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

( A sprghtly, rosy-cheeked little girl used
to sit, it the pleasant evenings of June, on
the marble steps opposite my lodgings, when
! lived in Philadelphia, and sing over hun.
dred little sonnets, and tell over as many
tales, in a sweet voice, and with an air OF SIM
plicity that charmed me many time. She
was then an orphan child, and common
Il reported 10 be rich. Often and often |
sat after day of vexation, and listened to
her innocen. voice, breathing forth the notes
of peace and happiness, which flowed cheer
fully from a light heart, and felt portion of
that tranquility steal over my own bosom.
Such was Eliza Hadley.
Several years had elapsed, during which
time had been absent from the city, when
walking along one of the most fashionable
squares, saw an elegant female step into
carriage, followed by gentleman and two
pretty children. | did not Immediately re-
cognize her face, but my friend, who was by
my side, pulled my elbow. DO you not re-
member little Eliza, who used to sing for us,
when we lived together in this city g l did
remember-it was herself
She used to he fond, said he, of treating
her little circle of friends with romance-and
at last she acted out neat romance herself.
She came out into the circle of life under the
auspices of her guarGian-it was said by
some that she was rich--very rich-but the
amount Of her wealth was no matter ofpub-
liclty, however, the current, and as was gen.
orally believed, we'll founded report, was suf-
fcient to draw around her many admirers.
and among the number not few serious
suitors.
She did not wait long before young gem
tleman on whom she had looked with a
somewhat partial eye, because he was the
gayest and handsomest of the lovers, emboI-
dened by the partiality, made her an offer.
! Probably she blushed, and her heart flutter-
ed little, but they were sitting in moons
lit parlor and as her embarrassment was
more than half concealed, she soon recover
ed, and as waggish humor happened to
have the ascendant, she put on serious face,
told him she was honorcd by his preference,
but that there was one matter which she
wished well understood before, by giving a
reply, she bound him to his promise. Per.
haps you may have thought me wealthy
| would not for the world have you labor un-
der mistake on that point-I am worth
eighteen hundred dollars
} She was proceeding but the gentleman
started, as if electrified eighteen hundred
dollars! he repeated, in manner that betray-
! ed the utmost surprise yes, madam, says
} he awkwardly, | did understand you was
worth great deal more-but-
, No, sir, she replied no excuses or apolo
! gies think about what have told YOU
you are embarrassed now answer me anoth
a er time; and rising, she bid him good night
: She just escaped a trap he went mex
f day to her guardian, to enquire more par
ticularly into her affairs, and receiving th,
same answer, he dropped his suit at once.
!, The next serious proposal followed sool
after, and this, too, came from ore who hac
succeeded to large portion Of her esteem
: but applying the same crucible to the love
he offered her, she found a like result. HI
too, left her, and she rejoiced in anothe
9 Some time after she became acquainte,
in whose approaches she discovered more G
II the timorous difidence Of love than she ha,
witnessed before. She did not check hin
n in his hopes, and in process Of time he, toe
s made her an offer But when she spoke Q
e her fortune, he begged her to be silent; it
! to virtue, worth and beauty, said he, tha
If pay my eourt-not fortune. In you
shall obtain what is more worth than gold
n She was agreeably disappointed. They wer
b married; and after the union was solen
l. nized, she made him master Of her FORUM
E with herself. am, indeed, worth eighteer
le hundred dollars, said she to him, but hav
never said how much more, and | never mea
e to enjoy more pleasure than feel this mc
J. ment, when I tell you my fortune is on
IN hundred and eighty thousand.
10 1t was actually so; but still her husban
ne often tells her that in her he possesses a f
90 more ample fortune.