Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-10-27
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
G Irish Dreams Realized:
Or, THE FIVE BRIDALS.
Respectfully inscribed to the Ycung Ladies
of North Carolina.
By LORA.


Of North Carolina.
By LORA.
CHAPTER FIFTH.
Within a spacious apartment, furnished
as a library, sat an elderly gentleman, alone
and apparently in deep thought. Sudden
ly he sprang up and gave the bell rope a
vigorous pull. His domestic entered i'm
mediately. John, you will send word to
Miss Emily to come here. And almost as
soon as the echo of his own command had
died away there was a fairy like football on
the old oaken stairway, and a bright young
girl darkened the threshold of the chamber.
Health was glowing brightly on her sunny
check the light of love cleaned in her lus-
trous eye aud the smile of unclouded hap
piness mantled the eloquent fulness of her
ruby lip. She was being to be loved as
soon as seen. Not bewilderingly beautiful,
but with an atmosphere of c~heerfulness and
simplicity about her which was far more
durable in their attractive hues. There
must have been an unusual expression on
the old gentleman countenance which ar
rested her eye, for the merry dimples which
were breaki~@ f-~-- heir hiding piacsS%
the rich bloom faded and the r5gufsh Jesc
which seemed hanging on her parted lips
remained unuttered, as she silently took
the seat to which her companion mOtioned
her. There was a pause of several moments
during which the fairlady attentively stud
led the dimensions of the little bronze slip
per which peeped from the folds of her
snowy morning dress, and the gentleman
no less attentively watched the varying
shsdes which came and went in rapid sue
ccssion across her cheek and brow.
~ have sent for you, Emily, my dar-
ling child, to tell you how unpleasantly my
thoughts have been interrupted this mo-
ming by a visit from Edgar Morton"
"And why was the interruption an I'M
pleasant one, uncle 2" asked the lady, as q
burning blush crimsoned her very temples
then rcceded leaving paler than was won
to be her roseate cheeks.
With an involuntary start, the old MAJ
gazed upon her, for his discerning ey,
caught the instantaneous change from tn,
confidence of girlhood to the frmness 0
woman, and a ~foreboding chill smote hi
heart which augured but little for the hope
he had entertained. She saw that he wa
panied, and in another moment her arm
were about his neck and her raven ringlet
were blended with the sparse grey lock
which were swept back from the old man
brow, as she laid her head with the conf
dence of a child upon his breast. He pres
sed her fondly to his heart, then drew he
to an ottoman at his feet, and taking bot
her hands in his, even as we would a littl
child's, gazed long and earnestly into ii
soft eyes that were raised to his face
Clearly and steadily they returned h
searching look, and treasured by the e,
preston, he replied
1t was unpleasant, Emily, because a
to infer from his conversation, that Vol
sanction has been given to his suit and yc
desire my approval of the same. That a
probation | canno give"
"Do not say that, dear uncle, for
would lot offend you for the world but
cannot, | dare not war against those fet
ings which prompt me to become Edg
Morton's wife"
"Listen to me, Emily. I have age al
experience on my side, and would glad
shield you from all unnecessary pain. III
you know in your heart well. Then /
lieve me, when tell you that | know
nough of Morton's life to feel satisfied
Is incapable Of rendering yours happy,
of meeting your beautiful anticipations
married life"
81 have rarely known a gentleman
pass the ordeal Unsuccessful courtship, wi
out the assistance of a thousand venom
tongues, each ladcncd with their own L
iicious fruit. And / wonder only that S
aibie people are so ready to credit them
returned the young lady in an indign
tone.
a CLEAN of the same spirit flashed {
the gentleman's brow, but it was of !
mentary duration, and his voice, when
spoke again, was even milder and kin
than before.
"You are too much interested to be Q
crous, Emily for you well know your
situations are unjust. Upon no such
distinct authority would | thus distress y
But you force me to be more explicit.
eyes let me hear all, dear uncle,
forgive me for being so maynard, so thou!
less; | did not think to grieve you TIN
A long fervent kiss upon her uptur
brow was his only answer to her last app
rs he continued " More than once, at
deep and solemn midnight hour, hav
with the view Of being satisfied in re.
to persons ! suspected, watched With
spacious hall, brightly illuminated, /,
riantly furnished, but whose only occup
were gamblers. Gould l present CORE
to your view, my child, the care worn c
t%enance, the flushed brow, the glaring
the clinched fist, the involuntary groan
muttered curse, the flash Q fhatred, and
smile Of scorn which were the only vi
signs of the demoniac feelings which
within, not only would you shrink with
raj horror from anintimato association
any one there, but you would almost b
at heart that these constituted the
with which you claimed affinity. Z
Morton formed one of that group, and