Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-30


condemn without stint the baseness of the
action. If Kate and Julia Preston were
equal in point Of wealth and position, now,
mother, which would you rather have me
bring home as a daughter!
WELL said Mrs. Grey, composedIy, Kate
was always a friend Of mine.
And still you urge me to give up the fa-
vorite, and wed the wealth and position
making the bride only a kind of appendage
to the rest!
: know it seems wrong IN theory; but
yet it does seem to me you had better give
up Kate
Give upmy happiness and my honor be-
cause you can't quite brave public opinleE
Oh, mother, after all your teachings, to ad
wise me to such step. Well, its the way
Of the world
The door-bell rung and the conversation
was interrupted.
Company was announced, and Harrison
slipped out upon the street to quiet his per-
turbed spirit in the moonlight.
The way Of the world = he muttered as
he passed to and fro before the elegant man
sion that now made his home Ny father
makes it a coast that he was once a poor
man, and has worked himself up from pow
erty to wealth, by his own energy and pru-
dence. Yes he makes it his boast. but after
all l think it's more luck or good fortune, or
perhaps we may say, the exampled growth
Of this great country, shan ANYTHING else, that
has given us our position. Little dreamed
he when he bought bis farm here, that twen-
ty years would increase its value one hun
dred fold. Then he looked up to farmer
Boyd as n superior, and was delighted when
his boy played hide and seek in the summer
moonlight with the Congressman's daugh-
ter. And mother, too, how much pains she
took. Bah! and now, that misfortune hath
fallen upon the household, and Kate, the gen
tie Kate strong in the purity oil her own na-
ture, is doing the very things that father and
mother have all their life long taught me were
right and proper, and praiseworthy, I am
called upon to act the poltroon and forsake
her. Oh! it is strange how deeply rooted
is this prejudice against female labor in the
hearts of oar American people. From the
haaghtiest aristocrat of us all, Il say us, for
we lovingly profess to be a band of brothers
who traces his proud blood back to some off
shoot of nobility, down to the ignorant boobv
whose father was a coal heavcr, and who, by
some sudden freak Of fortune has grown 10 a
millionaire. Through every branch of society
to its most minutest ramiication, is this feel
ing found. Vice itself, if it happens to be
fashionable, is not so obnoxious as hard la
hnr 10 be ,s,,s "no,a ar;sts.oraas, &c u AA>;h,
Licdn AmericG. Heaven save the mark
what Republicans we are. But I'll not bulge
not I'll mary Kate-God bless her
in spite of them and there is another thing
| must do, (and dark shade came over thu
brow of the young man.) must save Mar,
from Charles Preston, or must save Charle
Preston from his wine' As this though
glared through his mind, his ear caught tn
sound of familiar laugh through an open
ed door from an inner room of a fashionable
saloon that he was passing Though not
frequenter of such places, he stepped in AM
enquired for Preston, and was uslered will
out ceremony into the presence Of his frienC
Lounging in a recess half concealed by til
heavy drapery, with his head resting agan
the shoulder of a dashing belle of the cit
upon whom rumor had already fastened dar
suspicious, cut whose fathers wealth and il
huence, still kept upon the top wave of gel
tility, was the lover of his pure-minded 81
ter Before them stood the wine bottles an
they only waited for their oysters, to con
mence their evenings dissipation. Oh, f
tai lures are these oyster and ice cream S
looms, with all their elegance and show, t.
often. but the gilded doors that usher Il
young, unsuspecting and thoughtess in
dens of deeper and darker intemperance at
crime. Preston started, colored, but cole
ting himself instantly, he sprang quickly
his feet and gave Harrison kindly grasp
the hand and a warm welcome, invited hi
to be seated and partake with them, at t
, same time ordering another dish of oystt
and another bottle.
, Not for me, not for me- remonstrat
t young Grey, never drink wine under a
circumstances, and seldom eat oysters, exec
} at my regular meals, so excuse me. | hes
: your merry laugh, and just calle': in to {
the news Have YOU got through with Il
: railroad case?'
e A dark scowl fitted over the faces of b.
the beau and the belle, and without gi,i
q time for rcpl to Grey question the lady
y piled with affected pertness-
8 Not drink wine. Mr.. GREY How "
j. queer not teetotaler. hope?'
k Yes ; a tectotaler. drink no beyer;
o stronger than pure water
J. La, me. don't believe water was e.
5. made to drink, it's so inspid.'
!. 1t may be, Miss Leland, TO those who
:. dulge daily in high-seasoned food and dri
It but as do neither, it is very delicious to
n palate
p You may drink it all for me , said
e proud beauty, with a toss Of her head
r. dently piqued at the young mans sobrit
o. Il have no sympathy with those who m
;r capital out Of their weakness. ANY man t
to has not resolution and character enongl
IN use the good things of this world withou
A. busing them, is no man at all. Come, n
is let me tempt you to taste; this is deci
.rt beautiful. Come, Mr.. Grey, you SUI
es will not refuse lady
=. Yes. even lady cannot tempt me Fl
nd what feel is duty
The lady bit her lip with vexation,
Sc Mr.. Grey rose to depart, Preston, reaI
larmed and mortified. followed him 10
es door and begged him to be silent; aver
at that the lady had met him on the street.
Ia given him banter which he could not evi
le- Gould not evade,' said the bold and sir
'se Harrison Grey, as he again with still n
as excited step strobe along. IF he cam,