Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-10-10

sF I do not choose to set myself up as a
mark to be shot at, exclaimed Charles,
who had begun to get angry, "nor do
wish to be killed with sword | am un-
acquainted with the use Of either of those
weapons. When man insults me, [ chas-
tise him, and were it not that we are in 1
the presence of.a lady, would infict such /
a punishment on you as you deserve.
Mary, who until this time hd been {
weeping, now interposed, and besought
them to be quiet, saying that it was all
her fault and not to be quarrelling, but to
retire and think no more about it. Charles
replied that he was sorry it had happened.
and would retire Fred was persuaded by
Mr. Gordan, who had now entered the
room, to 90 to bed, and after while all
was quiet Mary went to her room and
commenced weeping again, for, after CO.
quoting with Charles like she had done,
she knew she had lost him forever. Fred
had come home drunk and had been cur
sing in her presence, and for what she
knew might become habitual drunk !
ard Now Mary did not engage herself
to Fred so much for love as to crafty
her ambition, for she thought like some
other young ladies, that to be a lawyers
lady would be rather more respectable than
to be the wife OF mechanic carpen-
ter In the end however she found out
differently; but we will not anticipate
The next morning, Fred wrote an apoi-
ogy to Charles for what had happened, and
earnestly besought pardon of Mary for his
proceedings the night before, which was
readily granted Fred and Charles be-
came friends again, and the affair Of the
preceding night was forgotten. When
Charles met Mary he spoke to her polite
ly, but coIdly. He continued boarding at
her fathers, but they seldom met
The spring opened and with it came
new inhabitants to the village, which had
commenced to assume the looks Of a thri-
wing little town. New houses had been
erected on all the vacant lots in the yicin-
ity, since we first opened our story; sever
al stores had opened, new church was
built by Charles, and near it neat little
Temperance Hall for the Sons Of Temper
ance. AS before said, new inhabitants
came to the village, and into neat little
house in the suburbs where everything
was quiet, moved widow lady and her
daughter they brought with them three
servants and very good assortment OF
fashionable furniture. Every thing demo-
ted that they moved in the first circles in
society, and from what could be gathered
from the servants by the village gossips,
they were once quite rich, but had, from
bad management on the part Of the hus-
band and father, become somewhat re-
duced in circumstances. When Mrs. Les
ter and Fannie first appeared in the streets
of the village they created quite a sensa-
tion. Mrs Lester was middle aged lady
and yet retained a considerable portion OF
the beauty for which she had been noted
when young girl Fannie her daughter
was quite handsome, although she could
not compare with the Mary Gordan III the
scale of beauty, yet when she became in
terested in conversation her eyes brighten
ed up and her lofty and refined soul spake
out of them: then it was that she was
beautiful She possessed mind of a SUI
perior order, which has been cultivated al
some of the highest schools in the country
She became acquainted with Mary anc
soon they were fast friends.
Charles Weston was introduced to hel
one evening, at Mr.. Gordan's, and on en-
tering into conversation found her one O
the most interesting ladies he had eve1
met with There was something to b.
gained from an hours intercourse witt
her, for hers was not the light and trivia
chat of most young ladies, but was devo
ted to topics, from the discussion of which
there was something to be learned. A
ten O clock Fannie bid them good evening
and Charles asked and received permission
to accompany her home. During the walk
the conversation turned on Frederick Sea
bury, and Charles learned that he wa
from the same town from which Fanni
had removed. He also learned that Fred
family stood high in the estimation of tn
i people, but that all the males of the fam
ily were fond Of spirituous liquors. Al
irving at the door of Fannie's residence
Charles asked permission to visit hel
which was readily granted. Charles BE-
came regular visitor at widow Lester (
and the old lady was so much pleased wit
him, that after few months when Charlie
: asked her for the hand of her daughter i
marriage, with eyes beaming with deligE
she united their hands and raising he
ewes to heaven she called on God to bles
their union Fred by this time had aske
for and received the hand of Mary Go
dan in marriage, and they were boardin
; with Mr.. Gordan. After the honey-moo
had waned, Fred commenced to becon
weary of the society of his wife, and
once more became a visitor at the ba
; room and ten-pin-alley.
, Charles having made a very respectful
fortune at his mechanical business, retire
and gave up his interest to his Oldest a
prentice, to whom he was very much {
tached. He married Fannie Lester al
5 took her home to his cottage. Being
e an active and intelligent mind, his fellc
2 citizens polled their votes for him the ne
!; spring after he was married and he rep
u sented his county in the House of De
0 gates. Returning home from the Capt.
of the State, he found that Frederick s,
. bury had become confirmed drunkal
ls and that he and his wife were separat
q on account of his cruelty to her. Char
g sought Fred and effected reconciliati
g between him and his wife, and again
left for the Senate Of the State, to VIII
= he was advanced by his fellow citizens