Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-08


my love is.Ealuable to you, Harry. This | U
.sOlemnly promise. As to the rest, repeat n
must leave it to time; and you know it r
produces wonderful changes G
'Suchas changing che hearts we trusted a
In : returned tho young man bitterly. t
IF they prove unworthy the trust we re- n
posed in them, we must bear the disap point d
ment as p~hilosophically as we are able and j
since we know there are true ones IN life, .
we must renew the search for those who will
not deceive. But, Mr.. Talbot continued the
fair girl, whilst her tone of deep sadness al
tered into one of Authority if | am to be
the subject Of such suspicious, it were indeed
better to return you this-(and she halfdrew
a chaste gnId ring from her finger) and re-
lease you from An engagement which you are
inclined to load with suspicion and dlstrust.
'Oh! Mary! you are so calm, so cool, you
cannot feel the fervor Of that love which
dwells in my heart; you cannot recognize
the force Of that disappointment which | have
sustained ?
Heaven forbid I should, fit is to engen-
der the same spirit of injustice. But this is
idle, Harry you have known me too long,
and | trust we have learned one another too
thoroughly, to harbor any such feeling
Mr.. Alton was away from E. on the af-
ternoon Of Harry TalbOts return and imme-
date visit to his daughter, though in his
impotence to see Mary the young man had
not paused to become cognizant of the fact.
Now, however, as more sober thought forced
itself upon him, he began to wonder whether
his visits would be allowed, or how long the
friendly manner which the old gentleman had
aAhAKEaEy,1H vi uAbRhhddsScttsf6n with bis positive object
ton to a union with his daughter.
lie met Mr.. Alton on the street the next
day and he paused to shake hands, enquiring
into the final arrangement of his business
matters with all his usual interest. Whether
it was the result of anxiety to see his be-
trothed, or Of cool and calm elaboration, l
know not but a few days satisfied Harry
that if Mr.. Alton could use such courtesy
out OF doors, he would scarce act less the gem
tleman within so his well-known ring re-
verberated through the house, and after his
first doubtful visit met with its old cordial
reception, he was almost as much at home
rs usual. There was certainly some feelings
Of restraint and perhaps indignation on the
young mans part, but Mary's counsels had
not been given in vain and if he could not
overcome, he at least concealed, his doubts
and fears within his own breast. This inter-
course continued fuT two months, when the
health OF Julia Talbot, q younger and only
sister OF Harry's becoming enfeebled, he was
solicited by the Aunt who had taken charge
of her upon their mothers death, to escort
them to the Virginia Springs to spend the
summer months. This Aunt resided with
HarrY's elder brother in the old family
homestead, a few miles from c., hRt what
with his attending school in the village until
he left for college, then pursuing his law
studies unde r the supervision of old fudge
Mosely, and his final establishment there his
board proclaimed as Attorney at Law, Harry
Talbot could scarce be said to have known a
home elsewhere. His brother could not pos
sibly cave his business and family, and his
sisters health was a claim which Harry did
not hesitate to admit; so it resolved hin
again to see Mr.. Alton and ascertain a secone
time his views relative to his marriage witt
his daughter. before leaving the place. Thu
Mary earnestly combGtted. leave him t.
nae, Harry, or ut least wait until your return
two months can make but little difference
and if denied again, you would feel IA
more hopeless than entertaining those aRtiei
pations in which you could otherwise in
dulge.'
Harry would not be convinced: he eOul
not ondure this torturiEg suspense he said
but on that very evening a request arrive
frUu mis- Nuuv UuuJ, Uvfng 10 SomT SUITTI1u
symptom Of disease which had made itseI
manifest in Julia, he must try and come GU
to them that evening and leave for the Spring
early the next morning. Before leaving d
went around to Mr.. Atoms Office, and find
ing him out called at his house, but as he wa
not there he could only bid Mary good-by,
with the expressed determination to write It
her father as soon as he had reached b;
journeys end.
Mr.. Alton never iRtiuaated either to Mar
or Mr.. Talbot that any such letter reache
his hands. 1t was the latter part OF. Septen
Der before Harry's return, and two weel
; previous Mr.. Alton had left E, to visit tt
far west, where he held considerable lande
property for the letter which brought hi
the news of his agents death contained ii
surprising intimation that several sector
would be sold for the payment of taZes. if n
: speedily redeemed.
! Mr.. Alton reached home early IN Mover
: Der, but a few days after was taken violent
i'll, and even when the danger was passt
!. there remained such q prostratian ofstreng
and utter imbecility of mind, that Mary
her afectionate interest still pleaded that
should be spared the excitement which su,
a subject was likely to produce. Poor Earr
fate was against him, he said; but Ma
smiled on, and it was like a beacon light
/, hope to his soul.