Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-09

How was it shadowed out before me, in the
long perspective Of reflection. | saw the evil :;
but it seemed little cloud, no bigger than
a mans hand and now it has spread over
the whole heaven of my future, ready to
burst in storm, in thunder upon the devoted
head of my helpless lamb, whom with an
innocent breast can no longer shelter.
And again the hot, burning moisture stood
trembling upon his swollen veins. lie longed
to see Grace, and he dared not meet her );
his soul was assailed by thousand fears.
Why this dread stiffness, more fearful than
tears and more horrible than reproaches.
The supper bell rang; beside that there
was silence; no footsteps-no Grace.
--- Summoning the nurse, who-gwas the only
motherly being his child had ever known,
he dispatched her to her room, and while his
heart beat as it never did before, he stood
below, listening for the voice Of his child.
Heavens mercy, Judgep shrieked the
woman, coming to the door and wringng
her hands; Miss Grace is awfully still
oh my dear darling-and she's not asleep
either
Alta bound the father was in the chamber;
he lifted his child from the chair in which
she sat- her motionless head bowed down
upon the tabe-he laid her upon his throb-
bing bosom, and as wildly as he had longed
for her death, he now prayed for her life.
Yet he displayed outwardly no emoti0n !;
his great misery had made him compare
lively calm send for the doctor, he said,
lose no time; she cannot be dead;' a great
sob swelled his bosom.
L feel a faint beating at her heart-so
faint-father's poor dove, and he held her
convulsively to his breast. Tell the house
keeper to come here, Immediately ! and he
laid his dear burden upon her bed.
The physician was soon beside her; one
little hour more and he would have been too
late. He succeeded with great difficulty in
restoring animation.
The poor child opened her heavy eyes
they rested full upon her fathers face. A
convulsive shudder passed over her frame,
she threw both hands above her forehead
and pressed it tightly, then lifting herself
from her couch, she exclaimed, tell me; tell
me it is false; father, tell me am | not your
lawful child 2 and exhausted with the pas
sion Of her entreaty, she fell heIplessly back,
ward again.
The physician gazed curiously at the Judge
She is delirious he murmured.
Would to heaven she was J was the al
most inaudible reply.
Tell ne, father; your silence will kill me
| am not so disgraced'
in a smothered tone, bending nearer to the
pillow, and lifting her clasped hands from
her face, my darling, do not question me
now, my precious child
+ Her nerves must have received some
severe shock said the physician, with anoth
er scrutinizing glance, as he filled some LITTLE
papers with powder; then feeling again he
rapid pulse, enjoining strict silence and ex
treme care on the part OF father and nurse
he left the room.
! Go, for while, nurse; leave me wit
= father; feel better" whispered Grace, no'
fully conscious; and good Madame Lelan(
' full Of mysterious forebodings, obeved he
7 young charge, first entreating her not to tall
r and expressing her willingness to sit wit
her all night, if it was requisite.
n When she had goneJudge Stanton star
Il ed nervously from her bedside, and snatcl
4 ing the lamp from the table, placed it ava
1 in one. corner, so shading the room that a
I objects grew obscure; then returning,
said, soothingly, Be quiet, be silent, de;
o Grace the doctor orders it; to morrow yc
> shall ask me what you wish, and IL vi
answer YOU
This will not satisfy me, my father
70 said the poor girl, with mournful emphasi:
! you must tell me now-this moment-if th
!" terrible letter is true. Oh = she continue
" piteously, grasping his arm with all Il
y, strength of her delicate hands, tell me, f
my dead mothers sake, tell me it is
>, false, father
The strange earnestness with which s.
., spoke the last word thrilled his heart h
> alIusion to his buried wife unnamed hir
*. and then the pallid whiteness Of that swe
bn face, SO dim in the gloom; the earnest 90
ss of those unearthly eyes. A great temptati
m beset him. He was sure that if she kn
% the truth, in her present excited state,
would be her death, or worse, destroy
90 reason. How could he Withstand her
T;s plofing glances-how behold her perish
"a fore him?
ble For while he resisted but the angu
in Of his child, as she asked repeatedly, i
Lo true, father g weakened his resolution.
not yielded to beggar his soul yet more, and
a husky voice, murmurcd, Believe it |
- my child
n 1t is all false; it is cruelty false
80 whispered twiping her arms about the n
50 of her parent, and drawing his clam
hot brow towards her lips Some enemy Ii
m Lo done this; it is all false
.ho - But, father do you know how stra
Az ALL your manner was 2 she murmured, afte
st 81 short pause. And your eyes looked $
70, and your-your-'
III. ill., Say on. my child
~. ~. Your breath, father-it was wine.
60 g. tremble when think Of it, for don't
- know what you have said SO often?'
- What have l said, Grace he asI
"a, abstractedly.
ma1 nus; Why, father, DO you forget? That
.'eu @ would never dare, in the greatest sorrow
HG' ,HI drink deeply of wine, for You knew it w
- master your reason, and that it would
: 1;e ~ take much to make you the slave of ST
drink ?