Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-01-19

But not rightly had be judged the sweet
girl; it was far otherFise than dreary or
lonely to her. A child IF nature, possessing
the tenderest sensibilitie, gifted with po-
etic temperament, her Intellect cultivated by
fathers fostering care, she loved the viii
derness of the mighty West; its rolling
praires, its varied andwopderful scenery, she
loved to read from the great outspread vol
ume of nature.
/ She moved around herrude home singing
like wild bird, throwing an air of refine
ment about every thing within, as roses shed
their fragrance on the winds. Every one
who passed her door paused to give. and re-
ceiye kindly words, and she cheered all
hearts with the light Of her innocent coun-
tenance.
She loved to eo wfsh her devoted father into
the solemn shades & the grand old woods, and
the fragrant, unsprlnging roses, softly scatter
ed their crimson pstals in her path as her feet
brushed past them.
} In her presence, Herman Stanton, regard
less of the future, torgetful of his holy vows,
put forth all his eloquence, exercised his varied
powers to please this fair American.
Alas! too late. he loved-loved with all the
energy OF his ambitious, impetuous soul--loved
at times desparingly, for the knowledge ofhis
true situation only served to make the happi-
: ness fthe present bssfu torment thou
e sand times, frantic with the conflict of his con-
= tending emotions. he determined to fly from
her presence, a thousand times his resolution
I failed, and he would seek her society to spend
a whole hours by her side.
! It was only in the hush of the long, dark
Il nights, when the ghosts of a violated conscience
> will visit the most depraved hearts, that he felt
II al. the narrowing remorse consequent upon his
e guilt. Then the image of the forsaken, her
IS gittering black eyes swimming in tears, her
It soft hair dishevelled and neglected, her hands
clasped in the agony Of broken spirit, seemed
! to stand beside his couch. She pleaded with
: him with sobs and means, she upbraided him
- for his cruel INCONSISTENCY, then asked him, with
u the mocking laugh of the maniac, if he could
e again deceive; if he could take that pure, un-
y suspecting being to his Bosom, knowing him.
e self to be the lawful husband of another.
is Could he so degrade her, he would inquire
D. of himself, could he voluntarily place crue
4 ban upon the children she might bear him?
l. In vain he urged the plea of unhappiness
- and argued upon the impossibility of being re
e cognized in this far country; still would tn.
* vision whisper through the gloom of his nigh
N watchings there is an avenging God.'
Ill l. HS HllllSltt ISHdTu6u TIC young IIldIl Will
IT, envied pleasure. He knew that his talent
s. were of the highest order, he deemed him til
. soul of integrity; he saw his future certain
v advancement to posts of honor in the fast en-
!" larging community, and hoped in his hear
IS that his darling Grace might return to the low
ne he had long ago interpreted by the actions 9
s., the enamored Englishman. He felt that hi
id own years could not be many, and he wishe
he to give his child up to the care of one so nea
olf perfection as he fanced Herman Stanton to be
~ But Grace had loved him from the first.
her eyes he was the most noble being ths
lis earth had ever owned. His striking beaut,
TX his lofty mind, his brilliant conversational pow
ch ers, his entire devotion to her, impressed he
ne with feelings ofdeep reverence as we'll as guile
I'd, less affection. She admired him the more fc
ty. that sad solem air OF mystery hanging owe
ad him, the thoughtful earnestness that at time
80 made him seem as if in communion with vieV
NV less beings that soft touching melancho
,es ~: that so shaded and subdued the light of h
MS full dark eye. Little she thought these Il
BILE signs of conscious guilt
DIV AS families em!grated and settled, the lit
, to nucleus of houses received numerous addition
and three years witnessed the establishment
+or- thriving village. Upon one side of the gra
sy Main Street, a blacksmith's forge was
'1" full operation; near that stood Il little sh'
lie whose quantity painted sign intimated in u
was couth characters, that Groceries are So
will Heare,' and still farther on there was quite
ack- respectable dry goods establishment.
uch But this time the 2eople had found out HI
,olo mans peculiar fitness for the profession of
F. law, and by common consent he was dubb
ms the lawyer of the village, although he had nt
lSh' er yet been called to act in that capacity.
ike had been strictly economical, and still retain
n to little surplus of the money he had broug
,me- with him his lodge, as he called it, was
bide most tasteful in the village; he had laid
cave Il beautiful, ornamental garden before it,
et;ll which were the rarest of plants.
When, at times, some new article of fur
ture was carried in by careful hands-some
one tie luxury which couldnot possibly be for hi
the self-the neghbors would smile mysterious
inks and guess the smart young squire was going
they bring pretty Grace Locke into his cage so
the day or other.
God Herman came home one morning with
,oso 49, antique and richly boand Bible, fastened "
'o'n0 = :, clasps of solid gold 1t was time homo
!ul'y book, having descended from generation
hlnS generation, gift from the good old mini.
that who had that day fondy called him son. T
cane man laid it upon the little table and, promE
by sudden feeling of curiosity, careIessl.
o,;rl peEed it. On the margin of every page 81
: treasured though had been written; he Il
H.: ed it over again and again, admiring the bril-
io'sh ness of its Illuminated leaves that were $
man tered here and there, until he came to wi
and a deep black mark AHas drawn around cl:
on of in one verse.
'ncan He read it. and vague terror seized
e, he mortal fear, ike that which surprised th'
is as famous Eastern Monarch into the ikenes
a marble statue.
side Why should that particular part he sig
lioni- ized in this manner? Oh. it was horr
wnl. that sentence Of the Holy Judge will
49, it the sins of the father upon the children,
OoS'- to the third and fourth genefation.'
ie de- He placed the book back upon the table
silver sank almost power!ess upoE his seat.
lessed undone,' he muttered | love her, | ca
child. lose her. and yet what doom do find
n, her ten against me; if this be the word of
nt riv- which cannot doubt, then have lcursed m
ouoht forever His face grew Iigid with the to
- - of his thoughts; he groaned deep and
'eo - muttering terrible imprecations upon hii
olue his fate-his love. He clutched at his
lid not and stamped with his feet. till spent wit
1mira- passions of ressssze he fell almost lifeles
the hard floor, and laid there helpless, IN
RESIGN ture, in despair.
lought And with tins warning, with ahe snrea
-