Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-09-15

OF moment, breath, perishing flower, ar
empty sound, Emma once like YOU chased
this butterfly; thought was happy; reached
out my hand 10 snatch the rose, and. see was
stung with thorn All Emma, it is a vision
airy image, blasted by single breath and coup.
led with the deepest suffering. Who is happy in
this world, Emmai Is there'onel No; Emma,
no Vas | not happy oneeG No; thought /
was, an yes, but the sad, sad end! Years
ago, Emma, when was girl, saw the bright
phantom dance before my eyes-I graspcd at it.
1t burst before my eyes and left crazed Nelly.
what you see her-a fright byeword, friend
less wanderer!'
As the wretched maiden spoke the tears fell
rom her wild and flashing eyes down on the
plant grass at her feet.
"Ol Nelly" said Erima passionatelv. ;.can't
you forget the past and be happy yet 2"
Forget forget y screamed the strange crea
ture, mo, never, never until die, can l forget
the cruel outrage and wrong have been the
victim Of No; meOer! And be happy, happy,
EmmaF' her voice faltering. mo; Emma,
poor wretched Ellen O'Rara can never be hap.
| py until she goes home to her mother in Heav-
EMP
She wept more bitterly as she recounted the
outrages and the wrongs she had suffered. and
Emma wound her arms around the neck of her
unhappy friend and said
go! kind Nelly, won't you forgive me; for I
did not wish to hurt your feelings by calling to
mind the past? Do forgive me, Nelly
Yes, Emma, yes; l am poor, foolish crea-
ture; know it well, and you are the only one
who knows how to bear with my folly then
listen to me: when heard you speak of hap
plness, knew you were dreaming of the bliss
that once thought was mine, and the past came
upon me like a terrific and startling crash
which led me to speak as did. All | yes. I
well remember when I sat on this very knoll
and had the same feelings and prospects Of
bliss that you now have-like you / loved to be
alone and whisper to my own beating heart: like
you loved to recount the rich treasures of bliss
that thought was mine ; ah yes, Emma
know your feelings this evening, but with me
1t is all changed now. All Emma you are the
only friend have on earth all beside is il
Heaven, but for you I could wish for lodge in
the dark and shadowy wilderness, where no
human inhaled the same breeze that did, where
no sound broke upon the solemn quiet, other
than tile songs of birds, the howlings of beasts,
the voice of rushing cataracts, Gods awful
thunders, the roaring of the loosened winds and
the wild shrieking of the pitiless storms. But
for you, my dear friend, would pray for this
Emma knew of no answer to make this strange
being, and she silently hung around her neck
and pressed her warm lips to the pale brow of
her mysterious friend, who continued
$ \ es, Emma, l knew your thoughts when
you were gazing after the treasure your fancy
had pictured before your unraptured eyes and
was led to exclaim, so happy; you were spirit
dreaming of that noble youth Erastus Iayton.
your chosen one he it is that now fills your
every thought by day and is the burden of
your dreams at night, Emma. I know it all :;
crazcd Nelly has passed through the same school
Il nPa 90 N u Pe fgfe eHa geHRGfRf eHGR 5 bt Teaea OF
earth-for me there is none there is nothing
true but Heaven There expect to receive a
recompense for the bliss that | have been rob-
bed of here, and with Christ with Angels and
with my mother, live and bloom in immortal
youth and spring. All we will be happy then,
Emma, you must be sure and come to me there
dear friend; for | expect we ere long to go a.
way from this wretched state of misery. May you
be happy, Emma, but your brother your own
brother the son of your own father and moth
er, Emma. Alan-ALLAN the fend-my fell
destroyer-the corrupted monster, the base
J wretch, who cheated me out of hope of bliss il
this world-the vile demon, and yet, still your
brother, the brother of the only friend have
f on earth, mark the saying of crazed Nelly 0
: him, Emma: the stern judgments of God awai
in dreadful storm to greet him -
Emma tremSled at the wild vehemence wit
! which these words were spoken like prophet
! anathema against her brother, and she almos
e felt afraid for the first time of crazy Nelly VIII
T had torn herself from her embrace and stood
" little way off with her slender frame erect, an
# her fragile arms and delicate hands fyin
n around her in the most frantic gestures, Will
1T her dark eyes seemed to be sparkling with th
in fires Of vengeance.
c. "Ol Nelly Nelly !" screamed Emma. Ne
O. ly advanced to where Emma stood and gent
70 putting her arm around her neck she said :
- "Sure you are not afraid Of crazed Nelly a.
~ you Emma? No: ] know you are not. Far
u - well, Emma, till we meet again; may you j
ne deed find you are happy with the good and mob
Erastus Layton"
no With this the strange creature left her al
OF turned down the valley towards her cabin.
he Erastus Layton, who crazy Nelly spoke
as was an accepted lover of Emma, and as she sa
90 a noble youth He was Of refined manners,
is fine intellectual endowments, superb acco
he plishments, good family, good property, gu
ed handsome and affectionate. These things
in ing considered, need it be matter of surpr
Il to the reader that they were married a sh
If time after the meeting of Emma and crazy n
o.oi ly in the mountains Such was the case. A
- they settled in the suburbs of the growing c
%: Gse not great ways from crazy Nelly's cabin
~ ~Oln Gro BE CONTINUED
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