Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-03-23

"Ol no, L0vinia, / shall never see his dear
face again in this world-no neverl"
Did he say so, Columbine % anxiously
~enquired Lavinia.
"0l you at least will pity me l know"
said Columbine, wiping brighttears from her
eyes, " you will pity me, won't you, dear
Lavinia Z"
PITY you why, yes, | do from my heare
but come, tell me what you mean, my dear
friend-you know | always tell you every
thing / know-ghat did Baptiste say ?"
"0l mercy, / scarcely know" said Column
bine, but some terrible evil has befallen
him he is disgraced p
" In the army do you mean, Columbine 2,
Yes, l reckon so | don't know how nor
where, but reckon it is in the army" said
Columbine, here isthe letter-you can read
it, Lavinia, if you wish to-"
Lavinia read the letter which Columbine
had received from the hands Of the unknown
boy, and which had been such a sore cause
of perplexity aud source oftrouble to her since
she had read it, two days ago.
wei this is unaecountable, truly" said
Layinia, after she had finished reading the
letter a second time ; /" it is written in such
a nervous manner, and so short and cold =
it really looks as frigid and stiff as some
school-boy's first rude lines after his copy"
Yes, it is cold and frigid, as you say, La
vinia so cold indeed that it has almost fro
zen up my poor heart, and caused me to wish
| could hate the world and not hope for any
blessing while in it. There is not a single
word Of the warm love in that poorletter that
Baptiste used to whisper in my delighted car
no ~allusion to past or future bliss that we
used TO picture for ourselves-no cheering
sentiments of hope and prospects Of a cloud
less future that he used to tell me of-noth-
ing but a theme Of disgrace and that cruel
word forget! o! how miscrable-how un-
happy he must have been when he ponned
those wretched lines :"
" must confess that it is strange, and
am at as great a loss to account for its mean
ing as you are, Columbine," said Layinia
she says he is baSely diSgraccd, and yet ]
heard Captain Townsend say, no longer ago
than yesterday, when | was at Squire En-
mit's, that Baptiste Howard was the brayeSt
and best young man under his command, and
was destined to do more for the Wings and
the cause Of Freedom, than any man in the
State"
Did he really say 80 much for the cour
age and integrity of Baptistc z" eagerly ell
quired Columbine, Frightening up a little.
Indeed he did" said Lavinia, F" but there
is some mystery connected with this letter
which | cannot fathom. / am half inclined
to believe that Baptistc is endeayoring to try
your love in q romantic manner, like all thu
heroes we read ofin the Novels"
"No Blptiste never doubted my love il
the least, Lavinia and am sure he woul(
not wilfully put me to a test that he knew
would render me unhappy and utterly mise
rable."
The two young friends thus continued t.
conjecture upon tho probabilities connectc
with the circumstance inducing Baptiste I
write the letter, until every possible and prol
able reason was fully discussed. With
boundless confidence Columbine confded he
secret thoughts and sentiments to her frient
aud without reserve poured her sorrows an
trials out before her, feeling that they woul
not be lightly considered or derided. Trul
it is q happy and enyiablc possession to fe
that we have u friend in whom we can col
ide, and with whom we can divide our so
rows when the stern vexations of life assa
and give us battle. In the language ofastrf
waif: There is an unspeakable charm
those words, " Your true and afcctiona
friend P' Well have | learned, my brothe
tho value of true and Gfectionate friends
Rather, well have | learned that they a
Invaluable. Blessed is he who has q tTtenC
Twice blessed is he who has a true friend
Thrice blessed is he who has q friend aft
tionate as well as true ~
Tho young and devoted friends had spe
some hours together, and the long shadoN
of the evening sun warned them that t
time had come when prudence dictated tn
they should separate and they took ca
other by the hand, and with a warm kiss
friendship they bid each other adieu, a
turned their faces towards their respect
homes.