Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-30

husband, or a disinterested friend. She
could make her lover happy, by accepting
him, and at last she did so. IF she proved
cold wife, at least she was faithful one
She lived with him for years. Some
were passed in the most refined and aristo-
cratic circles of America, and more among
the pompan and seductions of one of the gay
est courts In Europe; but all this time
never had her heart beat with one thrill of
love. The noblest men in all England
sought her side-sonnets were written to
her beauty, and festivals given in her hon
or, but her heart slept on. Atlast, among
the gifts laVished upon her at her twenty
fourth birthday, was book. It was by
an American young, and in England, al
most unknown, but it awoke her slumber
ing heart, it thrilled, it electrified her.-
She worshipped its author as one worships
stars or angels, being far out of reach.
His book awakened her to a more noble
purpose, which made her a truer, better
woman. She returned to her American
home, with firm resolve to do her duty,
to be faithful to the orphan child commit
ted to her care.
On the first day of her arrival she met
him who had SO long been the eidolon of
all her dreams-the author of that book,
whose trumpet-tones had called her soul to
Its resurrection. He was all she had pic
tured him, and more. What wonder that
she loved him. But he was lost to her.
Not only y was she the wife of another, but
he was the betrothed of that very daughter
to whose interests she had resolved to be
faithful guardian. She loved him, but
she stroVe to hide it from him, and from
herself. Time passed on and her husband
died suddenly. Was it any wonder that
she forget to weep, when her heart was
heavy with the unshed tears of a yet will
der sorrow?
Then there came a time when he of
whom she had made an idol was about to
leave her. He uttered no word of love,
or loneliness, or sorrow, and the unspoken
grief swelled her lonely heart to bursting,
and she forgot her pride, womanhood, and
told him all and pausing in her tale, the
beautiful woman bowed her head upon her
hands, and the gllttering tears trickled
slowly through her jeweled fingers.
Walter Hines was kneeling at her feet,
pressing to his lips the long tresses of her
disheveled hair, kissing the tears from her
cl sped fingers, and murmuring-' Edith,
Edith again and again, as if all heaven
was prisoned in the syllables of that one
name. Her head sunk lower and lower,
until she pressed a quick, impulsive kiss
upon his brow, and hid her flushed face
upon his shoulder.
And you have loved me through it all,
Tq7nT up my qdsonfy, as fsToPS glorious Edft6 my beau
tiful, my beautiful, my blessing. Look up
and tell me, are you mine-will you be
mine p
The arch-temptress raised her magnetic
eyes, now penetrated with a languid, smoul
dering fame, and for one instant she look
ed at him. Her face, shining through
tears, was radiant with the brightness Of
fallen seraph, and she seemed to absorb in
to herself his very being. Then droppin
over her flushed cheek her long lashe:
heavy with tears, she whispered, !Aymec.
Bewildered, enthralled as he was, IT, s+ vo,
corrugated his brow with a sr.osm If nai, M
and overwhelmed inim with a fever-tide
remorseful memories, But resolutely
put tneGl from aim, and winding his arr
LOT the mrs. time around Edith's magni
cent ngure, he whispered, She cam
1--we as we do, Edith, and then seemed Il
in momentary delirium of bliss. 'Na
} nay, Walter she whispered, strugglir
! this must not be. Let me 60, please
, But tell me first chat you will be mil
: my wife; mine 20 hold here always 2
, | will, 1as the reply, spoken in SO ia
r whisper, none but lovers ear co,
=, have caug ght the sound, and then Gid
from the room, she left him in the bliss
0, intoxication of his enchantment.
IS Then it was that there stole from beh
,r the heavy crimson curtain shadowy fig
D. robed in white, and tottering onward, kl
X at the dreamer's feet.
IS sAymee ? he exclaimed, in tone
e. severe rebuke-' you listener?
+. Forgive me, Walter she said '
&c humbly. Forgive me. | did not N
lo to be SO. I came here while you were
er the shrubbery, and I lay down on
lounge in the window. I was very ii
an aI have been very tired great deal lat
IN Walter, and fell asleep. When [ av
,ne \ mamma was just telling you how much
ae, loved you, and l did not dare to stir
nal fear she would think [ went there on
nG- 3 pose, and be very angry. Forgive M
nu' staying, Walter, dear, but am weak !
at and very timid, and indeed it was bes
ver [ know it all now, dear, and don't b
VIZ you. I don't see how any one could
loving mamma. I Ionly wanted to tell
Oh Walter, that you arc quite free. | h
cry long to live, dear, and shall be quite
1rs' py if know you are.
80 80 Edith met him at the tea-table two
- -onl later, her bewitching face radiant
San Oan smiles; but the charm for him was
4h;. @a Where is Aymee p was his first que
LUIS Il have not seen her this evening,
n.l' Mrs. De Wilton carelessly. Elsie,
IL ~ your mistress She assembled the
~. - oaken staircase, pushed open Aymee'i
NY and then the whole house rang wit
naue ~ scream Of horror. Walter rushed u
n1e' 9 stairs at single bound, followed b
- beautiful step-mother, and there lay a
= ~, = to all outward appearance dead. Oh
= - shrieked the faithful nurse, wringin
Aon, hands, she is dead, she is dead. 5
~ %Io died like her father! Edith's face
-4S CO.. fairly livid at these words. Hush
oansa ~, ion.' she shrieked, hush, that is imp
10 fora doctor. some one, and