Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-08-06

and twlrllng about, IN the various difficult
complications of the "toe and heel, " edou-
Bile shuttle, "ladies' delight" and "coyer1
the buckle;" she shut her eyes in horror,
aud was sensible of nothing but q gloomy
blood red. There's nc knowing to what
lengths her terrible fancies might have
gone, had they not been dispersed like
wreaths of vapor. by hearty laugh from
the mischievons Bridget. Peggy opened
her eyes in astonishment. Was she awake?
Yes, there was her cousin enjoying one of
the broadest, merriest, wickedest laughs
that ever mantleds over the face Of an arch |
little female.
Poor Marky she cried, and then burst
forth again into ringing laughter, which
dimpled her crimson cheeks-what shall
l say?-like fine healthy looking cork
rcd potatoe, an Irish simile, must say; but
had you seen Bridget. and were acquainted
with the features of the aforesaid esculent,
I'm pretty certain you would acknowledge
its aptness.
what in the name of gracious are. you
laughing at?' exclaimed Peggy, CLEAN of
hope breaking on the darkness of her
thought.
why that you should take on SO, when
told you Mark had broken his leg gai-
| ly replied Bridget.
Hasn't hep
Not half as much as your poor little
heart would have been broken if he had,'
said the tormenter.
Bridget! Cousinv' said poor Peg, now
enduring much more pain from the sudden
revulsion of feeling, "you should not have
done this; you have crowded a whole life
time of agony in those few moments past
well, forgive me, dear Peggy. de-
clare l didn't know that you had the affec-
tiopso strong on you, or wouldn't have
joked for the world. But now, confess,
doesn't it serve you right, for not confding
in me, your natural born cousin? Did ev-
er keep a secret from you? Didn't [ tell
you all about Pat Finch, and Johony Ma
gee, and Jack, the hurler, eh?'
"But not one word about Edward Riley,
with whom you danced so often ght, :"
observed Peg, with very pardonable dash
of malice.
1t was now Bridget's turn to change col
or, as she stammered out, "I-I was going
to, not that l care much about him; no, no,
Mark is the flower of the flock, and I've a
mighty great mind-to set my cap at him
myself.
/ Peggy smiled, very small, but pecu-
liar, and i Il might have been, parfeatly lye,elfr
satisfied smile, as she replied: "Try, Miss
Bridget, and l wish you success"
"Truth is scarce when liars are near"
said Bridget. "But I say, Peg, does
Mark know you love him so hard 2"
Don't be foolish how should hep
did you never tell himP
what do you take me for?'
did he never tell you 2
What do you take him for?
'For q man, and moreover conceited
one; don't you mean to let him know hi
, good fortuneY
1T isn't leap year, and if it was, l'drath
er die than do such thing said Peggy!
: 'Come, III bet you new cap,that I meal
e to wear at your wedding, you sciU let hin
, know the state of your feelings, and that be
fore week is over your head provoking
d ly replied Bridget.
$ Peggy said nothing. Prudent Peg.
q is it bet?
It 'Yes, yes, anything, but go to sleep, o
6 we shan't get wink tonight
True for you, cousin, for it's to-mo,
e ro,o already! Look at the daybreak, hoy
}, it has frightened our candle, until it's al
most as pale as your cheek
Good night, Bridget
IS Good night, dear Peg, don't forget t
:; remember your dreams. Recollect it's moi
d ming, now, and whatever we dream, IS SUI
TO come true.
n Before she slept, Bridget formed pre-
e ject in her mind to ensure the winnin
k of her bet What it was, will be tim
: enough to find out by-and=by.
: Very early in the day, Mark Brady an
d Ned called to enquire after the health {
1t their respective partners. 1t so happene
that Bridget received them; and very quick
!, Lly, for she was one of those tyrants in Low
who make their captives feel their chains
y on some frivolous pretence or another di
missed her swain and began to develop he
ID plot with Mark.
as Now, Mark, I may as we'll tell you no
en- as at any other time, was very favorab
to specimen of class regret to say, n,
Is over numerous in Ireland; we'll toe
to farmer, his rent always ready, his cro1
ie carefully gathered, and trife put by yea
II ly, so that he enjoyed that most enviab
ut condition in life, a modest competence
ed As to his personal appearance, there
p. scarcely an occasion to describe that, ft
x with the exception of one individual,
ID, don't suppose he has feature or characte
on istic which would be considered at all u
lte common or interesting Suffice it to So
les Mark was man! A volume of eulo
could not say more
And, moreover, Mark did love PREF
mt Peggy May; with whole hearted, man
* and unselfsh love, he loved her. | t
Dr. you this, dear reader, in order that y
may not waste time in speculating on
ne sub ject of Marks thoughts, as he sat silt
de and fdgety, a passive victim to
gh mischievous Bridget. who, shrewd lit
puss, knew every turn of his mind
'gs though imprinted on his face; and for
on- matter of that, SO they were, in natul
lth own characters, type most readable.
IN Mark was apparently very busy, sket
ev- ing imaginary something's on the e
'ue with his blackthorn stick, and seemin
ns, unconscious of Bridget's presence, W
en- she suddenly interrupted his revery
KS saying;
~ y