Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-01

set in this place, l had considered her out Of
her sphere entertaining an educated well bred
lady
She is simply poor, Mr.. Lawrence, and
has labored under the disadvantage of having
{ a debased father but all the more deserving
from those facts of that esteem which her
well known exertions merit.
Perhaps so-hut'-
know so. Her conduct is approved by
the whole village, and yet no one would
Judge so; form proportion as they are forced
to acknowledge the poor girls merit, they
seem determined to keep her back in seclu-
sion and shame
She has doubtless many associates in her
own circle, who are congenial to her feelings
IF you call the vicious and ignorant her
circle, you are mistaken, sir she shrinks
from any such contact as much as you or l.
as much as the trembling, sensitive plant it
self. Her CIRCLE continued Mary indignant
ly my cheek burns for the man and gentle
man who can stide the better feelings of early
manhood so far as to utter such a sentence.
Woman's natural protector should be the last
to rivet the chains which pride and folly for
ces.'
You are very warm. Miss Alton. I am
sure | meant nothing disrespectful to old
Gales daughter
Miss Gale, if you please, when you speak
of her to me-
Well; Miss Gale then, only it is very
strange that she should be numbered with
the young ladies at all. / had never heard
her so mentioned. and therefore had never
learned to look upon her in that light
Il can't conceive why ydu SHOULD have to
learn to look upon any poor virtuous girl as
a lady: Character and conduct are the tests,
not circumstances, and they ought to be so
considered
Yes, of course; I admit all that
But you are not inclined to act it out
that's ALL
Yes | am, as far as society will sanction.
MIR. Lawrence replied Mary, actually
rising from her seat through excitement, anC
sweeping her hand across her brow which
was flushing and paling painfully" l hav'
heard much to-day on this subject, from my
own sex, which has been unpleasant ant
made ne sorry for the narrow minded senti
: ments they entertained. l was forced to bea
it from them, because | had offended by seek
ing the society Of Emma Gale, and had to b
arraigned before the tribunal of popular opin
=, ion but it never occurred to me that a gen
tleman, wearing within his heart that innat
, , respect for female dependence and virtu
which | had always ascribed to the generou
enthusiasm Of youthful manhood, would dar
to plant his crushing foot upon a being s
much the victim of circumstances as she ha
/ been. | say, | was forced to bear it all fror
: thom, but in this instance | demand a releas
from it's farther discussion
You are excited, Miss Atom
Perhaps | am. 1t is enough to exeit
0 any one, thus to be hemmed in on all side
by these barriers which are to separate a
o truthful, honest zeal from the heart, beeaus
~forsooth, a few who ridiculousiy term then
. selves society," have seen fit to draw the
for their W conduct. If my course dot
~ not meet your appreciation, you are at libert
to c~riticise it but l can at least spare m,
Or self the infection of hearing whatever cor
s. ments you may please to make
1t was the gentleman's eye which hasht
angrily now, for he truly felt she was sayil
!. more than his words merited; but before
could frame into language the sarcastic
er ply that lent such a naughty curl to his Ii
ry a deadly pallor swept over Mary's face a
ly she must have fallen had not a chair sto
or near for her support. He reached her a gla
,or Of water from a side table which she hast
all drained, then rising more composedly FRI
n the chair into which she had almost fallt
:" she said II scarcely know what 1 have
Ell tered, Mr.. Lawrence, for | have been tri
eli too far to-day, but excuse what l have sa
d if it was wrong, and believe me when / sa
ne. am too much indisposed to protract this
ION terView' and without waiting fer q rel
M she left the room and sought the solitude
her own chamber.