Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-11-12

meeting! Instead Of that cordial, affec-
tionate greeting with which he was won't to
accost me, he merely recognized me by a
low of frigid formality. Then scarcely
deigning to exchange remark upon CON-
mon place topics, he abruptly demanded an
explanation Of my mysterious epistle. His
voice trembled like an aspen, so great was
his agitation; nor could | boast of mere
composure as reiterated the purport of my
note and begged him to tell me whether my
suspicious were correct. With an i'll sup. |
pressed sneer which grated harshly through |
out sDy every nerve, he responded that he |
had exchanged few glasses with eoterie
of convivial friends; but as to being in
toxicated it was only an evidence of my
ungenerous spirit to breathe so unjust an
intimation and adding in more vehement
tone, he continued, that if l expected long
er for him to submit to that silly whim of
mine, it was time that | was better informed
for (fcrcely striking the table with his ist)
he is the veriest of slaves who is the vassal
of woman Then sir said /, you know my
decision it is folly to parley farther. As
you will, Miss, rejoined he almost furiously;
and hastily seizing his hat he abruptly left
the apartment. Such, dear Lucy, is the
correct and unreserved statements of the
facts; now can you find it in your heart to
censure me for annulling an engagement,
the most important and certainly the est
defined condition of which, is thus wantOnly
trampled upon blythe other party?"
"Well, your disclosure, to be sure, throws
a different light upon the matter, and | beg
your pardon for my hasty and perhaps un
generous imputation. But / must confess
that have not sufficient self denial to re-
ject the proposals of one possessing so many
points of attra cticn, merely because he is
not disposed at the risk of being called
selfish and unsocial, to eschew long es-
tablished custom Of society, and which if
not carried to excess is harmless and inno-
cent. And indeed if you persist in your
determination, / fear me you will have to
look out of the limits of Ruralton for your
bedur ideal of Lord and master. >
There is the young village tailor, over the
way, however, who is said to be an indefati-
gable advocate of temperance. Who knows
but he may be the favored swain 7"
Gan ye love me- Lucy, do not jest upon
/ so serious subject. And let me tell you,
prcposterous as it may seem, that | would
e sooner confde my future happiness to the
guardianship of Edward Gray, humble ar
: tizan though he be, with his firm and in
flexible principles, than to share the name
, and honors of the proudest statesman in
: the land, who can be seduced from the path
of duty by the syren song of temptation and
pleasure. And when you, my dear girl, are
s brought to contemplate the withering curse
| of intemperance through an unprejudiceG
s medium, you too will lie aroused to the ne
n cessity of joining, might and main, will
?. that noble band who are struggling t
u throttle the accursed monster"
well, you were always an anomoly, ant
n one had as well endeavor to change the orl
b of the moon as to induce you to swerv
Is from your determination. l only wish tha
N you may never have to deplore the conse
Ig quences of your self sacrificing spirit Blu
y as your fdnce is released from all fealty t
el your supremacy, l hereby declare seig
&c against the citadel of his heart, which in it
III present dilapidated condition will not b
re able to withstand that powerful batter
C. which I shall bring to bear upon it. Blu
C. must be a going-so, apleasant morning!
IT, Such, gentle reader, was the burden of
C. conversation, which occurred at an earl
ed hour one bright morning between Liz
On Lee and Lucy Winston, two lovely maiden
I'D of the village of Ruralton, a beautiful littl
re hamlet Which nestled in romantic lovelines
in among the picturesque hills which const
n, tute connecting links between contiguor
nc portions of the great Appalachian chair
to Our herones were graceful, accomplishe
IA and heiresses, and, per consequence, II
nd Acknowledged bellies among the elite
IT, their native village. But independent
to their exterior appearance they possessed b.
IN few points of similarity. With the form
til the convictions of duty were immutable
far the laws of Media and Persia, while tt
re- latter knew no higher aspiration than Il
Dg qualification Of morbid vanity and an i
be- ordinate love of display. While the OIL
sly acknowledged no supremacy but the dict
as tations of integrity and honor, the 9th
3D. prostituted all her energies in seIyile Vi
led salaCe to that antocrat of society, tashio
on With this knowledge of their cbaracte
nd the intelligent reader will feel no surpri
rri- at the marked contrast developed by t
all above dialogue; and will readily percei
lad WHY the one should suffer considerati
l 50 apparently trivial and unimportant,
ith prove an insuperable barrier to an unit
de- in other respects so very congenial or W
as the other should evince such an inn'
hat horror ofhonest industry or plebeian wor
pom and so unjastly depreciate the value
of moral excellence when placed IN Jux
) | position with fame and fortune.
ing Nor are the characters which we hi
y 1t introduced the creations of an ovcrwroul
on, imapinntion, Indeed so far from be-
nee isolated instances, their prototypes are St
INK in every grade of society. tits howeVe
My matter of regret and modification
as while mankind are seldom blessed with
age benienant influence which those OF
ud- former type scatter around their footst'
and we behold counterparts of the latter, I,
rent spjcuous actors in every scene of life !
It of same sentiment of false pride pervades
ned fearful extent every walk and phase OF
'usy ciety, prostitutiDg the holy institution
,om- marriage to base and ignoble purposes,
hGr, dering that golden chain which should
hlul congenial hearts into community OF