Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-04-27

more. cannot, indeed cannot tell you
what she said. 1t makes me feel ugly 70
think about it, and you would be angry and
unhappy
Mrs. Leigh, not altogether ignorant of
her visitors propensities, half suspected, be
fore this confession, that some unguarded
remark had reached the ears of Laura and,
although she could not but admire the spir-
it which prompted concealment. she urged /
her to relate the truth. Finding, however,
that she continued painfully reluctant, she
relinquished the argument, but dismissed |
the child so coldly that she caused her to en-
dure again the keen anguish of that night,
two months before, when the wound, just
now probed afresh, was received, and when
first herr mothers affection WAS seEieussg
doubted.
When the mother and child met next
morning. the latter was in her travelling
dress. Her cheeks were pale, her eyes swol-
len with weeping, and her frame trembling
with emotion. She approached her moth
er and neekly raised her eyes as if to i'm
plore blessing. 1t was the parting hour,
Mrs Leigh was evidently moved, though she
sat stately and. dignifed, and said in tone
of assumed calmness:
You have seemed very much elated with
the thoughts Of leaving me, Laura, 50 sup
pose you are glad the time of your departure
is here
ooh mama! mama! If you would
only love me- Laura could say no more.
Sobs choked her utterance; she covered her
face with her hand, and the hot tears came
tricklng fast through her slender fingers
1t was an embarrassing moment for Mrs.
Leigh. The mother was awake in her heart,
pleading more earnestly than ever before,
yet how could she take to her bosom that
little trembling, convulsed being, whose sweet
caresses she had SO often checked, and whose
love and confidence she had rather repelled
than sought.
Come, Laura, the coach is waiting. Let
us be going exclaimed the step-father, as
he entered the room. What crying {? he
continued with a smile. [ thought you
were more than satisfied to leave us, Come
say good bye cheerfuIy. It's a pity so
bright morning should witness cloud on
your pretty face
Had it not been for the untimely inter
ruption, nature must have triumphed, and
Laura's full heart would have been relieved
by some expression of tenderness from her
mother. As it was, formal embrace, and
hurried kiss were exchanged, and she en-
tered the carriage completely abandoned,
for the time, to the unhappy belief that her
mother was still angry and did not love her
why, didn't think you'd take on So
Miss Laura, when the time come,' said Nan
cy, who accompanied them. You've talk
ed so much about the school, and thought
it would be so nice to 90. Come Cheer
up? Well be there before night"
Her companions said many things with q
view to divert her thoughts, but they had nc
balm could reach the wound from which she
suffered But when did sorrow ever lingel
long in the buoyant heart Of childhood! II
was lovely day, and there waa something
to exharate the spirits in the motion Of tie
carriage as it rolled over the smooth road
, through beautiful expanse of country
, The fields were covered with delicate green
and trees and shrubs were fast putting OF
; the leafy garniture Of spring, lille from the
orchards, gay with fair blossoms, delight,
fuI fragrance was waited on the balmy air
About the farm houses and rural dwelling,
all was life and activity, and troops of young
J domestic animals both feathered and four
q footed were sporting in the sunshine as i
p their very existence was Joy.
a As Laura looked abroad and obseu eC
these things, she grew calm by degrees, and
f ere long, a sense of pleasurable excitemen
filed her mind; though, in the expression
# of her views and feelings, she was rathe
chary, as if taught by an intuitive percep
ton that she was alone ii her ardent love G
simple nature.
/ Towards evening the travellers entered
n small, but elegant town. and Laura gaze
d about her with increased interest. for she wa
It told this was the termination of her journe,
o After driving some distance through the prr
e cipal streets, they turned into another, broa
e and clean, and evidently inhabited by person
d Of wealth and refinement, for on either sid
J. handsome mansions, surrounded by tasteful
le ly arranged grounds, aud lovely cottages ha
a hidden by Towering shrubbery, met the tra'
ellers eye.
ID "Oh what sweet place hope this
At Loring Seminary. 1t is, is it not 2 exclain
Sc ed Laura in tlattering excitement, as tI
Y carriage made halt in front Of the most a
3s tractiIe residence she had seen that day.
a The house itself was plain structure, da
zlingly white, with piazza in front suppo
l. ted by light colonnnde but It stood in a
20 enclosure which art and nature had com5il
ne ed to render one of the loveIiest spots Laura
I'd gaze had ever rested upon. That hour
on the day too, lent additional beauty to Il
scene Huge pines, with their lower branc
ID es Topped away, stood, ike sentinels {
lie guard, along the tasteful paling, and the
i'd dark shadows were thrown, by the sinkir
sun, far over the grounds, and they minglt
so there with the broken shadows Of gre
rs variety Of other trees, until all over the pIae
on grass plots and gravelled walks, on st
NJ tues and the marble basin of the fountai
and away up over the white walls of Il
t; house, fantastic shapes, born Of the soft sha'
ur and the golden light, fitted and trembl'
like the airy fancies of dream.
Of Such was the inviting exterior of the ne
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