Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-01-25

of dazzling red. Chairs, that would have
graced o palace, were carefully arranged on
either side Of the room, and rich furniture,
loaded with glass, with gold and with silver
plate, told that nothing was wanting to make
n home happy if wealth alone would do it.
Books Of the richest binding and most ar
tistie establishment, and music and musi-
cal instruments lay about in plcnteous pro-
fusion, inviting the inmate to enjoy their
riches. To the ceutre Of that prison Of
wealth stood a magnificent mahogany cen
tre.table, covered with a marble of the pu-
rest white, and adorned with curiosities of
the sca and gems e art.
Agnes was dazzled and bewildercd at
what she saw, and she, who had been de-
clared mistress of this enbellished hall,
sank upon its floor and gave up to despair
and grief. She was surrounded by all that
art could produce or gold procure, and the
freobooter's manner had taught her that it
might an | should all be hers. Her shack
els were Of the purest gold, but they were
more ponderous than iron or steel they
were bright and beautiful, but they were
worse TO bear than rusty letters her pris-
on was flooded with light and beauty, but
she would glally have exchanged it for a
dungeon Of darkness and GLOOM. could she
have hoped for a coming day of deliverance.
Her mind was busy; she thought Of the
probtGlc fate Of her afianced and Of her
brave captain Of home and its endear-
mcnts Of the gladstone hours she had spent
around her fathers Preside in'R-x of
the life, the most miserable, that she was
doomed to spend with the repulsive wretch
who captured her Of the torrents she
must eadurc from his presence; of the un-
welcome idea Of being an unwilling wife to
the hidcous being and she felt her life
was a gricvous burden too intolerable to be
borne. She contemplated in all its dread
ful bearings the awful subject of sclf-dcs-
t%ruction; she tried to convince herself that
an unknown eternity would be more toler-
able than her fife FAXED to sucha moral OK
cressence as Nicholas, but her moral per.
ccptions were too acute and she shuddered
at the thought of the murdercr's hell.
In the midst Of the maiden's reflections a
secret doorin the side Of the cabin flew open
and the hated Bicholns stood before her
with 4 cold smile upon his face. He made
allow bow and said
Il greet you with love, sweet Agnes |!
hope you feel already as if you were mis-
tres5 of my secluded homie, and trust you
Will do the faver to say that it is much more
agreeable taan that old Jolly boat, although
il is not 50 rich as / could wish it to be for
tho future home of one SO lovely as my
timid bird
She made no reply to this fattering sal
u%tation, but her tremuloUs agitation as she
lay ON the floor, told that she OWNED to the
fullest the fearful import of his words.
what, my sweet prisoner, do you vouch-
safe no answor-no kind word-no sweet
smile to your future husband who adorcs-
who worships you
Agnes gave way to a fit of passionate
weeping.
Speak, my lovely charmer, and sa,
that you bear in your pure bosom but on
sparkling beam of love for one who is vii
hing to be your willing slave who vii
bring gold and silks of the richest lustr
and lay them at your feet-who will max
the wealth Of the Ocean obedieRt at you
rommand-who will brave wiEd, and Aoot
md death to render you happy, ifyou wi
be his wife. Come, listen TO my story
. give heed to my entreaties you deal wit
no common man 1 have seen floods of W.
mans tears before and have learned the.
silly worth. Dry your sparkling eyes an
tell me ifyeu win be my happy wife
cheer my secluded beme.'
Agnes sprangte her feet aEd boldly COZ
froutel her tOrmeRtoI. Her bosom swellc
with just indignation, and in FIRM, decisiV
tone, replied
Your Wifs! Base scsuRdrel shat yC
are, to dare such a proposition to me Yc
speak Of love-of Love! as if such q ha
lowed feeling could exist in a bosom so
verflowing with rank corruption as your:
You offer me a share in your gold and rio
cs, your illgotten reward for your Grim
Of blood AMI scarlet, as if you thought su,
tinscls would hide your moral deformi
an1 p%alliate the feelings of repugnance
feel when in your contaminating prcsenc,
After tearing me from the only being tn
/ love-yoUr own brother-the son of yo
father, whom you murdered, aud perha
have now stained your guilty hands, Ii
an incarnate devil, in the blood Of Jacqu,
and doomed nc to n life q thousand tim
more horrible than death, you dare to of
we love-dare to ask me to be mistress
your den /! Observation-Disclosures
your 6aneful presence will kill me! Lie
yoa! Can the lamb love the lion when
bones are being broken and its quiveri
4esh quietly gnawed2 Can the sparrow Il
the falcon that buries its talons to it's he
less heart and tears It piecemeal ? Neitl
can /, or will l love yOu-murderer-bl
and-tortUrer ] an in your power, in "
filthy den, but / defy you, bearded, bla
cned pirate, and dare you to the worst !
Nicholas listened patiently to the sh
inycctive of his captive and then tormen
horwith a jecring laughs,suc h as might h
burst from the seething lips of a fend
the neither vaults, g~loating on the miser
a writhiug spirit. In an %ironical tone
replied /:
fBravol l like your spirit, my CHAIR
Such only are fit to be the companion
freebooter, and now / swear awife you s
be 10 such none other can claim you.
brave one you'll be-oRe that will not
danger, nor trcmble when the storm r
on the sea. Ny love, nay JOY, my b
one kiss from your ruby lips Unjust ella
And hc advanced towards her aud n
an effort to clasp her in his brawny a
She sprang from his reach and seized &C
and raised it above her head to defend
self from the vile being. She warned
not IN approaeh near her at the peril