Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-14
LADIES' D~EpARTNgNT.

CONCLUDED. J.
CHAPTER w. .
" Why did she love him ? Curious fool be still :
Is human love the growth Of human will ?" q
+.
Pour out thy souls fall tide Of hope antitrust, (.
tear, devotedness, that boon to gain :
IT'S but TO write, with hearts fury rain ]
Wild words on dust
We will make no record Of the DAYS that
followed, nor tell Of the long bright hours
spent by Lucy, Frederic, and Eugenia, amid
the glowing beauties OF Melburne place, in
the wild, sweet beauty Of a September in
Georgia. We will resume the thread of our
narrative, after three weeks have passed and
observe the changes that have marked their
fight. Frederic, Eugenia, and Lucy, arc
seated in the elegantly furnished summer
parlor Of Melburno place. Frederic is read
ing, in his deep, rich tones, SCOTS exquisite
poem, "Tho Lady Of the Lake" Lucy is
seated, with her soft eyes fixed upon his
face, her countenance changing with the
varied sentiments of the story. How beau
tiful she looked, a Poets day dream could
scarce seem loyelier, as she sits in that care
lessly graceful attitude, with her small fn-
gers straying through the ringlets Of her
golden hair.
And Eugenia is listening too, but not to
NoFuHte AAHN uAIh oySo W uA@u vi AvnCHn~I
cy and the mellow tones Of fthaj Ger are
falling with thrilling music upon her heart.
Eugenia's face is paler than when we last
saw IL, and there is an expression Of sadness
around her lovely mouth. Alas | for that
proud, lofty nature, the humiliating truth
has ut last forced its self upon her, that she
loves, nh ! she, the betrothed husband of her
bosom friend. ALL
"'Tis n sad lesson for the heart to learn
Thatit can give its SELF and give in vain %
But the poem is finished, and throwing
the volume aside, Frederic exclaimed
Come Lullie, come Miss Melburne, lot
us take a stroll in the park !"
Lucy started up eagerly, but Eugenia rails
ed her dark eyes to his face for q moment,
and then said
may, Mr.. Allison, you and Lucy go, l
have several letters to write, 50 l must deny
myself, for to-day"
Frederic's clear eye fingered upon her face
q moment, inquiringly, almost mournfully,
and turning to Lucy, said:
Wei Lucy, we must 90 alone, since we
cannot have Miss Melburne's company but
do you wish to 60 without her p"
Lucy took his arm, but turned q wistful
look upon Eugenia, who said
"oh yes, by all means go, it is very
lovely to day"
Lucy turned away, but looking back, she
said, You will be sorry you did not 20, l
think Eugenia; Frederic is sorry already, |
perceive" and with her own musical laugh,
she closed the door. Frederic too, cast a
lingering look back upon the fair girl they
were leaving, and with a sigh he was scarce
conscious OF, turned away. Eugenia looked
through the open window after them, the
~faultless person Of Frederic, and the tiny
graceful form Of Lucy, until they disappear
ed in the thick shrubbery of the lawn.
An hour passed after they left her, anC
still the beautiful heiress is seated in tn
same place. Her face is buried in her small
white hands, and the long silken curls ar
dropping in beauty over her face and shoul
ders.
The door opened gently, and Frederic Ell
tered, but she heard him not. miss Me
burne, Miss Eugenia," said a rich voice
her side, the very same that still fingered
her heart. She raised he rlread, with amcnt
determination, that he, of allothers, shou
never know her secret. She shook back Il
curls from her crimson check, and askt
him in n somewhat low, but clear voice, 4"
his walk had been pleasant" Frederic ma,
no reply, but taking one Of hor hands in hi
said in II grave and gentle voice
Miss Melburne, l have sought you
tell you what has been in my heart, a
hNhioiNH W WJ Hpot bhSoC ihihJ udJS'
love you Eugenia In your quiet dignity
in your calm restrvo-in your icy eoldne
/ have learned to love you. And oh +
genia look not coldly on me il you wol
not break my heart. / love you, but /
very miserable !"
A soft light stole into Eugenia's dark ey
a bright flush crossed her cheek, and her
q%uiyered, but not with pride or scorn.
sweet tender smile played for n moment O.
her lips. What could it mean Does
genia Melburne accept the love offered h
by the chosen lover of her friend ?
Frederic looked earnestly in her face.
must have read hope there, for he exclaim'
"Eugenla dearest Eugenia, you will
doom me to misery your heart is plead
for me now. Oh! Eugcnia give me hope
I-Lucy-all who love me, will bless
for it,"
The spell was broken. Love had trium
ed for q moment, but pride, her sense
right, all the high principles of her ne
nature, her love for Lucy-all arose wit
her. Drawing her queenlike form to it's
height, with her dark eyes flashing, and q
ering lips, she exclaimed
You did well toremind ne OF that nal
All you did vastly well, to plead to mi
love, in the name Of Lucy DeLacy! L
very becoming in you, sir, to offer me /
and give me IN return the blessings
broken hearted girl, and she my best l.
friend. And you her betrothed husba
Leave me, Frederic Allison, ere | scorn
to your face." Poor Frederic stood be
her with n face of death like paleness. l
pride, sorrow, passed over his countena
and bis usually frank, smiling brow wo
look Of anguish. In u husky voice, very
like his usually playful tones, he adore
her:
Forgive me Eugenia, nor blame me
/ have loved you. Ihave ever loved my
Ito Lucy, and strange as it may seem t
l love her still. But the spell of your
beauty was upon my heart. l wished
to be false to Lucy. / struggled with
weakness-but plighted VOWS, pride,
my sense ofhonor, had been forgotten in
wonderous loveliness. l loved you in
Of my own judgment. Then scorn me
nor trample beneath your feet an honest
for oh Eugenia, proud, cold woman
time may come, when a mighty love m
crushed back upon your own heart"
Frederic ceasedtospeak, and benthiss
head in hopeless sorrow. Eugenia ber
eyes upon his head, with its masses of
hair, bowed thus, with the very woe
was gnawing with its fiery tooth at he
heart-fruitless love. An expression
guish fitted over her face, and she o
her hands to her brow, as if to st
thought. A softer expression stole ov
lovely face, before so stern, and
trembled like a diamond, in her bel