Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-04-28

Say anu Hdppy Out The Keen eve OF love Is
hard to deceive, and saw that his was not a
natural JOY, not the free out gushing spirit
that used to delight her, but a strained and
studied seemingness. She attributed it,
however, to shame and rcmorse, and redou-
bled her exertions, her kind Offices and at
t~entions, to make him forget his former con-
duct, or convince him that she no longer re-
membered it as a reproach. 1t never occur
ed to her that pecuniary embarrassment,
either present or prospective, caused the
shadow that enveloped him. Yet such was
the fact. His notes in Charleston began to
tall due, and he had not the funds to meet
them. The usual season for paying up the
Old score and laying in a new stock of goods
arrived, but Mr.. Laverne did not 90 to Char
lesion as he had been in the habit of doing.
After a little a collector visited him. He
managed to pay a small portion Of his in
d~ebtedness, and begged for further indulg-
ence. The collector insisted that he should
exhibit his books and notes. The amounts
on these were considerable, but not enough
to balance his Indebtedness, even ifa!I could
be collected and the goods upon his shelves
were thin. The goods were gone, and there
was bat little to show for them. Enquiries
were carefully and secretly made by the col
%lector,' and he learned that Mr.. Laverne had
formerly drank and gambled. This news
went to the proprietors in Charleston, and
orders came to place his notes in the hands
of a lawyer, with Instructions to force eollcc-
ton.
The cloud OH the brow Of Mr.. 1.averne
grew darker and more perceptible, but still
he said nothing of the cause to his wife. he
loved her too well to pain her heart by re-
little knowing her devotedness to him, and
dreaming not that it would have been a re.
lief to her to know the real cause Of his IN
happiness, which would not have panied
her so much as the state ofdoubt in which
she was held. Sometimes she fancied that
she had lost his love, and her suspense was
beginning to be intoIerable. All ! too soon
the blossom of hope in her bosom was bIiobt.
ed and withered away.
Standing one day in his countino room
po1ng over his books, and endeayorino to
make some calculations, Mr.. La,erne was in
teFrupted by the entrance of a servant. who
handed him a note. He opened it and read :.
DEAF HORACE IF not too 5usilv on.
gagged, an old acquaintance would be hannv
10 see you at the - Hotel.
.....- FREDERICK DRAYToN.
Frederick Drayton ? exclaimed Mr., La
verne. What brings him here ? To be sure
| will 90 and see him
Frederick Drayton and Horace Layprno
had been schooImates, and many wears had
passed since they had met. Mr.. Layerne
hastily closed his books, put on his hat, and
hurried to the - Hotel.
The meeting Of old friends F.! how sweet #
IS But we enter not into the minutia of
this meeting. After the hearty shake Of
hands and a few hurried questions and an
'wers by both parties, Drayton said
What say you, old. friend, to a glass Of
wine for old acquaintance sake q
"A thrill ran through the frame of Horace
LaveFne, and a sudden darkness oversbad-
owed his spirit. But how could he refuse .
Alas that moral courage was wanting.
The narrow passage was threaded, the
narrow steps descended, and there was the
underground responsibility of the hotel, The
wine was drank, the conversation became
more animated, others entered, time flew
more drinks were called for, playing cards
commenced, and by the time the shades Of
night had covered the earth the pandemonium
Of the cellar was in all its glory, and Horace
Laverne and Frederick Drayton we're amono
the 'genteel' crowd.
Drayton was a few years Younger than Mr.
Laverne, and unmarried. Possessed of Soma
property which fell to him by the death Of
MS father, he became a dashing young man,
and fell into fashionable habits'-that is,
drank and gambled. In a tour undertaken
for pleasure and the exercise of his GAMING
faculties he had called at the village ofS--
and knowing that his old schoolmate. Mr.,
Laverne, lived there, he had sent him the
note delivered to him by the servant, and
which had again plunged him into the vor-
tex IN which he had previously come so nigh
being swallowed up.
Shall we paint the agony Of Mrs. Laverne
as the weary hours of night passed awav and
her husband returned not No, we have
painted that scene once, and sadness still lin
gers IN tire heart to remember its c~olorings.
We will not again perform the unpleasant
task.
The clock struck eleven, and Mrs. Layerne
bear her suspense no longer. She went
to the bedside Of her sleeping child and drew
the covering more snugly over Der. Then
throwing on her shawl she went forth noise
lessly from the house into the cold night air
alone but not unprotected for angels guard
the good.
She proceeded to the store of her husband.
and there learned from the clerk that he had
left in the evening, called to the - Hotel
by a note from an old acquaintance. Weak
hopes and strong fears ragged tumultuousIy in
her bosom, and she burst into tears. Bpt
soon she partially regained her composure
and expressed her determination to 90 in
search of him.
The clerk worthy and steady young man.