Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-08-01
Gbuirr Titfraturr.
From Graham's Magazine.
THE HEROINE OF BLOOMINGDALE
CHAPTER l.

ChARlEh i.
In which the AuthOr Introduces our Hero
ins, ghons very many sOM not like.
There lived at Bloomingdale paragon of
beauty-Fanny Vane. But 50 shy-so coy
80 queenly was Fanny, amid the roses and
creepers ofthis fairy palace, Bloomingdale,
that her lovers were in despair.
Fanny Vane, though she did not clamor
for vote, was an educated lady, and the
possessor of a large estate. She had voice
Of richest melody, and, could boast Of many
accomplishments, but she had none Of the
sangfroid requisite for female voter-none
Of the GOODNESS which maketh the general,
none Of the volubility so essential to the
stump orator, nor indeed, had she enough |
selfpossession to make an ordinary belle.
/ fear / shall not be believed, but must
speak the truth, and say that Fanny could
blush Nay, had often blushed- sometimes
dozen times day, and sometimes not so
often. This, perhaps, may account for the
chivalrous devotion of the other sex to my
little heroine. She was so gentle and timid,
and blushed, and thereby enlisted all that
manly enthusiasm and heroic devotion of
which we sometimes read, as a characteristic
of an age called darker one than this.
This treasure of modern society-and my
heroine, chosen above all others of the pres
ent day-hyed with her guardian, Col. Ro-
land, Of Bloomingdale- whom should
have made honorable mention before.
Colonel Roland was handsome bachelor
Of forty. He was brother officer ofFanny's
father, and on the battlefield had knelt him
over the dying man, and with bended ear,
caught the faint accents ere they passed a.
way, which gave him his infant daughter
But colonel Roland was bachelor, and so
fastideous and hard to please, that none Of
the thousand-and-one caps set for him, by
innocent young ladies and spinsters, ever
shook his heart. He placed his little ward
at frst-Eate boarding-school, and before she
attained her sixteenth year Bloomingdale was
fitted IN fer her reception. Having no mother
or sister y overlook his interesting protege
he engagedia Mrs. Brander, teacher in thu
seminary which had the honor of finishing ou
heroine for the tapis, to take charge ofhe
athome. Mrs. Brander and Fanny were nov
inmates Of Colonel Roland's establishment
They had their apartments and attendants
and Colonel Roland had his. And so higl
ly sensitive was our bachelor of unromanti
forty, that he never intruded upou.t eve
nings, nor stepped in at odd hours indeed
Mrs. Brander often complained. and said. t
use her own expressive phrase, that H
made himself entirely too scarce
These Two, the bachelor and the widow
accidentally entered the front hall togetht
one day, as they came 10 from the street
Colonel Roland, said Mrs Brande
lettering in the hall, where do you thin
oftaking Fanny this summer?'
Indeed. do not know. Mrs. Brande
sFanny's tastes and habits are so very dome
tic, that really do not know where we mu
take her.
Exactly observed our lady of the fir
rate female seminary. If those tastes al
habits are allowed to grow upon her, $
will be fit for nothing in the world but
obedient-yea and nay-country wife
She will indeed
1sit possible cried Colonel Roland, laua
ing that she is so inclinedp
i tell you that she does MT care fig
Saratoga or Newport-that she dearly lo
Bloomingdale-tha she has a pet kitten
pair Of canaries, and an abominable N,
foundland puppy-that she reads Miss Bre
er, and abhors dear George Sand and t
charming fellow Sue-now, sir, ask you
the face of all this, is it not time to act 2
These are alarming symptoms, | conf
remarked Colonel Roland, smiling strang
Yes, and they should be checked-nip
in the bud, and nipped instantly replied
lady, bringing her finger down upon
palm in. a most emphatic manner. Just t
Fanny entered the hall, and Mrs. Brar
smoothed her knitted brows.
I have just heard that you were sich
bed all yesterday said the girl to Col
Roland
'Yes-I had chill and amost unplea
Fever, but it passed off in a couple of no
'Ah but you should have sent us v
that you were sick. Are we never to be
ful here, at this beautiful Bloomingdale
SIT in spledid rooms all the day, idle, and
urious, while sickness and sorrow are a
round us-while our best and dearest Fl
is sick, andhe will not even let a seryan
VS.
You would only spoil me by your
ness said the gentleman, opening I
door, While his lips quivered, for he wa