Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-03-15
Origiuul pap&ra.
For 1e Spirit ofMe Aqe.


that ascribe 10 the virtues talents and accomplish
ments Of the truly amiable and most estimable DIR.
9. s. Of the county of Warren, ask permission to
dedicate TO him, with the warmest sentiments Of my
heart, this true and faithful narration of the roman
tic adventure Of IN infatuated maiden in the selec
ton Of the plightcd partner of her life.
The Adventurous and Romantic Mar.
riage.
In the village of-there resided an ami
able, prudential, and most estimabIe widow,
who was taught, from the cradle other infan-
cy to the ripened and matured stage of wo-
manhood, to discriminate between evil and
good, and at all times to advocate principles
Of honor, integrity and virtue. She had al
ways been beloved and respected through
out the circle Of her acquaintance, and many
warm and enthusiastic admirers cherished
her friendship and enshrined it as a jewel in
the casket Of memory. This worthy, high
toned, and lovely parsonage, was destined in
the process Of time to exercise prerogative
which duty dictated and reason imperiously
demanded, although to timid and shrinking
humanity, such course mightseem the acme
Of folly or undue interference without the
prospect Of success. One pleasant soft.sm-
ling morn in balmy, ambient spring, when
the butterfly was slipping the emerald dew
drops from the moss-iringed rose Of the tin
selled parterre, and the humming bird of the
woodbine and jasamine vines was lingering
with the glossy pumage Of its beautious
wings around, while the crawling caterpillar
was inviting the eye to repose upon the va
riegated dyes enrobed with the pencllings
Of natures bounteous hand, the pleasing in
telligence was announced to Mrs. Bloomfield
that her charming andinteresting cousin Miss
Vaudeville had arrived and in few moments
would be at her door, awaiting the cordial
greeting and kind reception of so esteemed
and valued relative.
Mrs. Bloomfield was prompt in attending
to her province and discharging all the civil.
tiles and obligations due TO one endeared to
her by pleasing memories and associations.
The elegant and accomplished Miss Mande-
vile breathed around her the atmosphere
from whence the MUSES. and Graces reveI in
sunshine and shade and fit in forms of fairy
dreams and starry loveliness. She was
creature Of fancy, had almost said the
daughter Of romance. Although accustomed
tothe din Of the bustling city and the merry,
jocund laugh of revelry and song; yet the
almost constant yearnings Of her heart, di-
rected her to the cool grottoed shades and
soit-winding recesses of the sweet tranquility
of rural abode. With her, poetry was
passion; aud the flowers Of beauty wore in
her imagination a perpetual blossoming I;
while glorious sunlight in the rich-veined re-
splendence of its planetary roll, played along
with the rainbow tints that rose hued the re-
tiring waves and painted the feecy cloudlets
OF her sky. The strange and the mysterious,
the adventurous and the romantic, were
fayorite themes upon which she delighted to
muse. The mysteries Of Udolpho,' and all
such castle visionary tales, she seized with
ayidity, and in her star-lt vigils and nightly
imaginings, the hero of her dreams was bu
the haunting spirit Of lone deserted halls
with ivy-crowned walls and. gloomy gale
res The poetry Of Byron aud Shelley, O
all others, she most admired; and when fc
ton wasintroduced, she adverted to CORN
ne and the Last Days of Pompeii,' a
master specimens ofthe beautiful and sublime
Nature had lavished upon her persol
such charms and beauties as the gay anC
volatile would admire, had almost said a
the devotees Of fashion would worship ant
adore. Although at times the falling leai
in the forest was volume of poetry to he
mind, and the osier shades that verdantl
recline along the meandering stream, togetf
er with the wild flowers that fret and inte
lace its moss grown banks were the charm
and delights of her soul still the sudde
pause Of moments reflection, would dive
her from the loveliest drapery Of earth, an
introduce her into the may dance or Il
giddy routine Of amusement's Aeeting viii
She was whimsical and capricious, and
perfect specimen of one who held the reins
government and usurped the throne, fro
her nascent suns first food of rosy light
the opening midday Of the morning splend
of her life. In person she was about t
usual size and height, rather masculine
appearance, with an expression of counte
ance indicative Of quick perceptive faculti
but foroibly demonstrating degree Of sc
will and determination far transcending a
which Before had ever discovered in I
beaming lneaments ofhumanty. Her fo
was rather proportionate aud symmetric
but the features of her face irregular and S
gularly striking, as at times she would sta
with an enchanting witchery before the
miring gazer Of her beauty, and then aga
in the lapse Of few moments, the rose t
and bloom Of her loveliness would be 90
and every charm and attraction of her ia
lost in the creation Of a new formed imal
Such, most indulgent reader, is faint
graphic delineation of the heroine that
troduce your consideration. She remain
IN the village Of but few weeks, wi
young barrster Of opuent means, noble
traction, and distinguished intellect, selec
her as the object around which his affecti
entvined, and in the language Of deep,
vid, and iTepressible feeling poured into
ear the sentiments and emotions of his sC
But in vain did he struggle with the
wooings Of tender appeal and persuasive
quence. Time after time with the sill
sweet strains ofsoothing melody did he a
ingly breathe the whisperings which warl
upon the strings Of his heart. But notl
within the range Of his influence, no, {
the honied prattlng Of his tongue, nor
pure and immaculate devotion of his
could rouse the sensibities or command
sympathies Of one on whom he doated
such lingering pleasure aud delight.
Time with autterng wing down the SIN