Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-23

not to be happy
NE Men look on death as lightning, always far
Vu, OF IN Eenven! FEsTUs.
There was gorgeous bridal at the resi-
donee OF Senator Floyd. 1t was the hazy
Indian summer, and the whole earth SEEM
ca toh of light and beauty Sun rays
Hooded the pleesapt chamber where Sophie
Floyd was busily adorhing the fair bride.
Sunlight floatcd over the velvet curtains
and crimson drapery-tinted the gorgeous
pictures, and lay like blessing in Sophie's
golden curls. On a low stool, before
full length mirror, sat the Lady Edith
Her stately figure was robed in a white
satin, heavily trimmed with broad Mechlin
lace. 1t was cut low in front, revealing
the proud sweep of her graceful shoulders,
and her rounded and symmetrical arms
were bare, save the short sleeve of the rich
ly wrought lace. Her heavy, purplish-
black tresscs were twined in massive braids
about her small, classical head and Sophie,
with a snatch Of song on her bright lips,
was binding around them a wreath of or
ange flowers.
There, now, my queenly Edith,' she
cried, when her task was completed, now
you arc indeed charming. Only just look
at yourself
Edith arose, and stood silently for d
moment before the large, gilt-framed mir
ror. At first, her proud face was calmly
indifferent, then there driftcd over it Aust
of gratifed pride in her own loveliness, anC
at last, turning round with half snce
ltpo h1,. Il, n1
believe it used to be the fashion to dres
up victims, and garland them for the sacri
fee, did it not /?
Fashion I! Why, Edith, what do yo1
mean 2
Nothing, little one, nothing at all-onl,
this, come here and lay your head on m.
bosom, little Sophie. ] want to tell yo1
that / am not ungrateful; that l feel al
your great kindness, and that [ love you
oh, Sophie, better than. any thing else il
the world and something very like tea
glittered on the BRIDES Iong jetty lashe:
Better than any thing but Harold D
rOh, yes, of course Imean better th j
any thing save the honorable and very sa
pient Senator De Wilton and once NOR
that queer smile, which was more than ha
sneer, fitted over Edith's beautiful fact
But it was gorgeous bridal, and whe
the guests thronged round Edith De Wi
ton with their words of ofcongratulation, 20
would not have dreamed that one shade
scorn or sorrow had ever lowered aroun
those proud, calm lips.
1t was some three weeks after, when a
elegant traveling-carriage rolled up the a
enue of Willow Dale, and the face of Edit
De Wilton looked forth f. ON its open wi
dow. 'Oh, how beautiful = she murmure
as they wound along through rows of stat
ly chestnut trees. Her husband startC
joyously. For the first time since the
bridal, she had deigned to give utteran
to an expression of admiration and its o
iect was their future home. She had /
ceived his costly bridal presents, of di
monds and rubies, and glitterng emerald
IN with careless indifference, and a cold, ha
mocking smile wroathing her lips; but nc
the fair face did indeed wear an expressi
of pleasure, and bending forward with
sudden impulse, he drew her head to
bosom and kissed her fondly. But the la
quickly lifted it, with look of statelyw
riness and once more turning to the vi
dow, bent her eyes upon the mansion tn
were approaching.
And now the sound Of the carria,
wheels had been heard within, and a f
child with sunny curls and deep blue ey
bounded out upon the piazza. 'Ah, the
is Aymee! and happy smile brighten
the fathers face. In a moment more til
alighted from the carriage, and Sena
De Wilton, stepping upon the piazza, {
tended his arms to his bride, and drew
to his bosom, fondly murmuring-'W W
come, sweet wife, welcome to heart a
home = Then turning, he lifted the lit
Aymee, kissed her tenderly, and leadi
her to Edith, said This is Aymee's n
mamma You will love each other n
for my sake, and afterward, please God,
your own
Aymec's first impulse was to clasp
arms around the neck of her beautiful n
ther, but the lady bent down very cole
and pressed her red lips to the child's brC
in the stateliest of stately kisses, and t
little one timidly retreated to her nurse.
Mrs. De Wilton made her first appearai
at the dinner-table Of her new home, i
magnificent ruby-colored velvet, with p
dauts Of rubics in her small ears, an
string Of the same jewels blazing amc
the heavy braids of her purplish-bl
hair. An hour after, she sat leaning
proud head against the high back G
crimson velvet armchair, and her hush
stood at little distance watching her
Never had she looked more proudly b,
tiful-the rich glow from the crimson
- pery mantled her cheeks with a rosy
aad her large eyes flashed and sparkled
I've embers, from underneath their
ietty lashes Aymee had drawn up
little chair to that side of the room,
sat there with her deep-blue eyes stea
fixed upon her new mother, watching
as if life and death depended on the Z
/ have always thought it one of
strangost things in this strange story
reader, my legend is true one) the
den, unaccountable, undetinable, all
mesmcric attraction, which, from the