sensi
on bilities so remorselessly to repulse the fair
er, clingng creature who looked up to him a
lis more than mortal. Still our heroine locke,
lot for better days-she saw, at times, a ligh
in stealing from his dark, sad eyes, and to he
this was the faint dawn of the looked fo
la day.
ol- Great was her alarm when she saw svmI
bis toms of relapse into that severe chillin
nd politeness, which she so dreaded. Th
lat was worse state than the first. She d.
termined to check him ere he eongeale
irl, completely. One day after dinner, ,she watcI
ed her opportunity and gently approache
aer him as he sat smoking fragrant cigar
ia his long piazza. He saw her. as with timi
be step, she came and stood in the door Fl
heart yearned for her, but he sat as frigi
he as statue. She leaned against The pilaste
ass and then looking up, she said very gravely-
ep- came to tell you that fear you
ZIP not love me any more
by What y cried the colonel, starting,
$50 he loved Fanny very much.
Do you love me now as you did VIII
all you were sick !!
YER Yes. thousand times more--Ilove 20
les- Fanny as-as-my own child, said t
me gentleman with emotion.
Then Why do you never call me to yol
use WHY do you never seek me? / can rene
age, ber when was very little girl, you us
to take me in your arms, and sing to !
Ro- with your great voice-and T used to p
,ard your hair, and slap you, and pinch you
oh, those were rare old times do you
I'd remcmber?
Ro- Yes-but Miss Fanny is grave. dig
had fed, modest young lady now.
r. 4 know, said Fanny, blushing-'but, |
we're the distance between us is too great thil
but and [ fancy it increases every day
She The colonel threw away the stump of
ice, cigar and there was soft mysterious Ii
the which came over bis manly face, and
dip firm lips quivered into sad, sweet sm
it on and the tall man trembled but subduing
emotion, which had almost conquered
own brave a soldier as ever fought for his co
the try. he turned to the simple, delicate CT
ture by his side, and said
e an Shall tell you. Fanny. why ne
Bran seek YOU now Shall now open U
YOU the great uureveaied secret of my be;
nurse No, nor cried Fanny ); for like lightn
, and thought flashed across her young unit
stood red heart.
hings Poor Fanny was near fainting at the
d the mention of this naughty secret in the G
get colonels heart.
d pla- L beg ten thousand pardons = she C
n the and she said hundred foolish things,
en- sped away TO her room.
"trip Attea. Fanny was as still as nous
a cool Colonel Roland feared that he had hu
lerself the silver voice forever. What had he
and or done, 10 bow the lovely head so comE
canned Ely? Mrs Brander talked away pompc
waxen about herself and her affairs. She vi
stored to join party to Saratoga she said, an
sisted on taking Fanny with her. To
hands the guardian consented, but added, 4
know Fanny went he must go too. This 81
r, the nearly finished our heroine. Her timi
he Off had yentured a peep at the distant p