Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-31
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THE vow
[cOSrIsuED FRoM ouR LAsr.l
CH APTER II.

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[cOSusUED rRon ouRIAsr.l
CHAPTERII.
away, the winged years hare flown II
To join the mass Of ages gone
Another leaf Of Time we turn 's--scorT ss
Happy would our life be, did we aossess,
10 reality as in imagination, that facility
Of passing over human events, without
bearing about as those many weary chan
ges--those searings Of the heart which are
soincldent TO mQn's mutable state Would
that they rosembled tho phosphoric sparkle
on the waees in the wake af the vessel. I
-whlan -. ss5uci giitters on tlIe snocitf sef
face OF the shining waters, than it is gone /
forever. But, alas experience, that ruth
less, stern teacher, invariably stamps his
indelible scar on the brow Of Times voy-
ayers, and none can ever hope his cease
less course to roll on without some impress
Of his fatal signet. 1t is only then, with
the magical power Of restless fancy, such
desirable leaps Of oblivion are granted US
and with her ubiquitary wand, we will bid
the past lie aforementioned and unnoted, as
we glide over an interim Of nine years since
the close of our first chapter. Irene Carl
ton was then a sorrowing child the fresh
ness Of her cheeks bloom was dimmed by
grie's fast rain, and as the white cliffs of
her native land receded from her fearful
eyes, deeply did her young heart feel the
sad truth that round her
"Woes seemed to cluster rare are solitary woes
They love train-they tread each others heels"
Evanescent as are the bursts of feeling
in childhood, they nevertheless shadow
forth fear or hope of what we may expect
from the fruition of ripper years. Time had
not thwarted or turned aside from its own
pure ebbings the current of that sensitive
gentleness, SO carly manifested by Irene,
as also that of con6ding affection, which
continued untainted by any murky selfish
ness or passion, rendering her equally the
idol in the mansion of her uncle, as she
had been in that Of Carlton Park And was
her infant promise of personal beauty so
fully matured as that of her mind and
temper2 To crafty our curious interest,
we will intrude awhile on the privacy of a
certain parlor in -, u magnificent dwell
ling, on one of the most fashionable streets
in that great city of hustle and variety
the Queen of the Empire State-that we
may Judge for ourselves of those visible
changes which the mentioned lapse of years
had wrought in the rich heiress. 1t was
on the morning of bright bird-singing
= day in February, that two girls sat in the
said parlor Willing away those few hours
Of ease, preceding the time dedicated to
fashionable visiting. Every arrangement
of the apartment bespoke the blending of
female taste with that of luxurious comfort
and the highest finish of art. The rich
odors of flowers rare, were waited from the
balcony through the scarce open windows
whose roseate curtains were slightly parted
az if to crafty the eye with a cheering
glimpse Of those fragrant messengers o
coming spring-which, together with tn
chirping music Of canaries near, almos
wooed one into the belief that they breathe
other than the confined atmosphere of
city, and the season other than that Of blight
ing, dreary winter. One of the fair occupant
reclined somewhat languidly on a sof'
gazing thoaghtfully into the fire. In he
dark full eye, there revelled q world (
feeling, although that of deep melanchol
seemed TO have the ascendant expression
one hand pressed the leaves Of richl
bound book, whilst the other supported b,
cheek, whose startling paleness was rel
dered moro so by the contrast of the riC
profusion of glistening hair, so matchle
black, the raven scarce would own his hl
the same. Her brow was high-of tt
same pallid hue, and but for the beautifu
ly ae6ned vermillion of her expressi
mouth, one would hardly think the war
current of life flowed beatingly on benea
the coldOess of her statue-like tbeauty.
The other sat beside table, busily sketc
ing patterns for embroidery it was
relief to turn from the sad face Of the f(
mer to gaze on the brightness of hers
Not cloud shadowed its ioyousncss; the
was smile of dangerous dalliance aroul
her arch mouth-whilst her lips we
slightly parted, as if about to give vent
some sally Of heartfelt mirth, and as s
raised her delicately veiued eyelid. yo
very soul warmed beneath the glance
her clear blue eye. She shook bacl, I
light tresses from her soft peach-Eke cbet
as she somewhat impatiently threw do,
her pencil, and turning to her cousin, 8;
in voice--so in accordance with her sun
look-for, it fell upon the ear like
tinkling of those fairy bells, soft, sweet ,
clear, even calling into play host of gr;
full feelings:
t Come, rouse thee, my fair coz, t
thy sentimental abstraction-of late
seem to delight in seeing castles ris
embers red Now, doubtless, Gel
Eugene rcigns lord of thy minds
structures. Dost thou plead guilty tt
soft impeachment
Never did the daily rose display
er blush than that which suffused
cheek of Irene Carlton at her cousin 5
ry; but that spot was rarely the mes
abode Of rosy shades, for it passed so I
ly away, ono
-" might have thought form of wa
Wrought TO the very life, was there
So still she was-so pale-so fair"
Il must confess, continued the gay
Il felt thrust from the green eyed
ster, as contemplated the very sent
tai caste Of your face. l shall never
TO quarrel with Dame Nature, for her
gre share Of sentiment and romance
poor self. What pity a certain <
could not likewise have enjoyed the
OF your Ia romdntigue occubation.
he been present, this book (stopp
pick up one Irene had suffered To