Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-30
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY,


But Walter Hines gently prevented her.
She is recovering, madam he remarked,
and [ will take care of her. Then he
lifted the slight figure in his arms, and
kissed the pallid lips and the sealed eyes
till they slowly Enclosed, and the life-bloo
came back to the white cheeks.
'Aymee, my IDOL he murmured 'Ay-
NEE, my beloved Dids't think I had
ceased to love thee, poor little Aymee p
But [ do love thee, will love thee, and
the Lord do SO to me, and more also, if
aught but death pa t thee aud me-
Edith glided from the ROOM She could
hear no more. she waited not for the
vows and prayers withwaich Walter Hines
won over again his Aymee's troth. plight.
She left them alone to, their Joy, and d.enter-
ing her oWn room, locked tae door behind
her. That night there was fierce storm
without. The winds went by with shrieks
and ghostly walls, and the rain hurtled
against the windows like the shot of be-
sleging armament. But fercer than the
conflict OF the elements was the tempest IN
Edith De Wilton's soul The spirits of
good and i'll were struggling together in
her heart. 1t was nearly morning when
she rose, and taking small vial from Sc
cret drawer, held it up to the light. 1T
is clear and strong she muttered, and it
does It's work we'll. But will not two such
sudden deaths attract attention /? Pshaw
Her faint last night will pave the way for
an explanation, and Walter, my noble
Walter, says she's an angel. Where's the
harm, in that case, of sending her to heav-
en- little sooner? Will suffer that mere
child to we'd the only man I ever loved,
and to send me forth beggar2 Edith
Trevanion De Wilton, where is your moth
er's blood {? thought you were braverp
Then, smiling grimly, she placed the
bottle in her bosom, and commenced re-
pairing the inroads that mental tempest
had made upon her beauty. Standing before
the mirror, she murmured, Help me now,
if ever, Satan, prince of darkness. [ have
sold myself to thee, body and soul, forever.
My good mast come in this life; give it to
me now
The morning dawned calm and beautiful.
The sunshine rested peacefully on hall and
cabin, and the dew-drops sparkled like dia-
monds. Contrary to the expectations Of
any one, Aymee was able to leave her
room, and made her appearance in the
breakfast parlor. Once more she was happy
in the love Of Walter Hines, and JOY lent
a strange brightness to her angelic face
After breakfast was over, Walter sat down
beside her, and by the merest chance occu-
pied such position as to command, by
means IF S6g faal fRlll lgnps1tac nps1acs at the
the apartment. Presently Edith entered.
He saw her pour from decanter of cordial,
small glass full, and then he watched her
nervously take from her bosom tiny bot
tie, and with pale cheeks, and compressed
lips, drop into the glass small portion of
It's contents.
Having completed the arrangement, she
| advanced gayly toward Aymee. 'There,
ohll1, $ she h said pIayfully, you frig ghtened
; US all sufficiently by getting sick yesterday
!, AID you are looking pale yet. Come, you
/! must take this cordial; it's capital resto
d rative. I fixed it for you with my owl
l, hands
OF Thank you, dear mother said Aymee
le extending her hand and taking it at the sam
IS time, and Edith walked hastily away. Nc
e. a drop shall you swallow, little darling
- whispered Walter, placing his palm upon tn
W glass. wont have you dosed to deaf
'sU with nostrums.'
y, He took it from her gently, yet resolutel.
g, and walking away with it. placed it befol
Edith's pet spaniel It was evidently agre
10 able to taste, for the little fellow swallowt
- it without difficulty, and then, with sing
gasp, fell down dead. Walter Hines lift,
ln1 II, him by his collar, and taking him out
lld doors, threw him down little retired fro
ng observation. Then returning, he rang t
full bell, and desired servant to summon Nj
De Wilton.
ind Have your consent, madam, to We
,ro ding here this evening? wish to carry A
ut4 a11 NEE back again to the north Immediately
lei' Her health is falling, and do not think Il
air is good for her.
of You give me no time for preparation ;
swered Edith, turning pale. You can su
" wait a week Willow-Dale was alive
cry called healthy
can That may be, madam said Walter W
IN penetrating glance, still | think 1t fay
the able to diseases fthe heart. By the way
reu. 90 nOG ike Ay iAee w Udh0 LIOuAoAnO' S'hN
elv. gave that cordial to Fidele, and somehow
,oIa died soon after !!
she There was a shrek, long, loud, agonizi
for as the wall of lost soul, and c1asping
~. hands together, Edith sprang into the
Pel- and then fell with heavyj jar upon the fl
1or She had burst blood-yessel, the physic
low, said, and for many weeks her life was desp
t so ed of. Through all this time Aymee wa
lame ed by her side, with more than daught
helm tenderness, and when she rose from her
--o,I of sickness, no word was uttered of acc
49, ton or reproach. But Edith De Wilton
~ ~ a changed woman, and she turned from
nap the luxury and pomp of Willow-Dale, to
her guilt and shame il convent of the
,ours ters of Charity, where she died years a
w;+b ward, in the odor of sanctity.'
ovar The sunshine that rested on WILLOW
49, seemed all the brighter for the shadow
oOlou had lain there so long, and Walter Hine
sa.u his fair wife were never seen to weep,
call cept on one sorrowful anniversary, when
heavy would put away the curtain from bet'
door, yelled picture, and blot out with their
! her the crime and shame which stained
\ the memory of the Beautiful Step-Mother.
y the ---.ess
ymee, p@p A gentleman havingssome WI
, oh, on hand, asked his son, small boy, to
g her it; but the moment it touched the boy
he has he few back, clapped his hand on his n
tnrned and cried out in agony of pain, sOh
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