Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-08-29
VOL. vi.

touch upon the revolving story OF Ida
stormy passions, their criminal indulgence,
and the frightful consequences resulting
from them yet, as these consequences
were fraught with death and devastation to
the little family circle before US, l am
compelled to sketch it slightly. The white
haired old mln in the easy chair is Mr.
Reed. He had made fortune at his bus
mess, and retired upon it some years pre-
vious to the opening ef this story lie
was then widower, and his family con-
sisted only of himself, his only son VIII
liam, and an orphan grand-niece Ida de
Rozia. 90
UponsAY illiam Reeds return from HRr-
! y irafat5r, zaben Ida Auas taborta Isl.
teen years old, his imagination was COM
pletely captivated by his bizarre cousin,
and, strangely enough, his heart won
Strangely, for two people could not be more
Numerically opposite in character and
sentiment, as WeH as personal appearance.
However, love her he did, as he never
loved any other woman before OF since, no,
| not even Emily May, the fair girl whom
he afterwards married. But Ida laughed
him and his passion to scorn. He was en-
tirely too common place for her magma
tive ladyship.
i About this time, tragedian of great
e histrionic talent appeared upon the boards
n of the most fashionable of the city theatres
e Ida accompanied her uncle's family once to
n see him. 1t was the first time Ida had ever
: entered theatre, and, as her party took
|, their seats in the dress circle, she was too
e neaO, her beauty too unique, and her inter-
h est in all that was going forward too fresh,
d not to attract attention. Ida with rapt Joy
l. listened to his eloquent defamation Of the
glorious poetry of the piece; and soon his
If glance fell upon the entranced girl; and
1t that, ever after, during the progress of the
r. play, when he had occasion to face the
ot audience, in giving many of the finest
S, passages of his part, his glance would rest
ID with meaning upon the face of Ida, whose
ID cheek would glow and whose eyes would
to burn beneath the look and the words
h. Upon the conclusion of the piece, the
al star inquired of one of his friends who
as that enthusiastic child was that sat ne ar
,se the centre of the dress circle. He was told
of and having the entree into the most genteel
he circles of the city, he soon found means to
of effect an introduction to the family of Mr..
an Reed The simple, unsuspicious old man
ls and the highminded young one, never
dreamed of vii intended, and extended
vs. their hospitality to the profigate, whose
its name was Vinton, with the most sincere
le. pleasure. His intimacy with the family
nst continued during the whole time Of his en-
IN. gagement in the city. Inthfs tine he siaat
we obtained complete mastery over the will
If and fate of his intended victim, and at th
BILE close Of his engagement, found no difficult,
ide in making her his cOmpagnon du Uoyage t.
me Europe. In addition to her remarkabl
his beauty, Ida possessed an unequalled talen
for for music, and a voice of surprising melod
his and power, with an expression of music in
describable. Vinto knew the full value c
Of these gifts in his profession. 1t was he VIII
called her The Music Fiend' His van
oor ty, therefore, was gratifed by the though
kew of introducing into the principal opera
foot houses of the chief capitals of Europe
7crs new STAR of the first magnitude and bri
ked lance, and one whom he could call his owl
,dor without the ties of marriage. Great W;
we're the CONSERVATION of the Reeds, on disco
rim ering the elopement of Ida 1t was the
the that William Reed swore in his wrath,
mar ever Vinto crosses my path, will sho
und him as | would mad dog-I will crus
ines him to death as would a reptile"
rres- A few months after the escapade of Id
the William Reed married Emily May. Al
was now we will return from this long and da
hing depression, and look once more at tht
.tinG pleasant little family circle.
ngth The old man closed the Bible, in viii
h he had been reading, and, removing
nfor spectacles and folding them together, plac
CEN them with the book, upon the centre tab
D. is Inc young husband drew newspaper 1r'
fire. his pocket and commenced reading alor
! be- Here he entertained his listners with
lace, speech reported from Congress; there
well account of some destructive fire; here
with proceedings of Temperance meeting
hit of there a criticism on some popular lecture
ned and frequent and critical we're the rema
)nno. of the old man, and even of the lazy beau
,osed on the various topics of the papet.
him length, among other matters, was an
hus- count OF street recontre between
,er Of young men, which resulted in the de-
of one of them, and the arrest and impris
oupo ment of the other This took place il
oman distant city. This paragraph was read
ass If heard without comment-it was SO c.
ito as mon and the reader passed on to OF
other matters, until the newspaper was fniSt
now. folded, and put away. No presentim
fixed whispered to that mans proud heart, tt
occu. ere another hour, he himself would #
dows the subject of another such paragral
,snect that, in another hour, a thunderbolt VIC
vounp descend upon his hearth, and make d
.natu. late his home, Having put away his ne
color. paper, he arose and reached his hat to
hair out. The indolent beauty raised hel
TO her with an effort, and passing into thedin
ripbt, room, poured out glass of brandy and
One ter, which she brought in and HANDED
r was her husband, saying
tormv Drink this, dear; it will fortify
imson against the cold
heck. The young man thanked her, and {
nnort ii led the glass at draught. l would
Glow. had not given him that glass of brar
9tbov For it soon coursed in hot haste thr,
d this his veins, unsettling his thoughts.
once a. In neighboring street, not far trol
CIV mic. mansion of the Reeds, two young mer
ac hut and passed in an instant, however,
, from turned sharply round, and laying his
9 stood roughly on the shoulder of the other, W
!, arres. cd him round, so that they stood fa
ned the face He exclaimed, Ho! william
ID rath. the Devil deserted you at last, and lei