Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-22

EnceFi llG ul.t ufo u f14nD1sCt LIS =
CIe, and She ilns isas.l;s<.s.
= dls..sriss 4 ! = ] -, Z.
bE ian once again to-resume It's fofmer bright |
: coIorings Once more the FIRE blazed cheer
lily on the hearth, and bright eyes and hap
# py hearts were gathered around it. But
the little Marion still retaiDed in memory
the horrors of that day when her father IN
his madness wanted her killed; and though
she spoke not of it, it checked the exuber-
ance of her childish joy, and brooded like
a cloud over her. shutting out the sunlight
of that unalloyed happiness which Is the
sole proyice of childhood's innocence.
And on the brow of Mr.. Laverne was
sometimes seen shade of sadness, though
lie endeavored to dispelli whenever he came
into the presence of his wife, and to appear
gay and happy; but the keen eye of love is
! hard TO deceive, and saw that his was not
natural JOY, not the free out gushing spirit
that used to delight her, but strained and
studied seemingness. She attributed it,
however, to shame and remorse, and redou- I
bled her exertlons, her kind offices and at
tentions, to make him forget his former con-
duct, or convince him that she no longer re-
membered it as reproach. 1t never occur
ed to her that pecuniary embarrassments,
either present or prospective, caused the
shadow that enveloped him. Yet such was
the fact. His notes in Charleston began to
fall due, and he had not the funds to meet
them. The usual season for paying up the
old score and layingin stock of goods arri-
we'd, but Mr.. Laverne did not go to Charles
ton as he had been in the babit of doing.
) After a little a collector visited him. He
managed to pay small portion of his in
+ debtedness, and begged for further indul-
gence. The collector insisted that he should
exhibit his books and notes The amounts
on these were considerable, but not enough
to balance his Indebtedness, even if all could
be collected and the goods upon his shelves
s were thin. The goods were gone, and
l there was but little to show for them
e Enquiries were carefully and secretly made
J, by the collector and he learned that Mr..
!. Lhverne had formerly drank and gambied.
s This news went to the proprietors in Char
n lesion, and orders came to place his notes
in the hands of lawyer, with instructions
2 to force collection.
b The cloud on the brow of Mr.. Laverne
d grew darker and more perceptible, but still
d be said nothing of the cause to his wife.
e He loved her too we'll to pain her heart by
revealing to her the true state of his affairs
}, little knowing her devotedness to him, and
IS dreaming not that it would have been a re-
a. lief to her to know the real cause of his un
Id happiness, which would not have painet
her so much as the state of doubt in whicl
IA she was held. Sometimes she fancied tha
to she had lost his love, and her suspense wa
beginning to be intolerable All too soo
ny the blossom of hope in her BOSOM was blight
cd and withered away.
on Standing one day in his counting room
nd poring over his books, and endeavoring t
| make some calculations, Mr.. Laverne wa
he interrupted by the entrance of servar
who handed hima note. He opened it an
Ia read:
he DEAR HORACE IF not too busily ell
gagged, an old acquaintance would be happ
Ter to see you at the Hotel.
nd FREDERICK DRAYToN.
g Frederick Draytonp exclaimed Mr.. L;
La verne 'What brings him here? To
ID ID sure / will go and see him.
~ ~ Frederick Drayton and Horace L aver
- 80 bad been schoolmates, and many years BIZ
''0 passed since they had met Mr.. Laverl
FL. hastily closed his books, put on his hat, al
- hurried to the-Hotel
on ,on The meeting of old friends how sweet
C is But we enter not into the minutias
;na this meeting. After the hearty shake
20 hands and few hurried questions and a
a., swers both parties, Drayton said:
,;f What say you, old friend, to glass
'aro wine for old acquaintance sake p
80 A thrill ran through the frame of Hors
w Laverne, and sudden darkness oversh;
:. owed his spirit But how could be refus
80 =, Alas that moral courage was wanting.
one The nara W passage was threaded,
ON. narrow steps descended, and there was
y 70 under ground responsibility of the hot
ass The wine was drank, the conversation
on. came more animated, others entered, ii
oss flew, more drinks were called for, play
3 IN cards commenced and by the time the sha
tho of night had covered the earth the pan
,;nr M onium of the cellar was in all its gle
and Horace Laverne and Frederick DR.
and ton were among the 'genteep crowd
men Drayton was few years younger Il
met Mr.. Laverne, and unmarried. Posses
10th of some property which fell to him by
nall death of his father, he became dash
be. young man, and fell-into fashionable B
,hall its'-that is, drank and gambled. ]
hem tour undertaken for pleasure and the e.
nspi else of his gaming faculties, he had cal
2 Is at the village of S and knowing
rests his old schoolmate, Mr. Layerne, ii
$ TO there, he had sent him the note delive
EN- +? to him by the servant, and which had az
A rail plunged him into the vortex in whichhe
peak previously come SO nigh being swallo
Let up.
own Shall we paint the agony of Mrs. Law,
wings AS the weary hours of night passed a,
3 is and her husband returned not? No.
ind. have painted that scene once, and sadl
men, still fingers III the heart to rememberits
costly oriugs. We will not again perform the
Ter of pleasanttask.