Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-03-01
Ortgtnal stOrp.
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Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
J ACQUES ST. CLAIR
A TALE OF LAND AND SEA.
[coPY-RIGHT sEcURED.]
BY WILL: WILLOWILL.
GcoPY-RIGHr sEcURED.1

Patiently and without murmur she con-
tinued to labor in the Mill, and her father
came regularly and received her wages and
returned to his hovel in R-x bearinga
bottle of gin, from which he and his wife
drank to drunkenness.
Martha lived with poor widow IN the
hamlet, and the good old soul, Mrs. Mel
vile, acted the mother towards her boarder,
advising her of the trials Of life and warn
ing her of the thousand snares set in the
path of the young and the confding.
She had not worked in the factory above
six months when an incident occurred that
had a manifest bearing upon herfuture life,
and as its actor is closely connected with
the future pages of our romance we must
stay to record it.
The Rock Island Factory was owned by
firm called Messrs. H, S and
Wilbanks. The latter, Mr.. W., was a
wealthy English gentleman who hadremov-
ed to this country short time before the
factory was put in operation and immedi-
ately invested his capital in it. His only
connection in this country was son, just
arrived at his majority, Alfred Wilbanks,
!
acquaintance, my reader.
Alfred was handsome, intelligent, we'll
educated young man. His manners were
pleasing and winning at the first acquain-
tance which increased as the acquaintance
ripened into intimacy. He was naturally
good at heart and took a generous pride in
rendering those about him pleasant and hap
Ply. He spent large portion Of his time
in the factory, not as a hand or as mana
ger, but studious observer of the perfection
of machinery in doing the laborious work
of many hands and at times giving some
attention to the financial operations of the
establishment. He had not long been an
observer there until the superior beauty and
bewitching grace of Martha St. Clair rivet-
) ed his attention and admiration. Her un-
exceptionable department and the univer-
, sal respect she elected from her c. mpan-
ions, at once caused him to pause and gaze
: upon her as an exception to the rule he had
learned in the aristocratic circles of Eng
land, that no human excelleIc91 -. !. -.
could he'found among the working classes
n Her highly intellectual countenance and the
e pensive shade of sorrow waving its dark
!. spectres across it enlisted his sympathies in
her behalf and he resolved to seek her out
i and form her acquaintance. This was no
e easy matter; his position so much above
her humble lot throwed a cold restraint a.
round her when he was at her side. This
t time alone was sufficient to efface Alfred
e was surprised to find her mind so brilliant
and so highly cultivated, and each succeed
: ing moment he was in her company he be-
t came more and more deeply interested in
d her welfare and happiness.
/ Time wore on, and the intimacy between
e Alfred and the factory girl became appar-
a ent to those about Rock Island. Martha
of now was subjected to the banterings of her
Is companions upon her good fortune. She
tried to not mind it, but while his name
sent thrill 70 her heart it aroused pang
"a there too. She felt springing up in her
d. very soul secret and master passion-that
l. of love-and it was for the wealthy and a.
y greeable young nobleman, but she dared
IL not cherish it, and she bid it back to her
IL heart and it rested there like dim shadow,
shrouding the little that was left there OF
sunlight and song in its dark and misty
s. folds. Her timidity, her loveliness and her
W superior talents did not fail to startle with
rs thrilling depth and power the slumberine
20 passion of Love in the bosom of ALFRED
Wilbanks. Ere he was aware of it he wa:
'h entangled in the mystic net, and with all
* the attributes of his young and susceptible
y, nature he loved-passionately adored The
$, poor, unhappy factory girl. He let no op
&c portunity slip Of being with her his be
ing, he felt, was interviewer, woof and web
lg with hers. He battled with strong reason
nd ing arguments against the cold restraint sht
tried to clothe herself when in his company
ul he told her to discard it forever from he
u bosom he beseeched her to regard him a
an equal and as friend into whose ear sh
ke might with safe confidence pour every tai
OK of sorrow that might assail her tender soul
, a His words fell like holy balm into he
he grief weary heart, and a devout love-dee
far and holy, shed blessed radiance upon th
~ altar of her heart and cast lingering ligt
es, of prospective Joy across her gloomy-fol
ward life. Along the smooth grass-bordeI
'ck ed paths winding with the margin of th
i've clear stream he led her at eventide, and il
nd to her ear in low yet thrilling strains /
tn poured the song of Love. In the shad
ter places Of the park he sat with her when IL
ld' days work was done and there told her
Is his abiding attachment and in humble tom
1ce besought her to be his now-forever. A
his answer Of acluiesence an hundred tim
yer trembled on her lips but she drove it bac
olo- to the secret hiding place in her heart ar
zen dared not give it utterance. The barri
J. that the selfish world rears between rich,
us and poverty loomed up before her and 81
to dared not approach it. Gladly would al
ted have scaled it and nestled in his arms
'ut. creatu of love and unutterable Joy, but IL
ace frigid shadows of the wall drove her baC
you and bid her toll on in poverty and wretc
: edness in the beaten track of squallor al
want.
The world began to point its accusil
tne finger in mockcry and derision at William
ne'S for loving the lowly, but madly he rush
on determined to possess the coveted priz
un- With all the eloquence that love inspires
cad laid his seige, conflicting hand to hand wi