Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-17
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY,.

but the day before yesterday. I WAS :,
@ puced 70 him yesterday, and invited hir
sere tonight, and if the impression Is nc
ieit on Helen's heart, which has hithert
Deen SO calIous, none ever will recret Fl
disappearance of 9es - 8
Your protege Charles Elliston., said i;
wife, sarcastically. s>',s- =
Mr. Merton did NOT ans,vo,. bo.
turned away. = - -.
At first when the stranger wayk ,,sses.,,s.
. Helen there 4 agPasaually wore SH, and IL i.
1entered into conversation with II usuai-sI &
1 vacity. In the course eof it shchsked hin
if he had ever been in the city before.
He replied that he had been when he
was about seventeen years Of age, and thai
I he had then become acquainted with severa1
OF his own age, whose acquaintance he high
i ly' priced. Among those he mentioned was
that of Charles Elliston in particular.
As he pronounced the name, he bent hi;
dark eyes full upon her, and perceived thai
shesstarted, while, for an instant, agitation
was Visibly depicted on her countenance.-
After moments pause, he continued
But | have made inquiries since my ar
rival, respecting him, and hear that he has
returned the kindness Of his benefacter
your father, with ingratitude, by leaving
his house and going no one knew whittier.
Oh no, SIR, do not believe that; it is an
idle report. He had reasons for leaving
my fathers house, and her voice trembled,
and tear stood in her eye.
just then gentleman advanced to claim
her hand for the cotillion, and the CONVEX
sation was abruptly terminated. Charles
resigned her silently but his heart was full.
1t is strange how the lapse of few years
between youth and manhood will change
he face and disguise the form; the slight
STRIPPING that little while ago clambered
on our knee, we can scarcely recognize in
the full, stately form, and staid demeanor
ofthe man. Soft was with Charles Thomp-
son, and no wonder that Helen and her
| father could not see, in the rich merchant
from the south, the poor lad, who six wears
before, had left them with scarce dollar
In his pocket
1t was the morning following the ball.
and Mr.. and Mrs. Merton and Helen were
sitting in the parlor, the former two engaged
IN discussing some private affairs, the latter
with her head resting upon her hand, ap-
parently in deep thought. The servant en-.
tered and handed Mr.. Merton letter.
He opened it, and after having perused it
-forta few moments. uttered an excIarsat;oss,
OF JOY. Both his companions looked up
Seemingly overcome by the excitement of
some unusually pleasing news, he approach
ed his daughter and gently patting her
upon the cheek, said
Come, come, Helen dear, cheer up
Charles, our own dear Charles, has returned :;
he is in the city, and will be here in half
an hour: Cheer up, my dear
And he began to pace the floor.
See here,' he continued, as splendid
carriage drove up to the door from which
a young man alighted, here is Mr.. Thomp-
son too; how glad shall be to introduce
them to one another
Il don't see why you should be- said
his wife, though perhaps your Charles
as you call him, may be as rich as Mr.
Thompson. You know he left word thai
he was going to seek his fortune
And she pronounced this last word with
a sneer.
'And he hopes he has found it madam,
exclaimed Charles, who entered just at tha
moment thanks to an allwise Providence
that directed me to my fathers house. /
is Charles that stands before YOU
With shrek of delight, Helen threw
herself into his outstretched arms, anc
wept tears of joy on his bosom and the
old man stood motionnless but his eyes
were wet, and his lips quivered but no
with grief.
When they had become somewhat com
posed, Charles related to them what had oc
Cured since heleft them. The joy that bea
med in the swimming eyes of the delighted
Helen, as she hung fondly on her lover
arm, was only equalled by the tenderness
with which he returned her look of affec
ton. How deep was the bliss of that mo
ment, making amends by its delight, fo
the long years of doubt and absence
was not long before Charles renewed agail
the boyish VOW he had pledged 10 Helen
and the blushing girl listened, smiling an,
weeping by turns.
Need it be added that in a short tim
Helen and Charles were united at the altar
and that even the aristocratic mothe
smiled upon the union of her daughte
with the CT deUant Charles Elliston.