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

III IL DOSOils
CHAPTER x.
Oh how impatience gains upon the soul,
When the long promised hour Of JOY draws nigh
How slow the tardy moments seem to roll
What spectres rise Of inconsistent fear
Mrs. TIGHE's PYscHE.
81 really wish YOU a great deal of happi-
ness this evening at your meeting under the
old chestnut tree, my dear C~olumbine, with
your fond Baptiste," said Lavinia Welby, one
bright Saturday afternoon" hope you will
enjoy a happy time together, and few tears or
none at parting. Let's see, it has been-oh!
a long time since you saw him, and, bless
your little heart, how happy you will be =
indeed am halfinclined to play the spy and
watch you once"
that, Lavinia !" calculated C~olumbinc, and a
bright blush overspread her face.
"Well then | won't-you must remember
me though in yourhappiness, Columbine.-
But let me warn you a little you must not
go home alone through the forest at dusk this
evening, you must tell Baptiste to go with
you to the gate for you might meet your
old foe again, and find use for your bloody
h~unting-knife a second time, or see some of
the ghosts and witches that granny talks a.
bout. Farewell, Columbine, pn think ofthee
at sunset this evening" the two young friends
separted.
That evening Columbine watched the lazy
sun as it's bright disk seemed to roll down
the western sky to bury its glory beyond the
western hills. ShG thought it a long and
tedious time, ere the hour came for her to
steal away from her home and run to the
spot designated in Baptiste's letter for their
meeting. She was anxious for the interview,
--A l., - -
terness when the parting moment came. Half
an hour before the appointed time she was
under the boughs of the old tree, whose vide
spread arms shaded many a cold rock lying
scattered around on the barren soil, and the
crumDiing leaves and harsh burrS from the
old chestnut tree.
She could plainly hear her little heart throt
and beat as she saw the sun sinking behind
f the blue, fe%ece-capped hills away in the west
her very soul seemed to leap out and run t
! meet her coming lover, eagerfor the first gIac
embrace.
She was restless so slowly, so lazily tn
last few remaining moment seem to lay be
hind and she moved around Thorough trun'
of the old tree, casting her languid eyes t
the suns bright, radiant disc, while the pale
powerlessr rays danced upon her glowingchee
imprinting a lingering, farewell kiss for tn
night. She saw the red and fiery orb of ligf
sink behind the hills of the west ; she sa,
the yellow beams playing upon the green tre
tops away in the East, fringing the verdan
trembling plumes with a bright halo liz
spanglad, flashing gold she watched the el
+ chanting vision Of a cloudless sunset i'll IL
10 mountains she saw the rich colors fadir
Ae away, as beam after beam stole off from Il
Us coming Of night and glided gently up the BIZ
., of the eastern sky, dying silently and impe
" ceptibly away, fainting as it were into Il
r soft slumbers of twilight she saw the su
= picious mountain bat and the wild night hay
,ng steal out from their hiding places in the 0
ne rock castles of Nature, and fit rapidly
NJ round in playful circles, filing the mounta
'S,' glens with their shrieking notes; she hea
Ell the hungry VOLTS monotonous howl, and t
ice panther's shrill cry of terror echoing wild
! > through the darkening hills she saw ty
ne light fading away silently like a shadow, a
ng . the sable Goddess Night folding her da
on mantle over the earth and its millions. CIV
'rh don't he come" was continually pressing
enquiry upon her mind. Every NONE
added new intensity to her Impotence, a
ue she was in a painful state of p~erplexity a
ms despair. The bright dream she had pictul
ne[ of a happy meeting with Baptiste was II
OF blasted and withered by bitter disappoi
ing ment. Twas a pity
nks That a dream 50 sweet, 50 long enjoy'd,
ver Should be SO sadly, cruelty destroy'd;"
he'd but it was so, and she sat down in grief
hat ~-ef.t Like a child
A slight r~ustling in the leaves and
,sic cracking of n stick behind her caused he
arouse and start up, and she saw through
,,r gathering shadows Of night the glimpse 0
man, who threw a heavy blanket over
- head and shoulders and dragged her to
:, ground and then thrust n rough gag in
IN mouth. This was tie work of few nome
49, and she felt that she was being carried
idly away. She yainly tried to shrek
help, but the painful gag prevented her f
making any noise. After being carried s
distance III this rude manner, she was +
ed upon the ground again, and her uncc
head dress falling off disclosed the awful
that she was at the mouth of Ruggle's II;
III ted Cave! The dimness of twilight prevel
- her from seeing the features of her captor,
I'M as she stood almost petritied to the spot
a4aJ breathleSS fear, she saw him commence
ling away the huge, cumbrous rock from
door of the Cave, preparatory to pushing
49, within its dark and gloomy precincts.
ca this painful moment she saw the heavy
: :" line of some athletic man spring out
the bushes at her side, his face covered
lrth- IL INSpIn a - "nu ~ !. oIuO ~ hel
able. r9 = O.: ~ ei sel1IA net ss2tor ! Pc
him, ~ = : ~ - IN : cue eIouho
I:9hon3e c." - !; oolo an - 'i'e iace
had - -. = : ~ = tiiiah
"a by the a~ssailant during this conflict.
exity rronn3 aroan;ng n ' 900 lvi. me Iunain o.
uin6ine, removed the gag from her mC
- took her gently by the arm and led her 9