Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-09-05

Zee led his fair acquaintance to a seat, and
spoke in his own rich tones-a commonplace
remark-yet Mamie almost thought she had
heard that voice before. Her own sweet
tones of reply awoke a similar thought in the
mind of her companion.
Time PASSED on, and, unacknowledged, a
deep spiritual love grew up between them.
To Percy it was a fevcrish dream,
--"a thing DER which to she'd,
When stars alone behold the dropping head,
Lone tears; yet ofttimes burdened with the excess,
Ofour strange natures quirering happiness"
To Mamie, a brief, beautiful dream of
bliss which folded her young heart in its
golden mist. Oae evening she sat in her
own quiet room. She had unbraided the
pearls from her brown hair and it fell in
rich tresses over her face. Tiny satin slip
pers, fairy white gloves, laces and pearls
were scattered around and she sat and
thread ed her jewelled fingers through her
hair, and smiled like a Princess ut her hap
piness. Her wandering glance fell upon a
sealed letter upon the table. She sprang to
her feet and snatching it up, pressed a quick
timid kiss upon the familiar hand. Brush
ing back her long hair, she seated herself to
read that long looked for letter:
" Mamie idol would that I could spare you,
my worshipped one, what a cruel fate forces me to
write to you tonight. oh! Mamie, let me preface
1t by telling you that, better, far better than ought
on earth, l love you, save my honor. Your sweet
face is woven with every nerve on my sad, despair
ing, but deeply loving heart, my own, my spirit
love.
(" When eighteen summers had scarcely left their
impress upon my boyish hour, l first met Carrie
Linton. A wild, passing fancy took possession of
my heart Tor the merry, dark eyed Carrie, and after
winning an acknowledgment of her love, with
D9ylsn enthusiasm offered her my hand. All
Mamie, mistook that passing fancy for love, and
yet 1t can no more be compared to the everlasting
devotion which sprang up in my heart when | first
looked upon YOUR beautiful face, than the noun
tam nFulet to the broad unfathomed sea. l found
loved her not as | knew / could love but her
wild young heart was mine-all mineZand SO l
hved on. The bonds sat lightly upon my spirit, ]
was happy in her pure, deep love until l saw your
Iace. fingered, spell bound, by your side. Oh
Tor words to convince YOU that | sought not to win
your love. No, Mamie, believe me not so. base
But at length that sweet but fearful truth did dawn
upon my dreaming heart. Oh Mamie, had | met
you sooner, or NEVER met you-but oh! too late
TOO late l must leave you / must nsver lool
again In the depths OF those mild blue eyes, les
their angel light cause me to forget that my vow:
are pllghted to another gentle, trusting heart. For
give me, Mamie and forget me. Call back you
glrlish mirth, and be as we never had met. AM
now farewell Mamie, thou too ~fearfully beloved
farewell, until we meet in that brighter world be
loved-that brighter world PERCY LEE
Pale as a snow wreath, Mamie read, an,
then clasping her hands and raising he
white arms, UPON which still cleaned brace
lets yet unclasped, she fell back upon the sof
and shed such tears as a woman sheds bu
once in all her life. OIL the heavy WI
that fell upon her young heart that fearft
hour! Hours passed away, and when morr
ing streaked the east, Mamie Waldo wa
calm. But those hours had accomplished tn
work of years and no moro a girl, Mann.
was a calm, self-possessed woman. Not
breath of reproach that loving her, ar
plighted to another, Percy had won her love
no, she blessed him in her inmost heart, a
though hereafter he was to be to her as
passing dream. She went forth again to lf
but calmer, more subdued, and a grave fa
looking in forever upon her heart, Ia inv
ible form ever at her side. She moved aga
amid the fashionable circle of which she W
the center, as of old, a ~fayorite. Her sorr'
= did not exhibit itself, in
v That sarcastic levity of tongae,
The singing of a heart, the world has stun
: No, but calm and sweet, tho somewhat CO
all loved her for her g~entleness, and beau
= No one dreamed of the sorrow she was ca,
called upon to hide, or of the romance VIII
" had itself interviewer itself in her life
To them she was simply the beautiful, t.
somewhat cold and proud, Mamie Wal
Upon the face of Percy Lee she never 10
- ed again but she heard of him as wedC
y to Carrie Linton, and again careless, unthi
y ing ones spoke of the burning light of
ot dark eyes, and the brilliant flush of his Z
y cheek, and they said Percy Lee was const
ted. And then only did that long hurr
1,oono ~or;uo o~o.1 o0l N~o-s -.L.
small hands together with the wild wish {
she might be with him. But she chez
the /" wild wish, and vain," and with w
lips turned to drown thoughts of him
}, life's other duties.
Many, wealthy, talented, and noble, k
at the shrine of the beautiful Mamie,
If, were mildly, and sweetly refused. But
ue last came one, her lofty spirit found col
ny niality in mingling with, and eagerly
he gave herself up to that sweet companions
lir And Lional Howard bent his stately f
before her and loved her. At length he
her Of his past life how he had loved
ay early youth a fair but fragile girl-how
Of had followed her to the grave, and saw
lite earth close over her who was to have
air his bride and how he had mournet
tly one who had no hope" the light of
lty life, gone out. And then he told her no,
led met HER, and how the fountains of his h
rly which he thought might never flow az
of became unsealed, and how he gave to
)ne the deep love of his manhood, and impl
her not to send him from her to becon
ma weary wanderer. He asked her not to
low swer hastily, but examine her heart, anC
lies if she could not consent to fill the plac
the young being upon whom the earth
les resting.
fe's Mamie listened in startled silence,
tier the blood came and went upon her C
her transparent cheek. She had loved hir
a sister, and given him her society unr
nat vedly, not dreaming of loving him ; sh
mes not think that he might love her. And
sion when he asked her for another love
set that of a sister, a new pang Of selfrepr
IS a crossed her heart, that she had, tho
nine Gently, won his love and the dark mou
hap eyes of Percy Lee seemed to look upou
cart as she listened to the story of Lional How
) of love.
d. Mamie, answer me, / implore you
send me not from you to become a ~
Iber- time q wanderer, and a misanthrope."
laid her small hand upon his arm and ga
nnie receive my answer to-morrow"-left
lion- She sought the solitude of her own
curls and for the first time for years, the earl,
bril- OF her heart resumed its sway, and she
her as If it were but Of yesterday. Anc
of a thought of Lional, and in her sensitive
: pet cacy she blamed hersef for injustice t,
him. Can | for the sake of avoid
outh, few more heart. aches, send him from =
ion," become a second time miserable ? I
rear wronged him. lie loves me deeply.
and honor him, why not become his wife
she wife Oh Percy, Percy" and he