Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-04-04


ness, he feared the power of his own
passion. GIeudora saw the workings OF
his heart as though his bosom we're tram
sparancy itselE-at times her naughty
spirit despistd and piiied, and again ex-
cused ana blessed him. He was not
aware that hel affection for him was not
of that passionate and earnest nature of
which he believed her capable, but he
was willing 10 bide his time
Nearly eight months since 'Ora's en-
trance into her aunt's family, and the
early summertime came glowing on the
footsteps Of spring. In fortnight the
nuptials Of Ida Linton and Byron Went
worth were to be solemnizeG-and sun
ny Ingleside was already very beehive
with preparation for the wedding festiv.
tiles. Poor Glendora was destined once
more to become the unconscious agent
in bringing sorrow to the hearts that
loved her.
Sitting one evening in ner quiet cham
ber, busily employed upon the arrange
ment of plan for the decoration OF the
apartments on the evening of her cous-
ms bridal, servant entered to present
letter he had Just received from the
post boy, and retired. The superscrip-
tion was new TO her, it bore neither date
nor post-mark, and 1t was with vague
sensation Of dread that she tore it open.
The contents ran thus: Miss Cameron
will pardon the presumption Of a stran-
ger, aud yet fiend, whose only motive
is a regard Tor her welfare and happiness
You are watch d, surrounded by the EN-.
issaIies OF man who once loved you,
but whose present Indictment is a thirst
Tor vengeance. Need l say, or do you
recogniZe-St. Auburn His wrong.
have been terrible, so will be their atone.
ment; he seeks you now, not as the gen
lie bride, but the slave Of passion, ant
that not for love but revenge. You arr
liable at any moment TO be torn from you
Iriends-be guarded, therefore, and may
Heaven, whose care is purity, protec
your No signature, no clue-might i
not be some miserable lmPosture? som'
/ cowardly attempt TO play upon her sen
slbhites? Glendor1 thought Of ST. Au
burn, and shuddered. Could it be Lou
don? She dared not confess her imegin
ings even 10 herself. For several day
she struggled vsinly with her lears-th,
> constant effort TO be gay, to smile wheI
, apprehension every moment paled he
4 cheek, 10 sing merely when despair sa
; gnawIng at her he art-to converse gayl,
/ when her lip quivered, and the hot ris
ing tears choked her utterance, was NOR
, than human nature could for any lengtI
of time sustain. Glendors, for the frs
time, sunk under trial; and we'll nigh
/ she do so now for what is a ertaint
of sorrow. let il be ever so dreadful. t
y conflict Wilh that horrible, writhing by
dra-headed monster--dIm suspense.
4 judgment Iced her from one wreathin
told, she groaned to find herself entans
a led in some closer coil if reason crush
n ed one torluring fear, thousand gloom
n terrors started IRON its death. A ragin
v and protracted fever proslIated her re
: naming energies, and Ida's bridal wa
postponed, while she watched by the sid
:. Of her suffering cousin. and wept to thin
n how early she might be called to ente
s upon the dark valley OF shadows. Lon
. lingering, and painful was that lines
!. yet Ora, during it all, uttered no wor
i which could lead 10 divining Of its tIu
l. cause; al times she raved, but the PR
1t VaIlIng features oil her disease was
IN soft oil waking insensibililv. She seen
,e Ell 10 feel that she could not recover, an
d yet such was the torpor which chaine
is her faculties, that she neither expresse
T. desire Tor the death which might fire
is her from dishonor, nor the life whiC
e. night grow bright again to so young
le spirit-and thus for weeks her meut
1e existence was a blank.
ID Poor weary heart it slept awhile U
ut on the way-side Of life, but the qui
es grave was not yet to be its restling-pIac
v Youth, together with the affeclionate S
40 licltude and untiring devotion of friend
al at length triumphed over the prostratiC
ty Of fragile Constitution by overwroug
al excitement, and Ora began slowly
Sc recover. Lille came to her physical II
70 ture, but her mental being slumbere
.ss and her heart was more than ever froze
be The faculties of her mind had become
ar weak during her illness, that she cou
of scarcely realize its primary cause a
ID if she ever thought Of that fearful lett,
10 it was as some vague cream Of terror
lot a stormy midnight, which leaves up
,tb the spirit a shadow Of its fear, althou!
10 its phantom substanceis forgotten. For
of ly, carefully, and increasingly attende
nd Ora slowly regained her wonted heal
,v OF body, but her mind was not the sal
his bright, steady star which once ilIumi
ne ted all her being. At times it was m
he bldly active, and those around her wol
20. startle at its gorgeous brilliancy,
he though some meteor streamed along
inc sky, and then again il wavered like
,aa sicklY. harmless ignis fatuus, above