Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-04-30

I have dedicated these paragraphs to the
evening of my arrival at Belleair, because
the beautiful sunshine of that August even
ing shines in my memory still, and ever
will live there for me, fair and dreamy land
instinct with the radiance of romance and
youth.
The month of August few by like a
dream, and find no difficulty in recalling
AS | could relate in detail, were it neccs-
sary-eve1y incidentvef that glorious tipe,
when my heart beat warn. aud free With
the blood Of nineteen. The rides; the
games the fishing parties, in the boat on
the slream; the rambes in the woods; the
apple gathering in tie orchard, when the
/" bell flowers" were ripe, and all the thou
sand scenes, and jests, to day, as in my real
life then.
[ need scarcely say that my love for Lu-
lu did not diminish, thus thrown with her,
as was, day after day, and week after week.
[ found, every hour almost, something new
in her character, which, more and more,
deprived me Of the small quantity Of free
will which | possessed. The loving circle,
of which she was the life and pride, at that
time, will bear me out, when say, that
there are few such natures in this prosy
world, to-day. She was literally the life
and JOY of every scene-she had the rarest
and most singular combination of mailenly
delicacy aud extrayagant mirthfulness.
Her dark, brilliant eyes had ''charming
archness' in them, and her quick move.
ments and ever changing attitudes were the
perfection of wildgrace aud daring abondon.
What poor thing language is. | try to
trace some outline Of Lulu at seventeen, and
| am reduced to the most unhappy plight
by my inability | don't think any one
would be more successful. [ had seen ma
ny girls, of all styles of beauty, at town
parties; and, while had employed much
of my spare time in the genteel and salts
ia ctory occupation of flirting, I never so
much as thought Of loving any of them. Af-
ter bein G ten days at Beleair, I was past
praying for. Truth to say, [ think my
dreadful rival, Fitzarthur was as nearly in
the same condition as possible for one who
had so absorbing an admiration and regard
for hiself. He loved Lulu, however, l have
no doubt-rightly supposing that to receive
such a wife woold be the crowning feather
in his cap; to secure aunt Wimple's broad
acres, or portion Of them, to be Lulu $
pocket. As for myself, I can honestly Us say J,
upon my honor, that I seldom or ever
thought of Lulu in connection with such
things for [ never knew the want of lnon
ey, aud my father was wealthy, and had nc
other child but myself. l own such reck
less impruu,hce and disregard Of ''materia
affairs was shocking but was very muct
in love. you see, and only nineteen. Now
at nineteen the heart rules the intellect
disgraceful despotism, shaken off in afte
life.
The month Of September, like that Q
August, fed along on downy pinions, an(
the Belleair circle was the same. Fitzar
thur had paid one OF two visits to friends
of his in the ighborhood; but he alwaw
SO arraged these visits that they shoul
not take him out of hitting distance,' so t
speak, Of Lulu. At last he returned t
aunt's, where Rose Walton was still say
ing, avowing his design to tarry only a fe'
days, and then return to town, from whic
it was wonder to the whole family hoy
any consideration could have kept this sta
Of fashion absent so long.
| mention these little incidents of th
summer months, you see, to afford, as
were, SONG frame and coloring OF the deer
ly absorbing and highly interesting advel
lures of the real period of my courtshil
which occurred iu the bright month Of o.
tober. TO say that every day | had grow
more and more hopelessly captive, woul
be only repetition. [ had long since con
to the "despeSste' point; and had vain
cudgeled my unfortunate brains for NEAR
Of impressiug on Lulu, orally, the fact tn
was her slave. [ revolved the proprie
of requesting private interview in the 81
ting room but the idea of solemDly t
terng that great apartment with Lulu fC
lowing me wonderingly, and, in the pre-
ence Of my grave old ancestors, proposil
for her heart and hand-the very thoug
disar med me, made me coward, aud r
linquished the idea instantly, like the po
poltroon was. Then | thought Of aski
Lulu to ride with me-to take a stroll
the woods--to ramble through the gro'
From all these propositions nv coward
, heart recoiled, aud retreated ignominio'
ly. l never got any further than TAXI
her hand, and holding it lingeringly, @
evening at twilight, as We returned FRI
> the hall, and striving in vain to speak.
+ Lulu was an intelligent girl, and she,
! doubt, perfectly understood my meanin
I for she quickly withdrew her hand, a
blushng slightly, said. with laugh, a
: somewhat hurriedly: "Come, cousin,
!, US 60 in, the dew is fallingw and so
4 fitted up the broad staircase and dis
! peared.
4 When Lulu came down that even
. she was in brilliant spirits, as usual a
r with her arm leaning on Miss Roses shc
!. der. presented the most joyous and entr
!. cling vision [ had ever looked upon; T
4 arthur made her the most elegant com
N ment imaginable, and, of course, l had
a the least desire to cut his throat, an,
,e make an end Of him.
at But we'll get on to October. 1t wa
If beautiful morning of that fine month
H. the first scene Of real dramatic interest
er Cured between myself and Lulu, and
ok purpose of this little introduction has
on to convey, as rapidly and clearly as p