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

4
the er,d 1t was not exactly love, for it re-
quired no affection in return, but it was
more like worship. No coldness had pow
er to chill, no unkindness to crush it ! Still
would the meek lips falter forth prayers,
though the sky over head was brass, and
the earth underneath iron.
Another hour had passed, and still Edith
sat motionless in the high-ba chair
still her husband stood silently watching
her; and still little Aymee's blue, stead
fast eyes were not once turned away from
her face. At last the child arose, and tim
idly creeping to the proud woman's chair,
she knelt at her feet, and crossed her tiny
hands on the rich folds of her velvet robe.
And what had been the reflections of the
lady Edith, during that long hour of silent
thought ? AT first her mind had dwelt
with kind of triumphant pleasure on the
beautiful home of which she was mistress
and the proud name, graced by her proud
er beauty. Then, she had thought, that
but for Aymee, it might be all her own
if but the first Mrs. De Wilton had died
childess, not only Willow Dale but Mont
Mary might have been hers and gradual
ly fierce and terrible hatred of the sweet,
> quiet child stole unchecked, and almost un-
, perceived, into her heart and there the
little one was, kneeling at her feet.
ooh mother, sweet, beautiful mother
murmured the child at length, in tones low
!, and very plaintive, but yet strangely musi-
cal, take me to your heart, dear mother,
Oh, please to love Aymee! Her other
d mother has been up in Heaven a great
while, and Aymee has been so lonesome
! please to love Aymee !"
u But the caress the poor child so yearned
y y for was not given, and Edith's voice was
4 cold and almost stern as she said:
Go away to your play, Aymee. [ am
!; thinking, and do not wish to be disturbed.
! | hardly know you yet, and your nurse can
take care of you much better than | can.
;" And the repulsed child turned away, crush
=. ing with her small hand the round, glitter
y ing tears which had gathered on her lashes
y and sat down again in her little chair, and
~ ~ resumed her ceaseless watch of that strange
~ mother.
u Harold said the lady, at length. The
~ husband started with pleasure, for it was
ar the first time she had ever called him by
- - his name He came forward and threw
= himself IN BEy BaE steel bssiad88 a8R heE stjRq RqH
y = that child watches me. tfairly chills me
:" - makes me dreadfully nervous-can' t she
'Ic be sent away p
~ u 'Aymee, love- said the father, gently
-, -, it is almost your bedtime. [ want you
y ~ should 90 to Elsie now'
~ ~ And meekly the little child arose anc
'S of obeyed him, with her heart almost stifeC
ID ID by its wild longing for caress that came
n0 not.
=. Three years passed away, and still Edit
- ~ De Wilton's husband regarded her will
~ AZ the same wild idolatry. It was rather tn
-, impassioned worship of the lover than tn
=, u tender, sanctifed devotion of the husband
~ For in all these years his love had not me
~ with the slightest return. Not once ha
-: ~ her proud lips been pressed to his brow
ol Va not once had her hand wandered caressine
~ lIe ly among his raven hair-not once had sh
" w manifested one emotion of Joy at his az
!o- - proach. To do Edith De Wilton justice
!" 10 she was too proud to profess what she di
JS' 'ie' not feel; and she had never, in sing
vi instance, humbled herself to counterfeit +,
=" gard which did not exist. And yet he
lon husband loved on, and believed himse
10 happy, in that he heard her called by b
uio ,1S name, and knew that no other dared to a.
-: 10y proach herside. His strange passion amour
:" :" ted almostto an insanity. He never though
.nt .iu himself wronged or injured by her sco1
NY or coldness; never complained, and nevt
once remitted his more than lover-like
-; votion to her wishes.
m .1la And now her restless, migratory disp
J~o SS sition, the Egyptian blood, began to sho
d9 .el itself. Her rare beauty and exalted soci
o hoe- position made her almost omnipotent
uey ICY Washington, and her wish suggested at Il
''oi fountain head, procured for her husbar
Ca Ca the appointment of minister at the Cou
IOI rIi of St. James. There was another mott
l eil which urged her to this step. Time h
au" au1 only served to increase the deep devote
;'io : of the little Aymee, and her steadfast ey
ln5 were constantly seeking her mothers co
| -" face, until her very presence had becor
-" almost intolerable to the naughty woma
iot Oh, hon bitterly she hated her. Y
=. would not have thought that peerless fol
m mnor could have held heart capable of su
no- 'lI Deep such intense malignity.
uly Aymee, of course, goes with u.s. sa
o%"' Senator De Wilton to his stately Wi
'no when he had received from governme
=. - the confirmation of his appointment.
nv 'Aymee of course does not go with u
~ - " was the reply. 'Aymee is now ten ye;
"a pJn old. 1t is time she commenced regu,
~ on system of education, which [, scarcely
loaS years older than herself, am not capable
H her experimenting. Beside, and let this e
Of it, am not going to be burdened with t
,and care OF child in travelling; so one thi
r IS certain, if you take Aymee, you v
,oor leave me at home
dro Well, Edith, presume you are rig
bno l suppose it IS time Aymee's education '
like commenced, but what do you propose dol
Inhe ilAe with her p
beS7 ~ She is not nay child; I shall
an5 I nothing with her; but should sugp
Ill sending Eer for the,next five years to NJ
, bcy anne D. Arblay's, in Boston, where l
nei ceived my education
ssIa .Sa And to Boston Aymce went, and
tsD. vno weeks after, her father and mother sal
va 10 for Europe. There are old people still
suu England, who tell their grandchildren
ms, ror~ twilight Of the wondrous beauty of Mad