Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-03-07
TIE aRHAUr1FUL 1crcLH."
A TALE OF RETRIBUTIvE JUSTICE
By l. VIRGINIA SMITH.
CHAPTER


And all went merry as marriage belI.-Bwon.
81 Cousin Ora, not ready YET /" ex-
claimed clear, bird-like voice as the
chamber door swung open, aud light
form, half-shrouded in its long, golden
tresses and transparent veil, glided into
the room.
Cousin Ora" started from her droop-
ing attitude. and seizing something
which. glIuered keenly for an instant in
the soft moonlight from the wiRdow-seat
on which she had been leaning, hastily
concealed it beneath the rich folds of heI
satin bodice, and turned TO meet the
fairy-like intruder.
Come continued the lovely speak
er, as she laid her jeweled fingers, hold
ing dainty white glove, on her cou-
sins arm, and drew her gently to the
old.fashoned mirror-"Come. thou prin-
cess of dreamers, see how beautiful am
my dress mean-mamma has 'arran-
ged' me, and though that was your es.
pecial privilege, yet, you naughty COZ,
you are not even
I'll am quite ready. darling inter-
rupted her cousin in singular low and
bewildered tone; then,as il suddenly re-
collecting herself, she pressed a tiny
watch which lay on the dressing table
before her, and pointed TO its golden
Idiai-'see, we have almost an hour yet,
and thought you would not desire my
lpiesence until
i No excuses-no apology, kind cous-
in s; only wished TO ask if you would
bring me the blush rosebud which we
admired some hours ago at the southern
entrance of the arbor, promised Went.
worth 1t should be his this evening, as vel
. as-but it is not necessary 10 particular.
I ize-so tell me how you like me. lady
queen; | think the costume beautiful
because il is sweet mamma : taste, and
f Worn by my sweeier cousin, sale
Ora, interrupting her with kiss upor
? the rich coral lips where seemed to mes
; tie Thousand loves.
! She gazed with undisguised admiration
on the bright little figure before her, no
once thought Of comparing in her hear
E ner own magnificent beauty with that o
i this bewitching and sunny-hearted child
Very lovely. as the soft light Of the rose
: shaded lamp fell over it, was thai sy lph
!. Ike form, half.shadowed in its veil O
4 costly lace-very beautiful was the low
o white brow, with its blue-veined TEN
) pies and wealth Of shining curls, the re
i lips just parted with a sunny smile. an
o the dimpled check tinged with crimso
q like snow-wIeath in the flush Of sunsei
IS Very tender. even in IFS merry mischief
d was the spirit OF Joy that looked out fror
: the violet eyes-very happy the littl
. heart that 6uttered like a prisoned biz
e within that beating bosom. And ye
.r there was scarcely perceptible hus
i; upon the darkly-fringed eyeIids as the
,e dropped over the orbs beneath, and
faint glitter on the downcast Iashe
'. which betrayed the presence Of recen
K though transient tears. She had jui
,e left her mother, and it was sweet Id
10 Liaton's bridal eve
d ''You are pleasant haiterer, and oh
r. it's delightful to be judged by those WI
n love US, whispered Ida, passing her arm
% white as clouG-Aake, around the sIigI
s waist of her companion, and laying b,
ii cherub head on 'Ora's bosom Yet {
you know she added. starting up a
m most Immediately, that am more ths
Z haIf-vexed with you Tor paying SO lit:
M attention 10 your own appearance, ys
IN who are so magnificent, 'Ora-so like
on queen, see'-and she drew her cousi
Il. IN front Of the mirror, and looked 1
rv archly in her face as If TO note the effe
e. of such splendid beauty upon its your
s. possessor.
re- Ora slowly raised her glance to Il
lis old mirror, and the coldly brilliant smi
to which passed over her superb feature
so and seemed TO settle like spirit of moe
cry in her dark haunting eyes. told no
nd slight was the emotion produced by tn
proudly beautiful reflection. II repr
81 sented figure Of medium height, b
nd whose perfect symmetry and finely d
IN yeloped proportions, made it appe
somewhat taller and whose graceful
in voluptuous contour well became the DR.
ice perry Of snowy brocaded satin which &
hat around il in heavy waves Of silver.
bid Features Of chiseled alahas.er, and
ea- cheek over which no truant tint was {
er seen TO wander, were yet softene
eet humanized as il were, by the shadow
hat fading smile which fingered round I
To- tcurving lip, and dreamed far down in /
it liquid depths of those unfathomable ey,
Thy Long heavy ringlets. which might shal
ler-t the ravens lustrous hue, shaded haus
is lfy brow, and almost concealed the ivC
not shoulders and slender waist round viii
be- they Hoated. while the whole expressi
du-l-form, face and costume, was what I
sea- Queen of Winter might have envied,
for coIdIy proud. and proudly radiant.
sese sAf!' said Ida. after a few momeE
as evidently disappointed at the feeling
GER trayed by her cousins gliltering sni
zone .thev do well TO call YOU the sBeaut