Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-26

crate an escape from a tlraldom worse than
Egyptian bondage-the union of a pure, high
minded woman with a sot and Il reprobate.-
circumstance have this day arisen TO show
that my sister has been near falling into the
power of worthless deceiver. lie has album
dainty proved himself ~unworthy of tire ssrrrd1A
name of husband, which To-day should have
been his. Evelyn stands before you, heart
whole as before. Under the form of one who
sought to win her band. she fancled and loved
her own beautiful ideal of human perfection
the mask has fallen oil, and she beholds a less
than man where she expected the attributes OF
an immortal. Our venerable friend here can not
pronounce my sister a wife, but he can offer
our thanksgiving for a signal delivcrance-and
you, my friends, will bcstow yoiur hearty con
gratulatIons on her for her escape, and join US,
that our household treasure yet remains to u.s.
Evelyn did not trust herself to speak, but
she bowel her head in token of acquiescence,
and the minister, Selling the favorable moment,
made som appropriate ard most forcible re-
marks on the dangers which beset the path IF
youth and inexperience-and then, lifting his
voice in prayer, he go feelingly commended
his youthful charge 10 the keeping OF Omnip-
otent Wisdom, he so heartily recommended
the erring and absent one to the special care
of the Almighty, he so eloquentlY rendered the
tribute OF thanksgiving that n dear lamb of his
" WIS CDhAGh llldJ OlbLC u al VI
rows, an unhlessed marriage-that all hearts
were moved, and many aneye unused to weep
was suffused in tears, When he concluded,
friends crowded around the heroine with hearty
congratulations, for instead of the weeping,
%fainting, forsaken damsel, there stood the wo-
man ofhigh resolve and calm, untroubled coun-
tenance, that completely baffled the curiosity
of moro than one gossip then and there pre-
sent.
1,Dno &c ,nrounood ord r,;rtb and roo6.
humor prevailed throughout. While the hos
p~italities of the doctors mansion were being
discussed, a Eoise of drunken uproar was
heard in tbs street, and soon after a noisy par
ley Mt the door, for Alonzo, anticipating some
thing ofthe sort, and anxious to spare his Sis
ter's feelings, had placed servants at the door
to prevent any unwelcome intrusion but before
any were aware, in staggered the ,%recreant
bridegroom. supported between two tipsy conf
%panions. He loudly demanded to he admitted
TO see his intended, who, according toall usage,
was now fairly entitled to scream, faint, or in
dulge in Mysteries. She:cast one look on his
silly, unmeaning face, and it wanted but this
to cure any lingering admiration of her former
lover. She quietly GUIDED to her own room ano
bolted the door, while the .besotted reveler:
: were sent to their homes, All present wan
IL ted but this scene to convince them she haC
9 acted wisely, and to acquit her of al capri
, ciousness. But, alone in the solitude OF he
own chamber the tension of her nerves wa
loosened, and she INDUCED in a long and pas
: sionale fit Of weeping-bitterlysh wept, no
. over the wreck of her own happiness alone
but the inwoGthiness of one she had lately g
n esteemed. Yet there was mingled in this, he
great sorrow, no pang of seIf-reproach, n
e weak miiagivings, for between her and Jane
MAYNARD q great Gulf was placed now All
forever. But, as the f%iercest storm soones
subsidies, so tranquility gradually took pc
q session of her mind, and her usual self posse
Ii sion returned.
y Next day a travelling party started from I'll
a. doctors, not, indeed, with the 'pomp and ci
C. cumstance' of a wedding tour, but with pr
ia %parations for a long absence. When Eyely
returned to her fathers house, many month
after, she came as the wife of Il high-mind'
- and honorable man, who was above DISCUS
nj and who was capable of approaching the tr
Re f 6TassfblaiHR3aGFss ear af t f6f s X{fff had f fFhsahk R7dt d9faa tFF fhm {
r. whole truth, and he honored her decision al
lie frmness of character, which could free her
once and forever from an unworthy attachmer
e AS to James Maynard, his mortiication m.
" more. easily be imagined than expressed, VIII
ms waking from the heavy stupor into which
~, had sunk, the events of the day before ora
is ually came back to bis confused mind. I
found enough to inform hhr, even to t
elf minutest detail, of the events Of the precedil
evening. He had been led on and betrayc
- it is true, but through his own weakness
knew he had no previous character to f
VI back upon, for there was only too much
he wished to conceal. Ithadbeen happyfor Jam
he if this terrible lesson had taught him wisdo
he and led him to forsake his dangerous comps
ess ions. But with a strange infatuation, he pit
ged deeper and deeper into excuses, and
downward course was direct and speedy.
u, We last heard of him as a common. sailor
ho board q ship bound for a distant port, but whe
ice er absence and salt water has produced a
MS reform is yet uncertain.
ON The incidents here related. are not withou
slv wholesome moral lesson. Had Evelyn p
sessed less decision, she might have spent
nd youthful years in vain regrets and uncert
hopes of her lovers reformation, until, We
MS out with that sickness of the heart which ari
1oa from hope deferred she had sunk into
IT carly grave. And had James taken half
lily trouble to be what he wished to appear t
If? he did to deceive, had he avoided entirely
NV false friends who lured him to ruin, a lC
Gin career of happiness and prosperity was OF
"P before him. Instead of which, he felt the bit
truth; that hard, indeed, is 'the way of
yh' transgressor.'
I'M