Spirit of the age., 1853-05-25

clenchlng his lists, tAe exclaimed IN tones
of terrible distinct 1sss,
Hartley, bewark! If you dare to utter
in my presence furt 1er hints of that nature,
or ever make the slFdow of an attempt to
put your dark desigb In execution, by all
the powers above, sill punish you as you
deserve have sun very low in the scale
of humanity. but krhw am man yet
The villain sluGk Eway, cowed before the
glance of the wretch b inebriate he thought
to make his tool, buswith wrath and ven
geance in his heart Ie had been struck by
Laura's beauty, and aaving no knowledge Of
her nature, he thought to take advantage Of
her present unprotected situation and unhap-
py circumstances.
Laura Yas again obigAd TO go out for med
icines somewhat late in the evening She
had left the apothecary's, and was hurrying
homeward when she was accosted By man
who stepped to her side with the saIutation
of Good evening" Miss Maitland Perce;v-
ing she was addressed bv a stranger, Laura,
with a throbbing heart hastened on in silence,
but the individual kept pace with her, and
was about to offer her some rudeness, when a
strong arm suddenly feled him to earth
Contemplate dog exclaimed the voice
of Herbert Leigh, as he spnrned with his
foot the PROSTATE form Of the villain Hart
ley.
You are safe, my dear, unprotected child,
and may God keep Jou from further insult,
faltered the voice of the miserable Herbert,
as he led the trembling girl to the door Of
her home. Then he anxiously inquired af-
ter his sick child
He is very low. Nothing save the ne
cessity Of procuring means for his relief, call
ed me forth tonight was the reply.
1 must see Tim. Laura. Yon will not
refuse to let me see my dying boy
Laura was glad he made the request. The
scene might have happy influence on the
wretched father. lie followed her through
the dim!y lighted passage, and to small up
per chamber where his pale boy lay with
scarcel Y any signs of life. Beside the low
couch, thoughtful girl of fourteen years
knelt, holding in her own one slender hanc
oft the sufferer. Itwas Maria, the younges
daughter of Mr.. Ware. Herbert Leigh bent
over his child, but the sunken ard half clos
ed eyes gave back no answering glance to hi
own.
Walter, my poor, dear boy murmureo
the father in broken accents, while his no
tears fell on the upturned face before him
| The little suffer languidIy opened bis eyes
a faint smile passed over his features, and il
; scarcely audible tones he said, Papa, dea
papa, [ knew you would come back to me
, then he instantly relapsed into state of letE
argy, from w1icst every attenpt to arous
r him proved vain. Herbert buried his fac
in his hands and sat for moment in tn
deathke stiffness of the chamber, COMMIT
ning with his own thoughts. Presently h
, started up, and his closely compressed lip
and the look of bold determination on hi
countenance, told that some new and might
! impulse was at work within him.
'Laura,' he said, have been a veal
t careless, selfish wretch, neglectful Of my dr
/, ties, and leaving waste and sorrow in m
path, but in the strength of God | will hence
forth be man. Pray forme, Laura, from tn
e depth Of your pure and noble heart, that
e NAV keep this resolution. can do nothin
! for him. [ cannot save him. he continued
d turning to his child, then seizing Laura
'. hand, he uttered fervent God bless you
e and the next m9ment he was gone.
l. This scene was watched by one whom IL
i. actors in it little dreamed was SO near. Mr.
), Leigh, who for 4 few days hal been unus,
d ally gentle ard quiet, conceived a sudde
le wish to see her sick boy. AS she steppe
!e softly across the unlighted room intervenir
r between her own and the one where Walt
e. Law. she heard voice that made her stan
and gliding near the half opened door, 81
witnessed and heard all that passed. Wht
le she saw the shrunken form of her once cl
Of CANT Husband, now clothed in soiIed al
threadbare garments, when she heard his lc
k words of contrition, and his seemingly insT
n, red resolution, and when she looked on t
white face of her little boy whom she supp
IL. sed dead, all the events Of her past life rus
n ed like mighty torrent over her mind. S
stood a moment with her hands wildly abo
us her livid face, and then she stole noseles;
ny back to her room, with justsufliclent streng
h to throw herself ON her bed. When, half
hour later. Laura went in to look upon
d, mother. she found her in strong hysteri
conyuIsions. Formany weary days aud mig
II, the daughter watched BY her parent W
H. lav towering between life ana death. In
". delirium of fever Mrs. Leigh repeatedly {
Sc led on the name Of her husband, and entire
lu- ed him to come back to her, and she tall
I'm Of her boy as dead ana lost TO her for ev
nv thourh contrary to I'll expectations, Wal
he was slowly coming back to life. She see
he ed scarcely conscious Of the presence OF
t | angel daughter who hung over her will
solicitude and untiring devotion that was
ust fading the roses from her check, and the
not ire from her eve. AtIen1th she began slo
to amend, and, one day Laura WAS ca
:. from her side to SEA visiters, and the T
ha moment she was cIhsped in the warm
bar brance of Mrs Wars who, with her hush
nv had come to take them all away to f
m own home, as soon as Mrs. Leigh could
hat siblv be removed.
ieb you are very kind, my dear friends,
nv how can I consent to impose upon you
tbc much, said Laura. We cannot leave
,a5 here alone ebprdened as you are, was
led answer. We are all anxious to assist
led and we can not do it here so well. We