Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-04-19
APRIA 29.
Original Storg,
Written for the Spirit Of the Ase.-Raleigh, n c
A THRILLING STORY.
An Ger true tale Of Love.
BY INEz IRVING.

- 49,
Amid the romantic scenery Of the APP
peniuc hills Of Western North Carolina
there lived at tho time our story begins,
two families, between whom there existed
every dissimilarity, except that OF y%irtuous
honesty aud open-hearted, generous hospi-
tality. The one prided itself upon a noble
ancestry, a ~princely domain andal the lux
uries attendant upon wealth, education and
An elevated position in society while the
other, though poor, was equally proud OF a
conscious honesty Of principle, and the con
6dence and respect of their more highly
favored neighbors.
Upon a lofty cmincnce, stood the elc-
CANT mansion Of Mr.. Leroy, with its parks
and meadows, its walks and groves, and all
that was calculated to charm the eye and
please the taste Of its highly cultivated pro
prietor. His we'll titled acres spread out In
vast mapui6cence upon the table land a.
round, lent an additional charm to the
grandeur of the. scenery which nature had
embelished with its proudest and most ma
jestic handiwork.
In the contiguous valley quietly rested
the uupretendinn homasts@d of Mr.. Sum-
mer6eld-one Of nature noblemen-a man
of strict integrity, and though q teefm,
wOodsmon" in th sstfR4t more of the
YETI "a oS human kindne'1 OF VINO cou,u pe
more safely relied
ing friend sse two families there existed
Betweegt friendship, which finally RI
the stfto the closest intimacy. For tho
pe1Ordly retired merchant of immense
wealth could count his worth by thousands
multiplied, and the honest hearted Summer.
field depended upon the mountain game
and his small patch of ground for the sup,
port Of his family, yet the former had lear.
ned he was a man for a that and honor
cd and confded in him-and when the mer
chant princes of Charleston would visit tho
luxurious country seat of Leroy, whom he
would honor with sumptuous entertain
ments, Summerfeld was always an invited
guest, and shared the Injuries of his mu
niicent banquets. And many a thrillin,
story Of daring adventure and hair-breadtl
escapes, in his encounters with the ~ferociou
panther, the subtitle bear, and the wild
swooping descent of the daring eagle, die
he detail, to the infinite qualification of hi
auditors.
Between the female heads Of these fam
lilies there also existed a kind and friendl
intimacy. Mrs. Leroy, like her intelligen.
and sensible husband, regarded not tn
wealth and polish of an individual as th
only true test of excellence of heart an
characteristic therefore esteemed Mrs
Symmetrical as one worthy other confdenc
and respect, and cheerfully recognized he
as n neighbor aud friend.
But as our story chiefly concerns other
younger than those We have yet mentioned
We must hasten to its denouement.
Ella was an only daughter ofthe Leroy
aud was but ten years old when her pa
ents, amply rewarded by Industrious effort
escaped from the miasmatic regions
Charleston and took up their residence
their mountain home in the salubrio,
cline Of Western North Carolina-excelle
then as at the present time, by none on Il
green earth, for its magnificent scener
fertile valleys, and intelligent, hospital
people.
Between her and Charles SummerGel
n few years her senior, and an only son
her fathers nearest ~neighbors, very nat
rally grew up a close intimacy and frien
ship.
Ella and Charles were frequent compa
ions-in her rambles through the forest
the meadowy lawn, in search of iowers,
was ever by her side-no wild hone
suckle or jessamine clanlbered so towerir
ly and clingingIy to the mountain craig b
his daring could reach it for his embr
- aEOs-Aga~s drtawthe tnertfopGfes
laid at her feet, the result of his skill wi
the rifle. On one occasion he succeeded
capturing without injury a beautiful faW
and with joyous heart he proceeded to D
sent it to her whose Qualifications and ha
piness now seemed to engross every des
of his heart.
Thus passed five happy, brief-ah h,
brief-years; in undisturbed and undist,
bling pleasure to these youthful fiiends-i
only as such had they, in the innocence
their hearts, regarded each other. At lenp
il was announced by her parents, that in
lev weeks Ella must leave her quiet hon
with all its romantic loneliness; bid adj
to her parents and friends fora long twel,
month, to enter q boarding school in I