Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-02

dared not avow my love, for was sure I
could not outlive the refusal of her heart.
One summer day we went out together
into the fields, and sat down beneath the
shadow OF an elm TO rest, when from talking
OF flowers we whispered of love. cannot
tell you how, but with the sweet skv over.
head, and the murmur of the bees amidst
the clover, and the songs Of birds, / won her
heart and bound 1t to mine by a vow from
her sweet lips. We were engaged!
All that is her portrait before you, with
the blue eyes and auburn bair-as she was
came engaged, and wore it next my heaFt-
yes, !, old wrinkled bachelor that / ann and
you need not start, for, ike you, was hir
once. The weeks swept happily away until
one day, sitting at dinner at my Uncle's, my
cousin Henry said:
"Charles Leaton is at home again p
"Who is Charles Leaton asked.
Judge RS favorite, "herepHed, "a young
man he has helped from boyhood, and IS
now helping to position and wealth. He is
great favorite with Susan too and you had
better have a care cousin, mind or you will
rue the day he set foot in Judge R. s man.
sion !"
Naturally sensitive and Jealous, nv intense
love for Susan made these words burn hotly
upon my heart. went to nv room beside
myself with agitation, and whenit was evening
went over 10 Judge Rs. As matter Of
course, Isaw every thing through jealous eyes.
Young Leaton was there, and when Susan
introduced him to me saw CLEAN oftriumph
on her face. She knew that I was in tor
ment, and was placid and smiling! Was she
a coquette Or, was she false 10 me ?-
| harbored such thoughts with horror-yet
| harbored them. All that night was in
agony. The next morning l started to 90
and see her, but my pride arose and retnr-
ned to my chamber. Sometime in the
course Of the evening my love prevailed, and
l walked over to Judge RS. But what a
sight did behold when approach! Itwas
a clear moonlight evening, and / saw Susan
beneath the veranda, leaning upon Leaton's
arm. Yes, his arm was around her waist
she that was to be my wife, My heart
trembled, to the verge of bursting-it SEEM
ed as if 1 should drop down helpless in the
path. Then there came revulsion Of feel.
ing; my pride and passion awoke-I would
leave her, the faithless thing-I would fly
fly to the ends Of the earth-and from her
told her so in note the next morning
22..d5..hl told her how bad seen her in the arms Of
when she received those lines should be
away, and that should 60 far, far from my
native land, and try to forget the past.
Rash 7
Upbraid me not-my heart has done that
enough--hear me out.
fed to Europe. did not even leave a
single direction for receiving letters from
home. | went to Italy, wandered restless
beneath its beautifulskies !; and visited class
ical Greece with worn heart, and in Spain
endeavored to forget the past, but could
not Memory was too faithful and some
times conscience whispered / had been too
precipitate.
Two years had passed away when | landed
again upon my native shore. The impulse
to visit the town where Susan lived was ir-
resistible. did so, and arrived on beau
tiful afternoon in autumn. There was a
golden quiet every where, on the woods,
and skies, and fields. stopped at the VIII
lage inn before proceeding to my Uncle's.
The landlord stood with me upon the steps.
I heard the village bell strike solemnly and
slow.
There is funeral9' l said.
Yes, Susan r. is buried to-day
heard the name, and fell senseless to the
ground. remember nothing more for weeks
| was taken, i'll and delirious, to my Unele's
and lay for weeks between earth and eter
nifty. Judge r. and son came kindly to il
quire after me-they understood all, aud
pitied me while they censured. When
was we'll enough the following lines fron
Susan were put into my hands:
DEAR Ell shall never, never see yoJ
again in this world, for they say that mus
die for have the consumption. 1t matter
not, for were I to live you would never come
back to me again. Charles Leaton is m,
cousin, was poor orphan, and always live
{ with us from boyhood, and l loved him as
brother, and nothing more. That nigh
when you saw US he was telling me of hi
engagement to lady whom he has marie
since, and my brother stood behind US laugl
ing and saving / ought to tell Charles N
i secret too.
J Dear E., you will find a heart better, n
: bier, perhaps, and head wiser, but neV'
6 one more faithful than this poor heart
: mine, which aches and throbs so now. 70
:. may never see these lines, but if you do yo
j j will know how true | was to you-how
= loved you to the last want you to kno
e this-and yet you must not feel sorrowfu
. for do not blame you for what you ha'
done. I have been happy in wanderin
alone where we used to wander. Do 20
: remember the elm underneath which 70
= first called me yours! But Ican't write ar
:, more-if you ever see this, know that | W
. ever, ever yours. Farewell! SUSAN B
Of She died Of broken heart-I knew
re- from what her father said. She pined awi
it slowly, for she hoped always that mig
j. come back, month after month her no
D. grew fainter, and the silver chord snaps
of asunder at last, and her heart, bruised Al
uI bleeding. few to rest upon the bosom of Hi
H. who was sorrowful while on earth. And
re did this-by my madness and cruelty
d. broke the poor creatures heart. Ay, a
er nv own too! There is her picture-i
v. same beautiful face-gentle heart / slay
re. her, though she trasted in mel