Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-06-18

AOUy ~ 0AAAA ~ ~
also reaP: AS ye lay the foundation deep al
and strong, so shall the superstructure be el
symmetrical and beautiful-he had found W
himself thinking a thousand times upon Il
this e~ventful day. New thoughts, new n
plans, new hopes, new desires were thiekly Il
budding upon the tree of f~uturity, waiting Q
only for the sunshine and dew of affection b
ate appreciation and support to expand v
into those rich and rare flowers which
were to make his life odorous in good deeds I
and beautiful in %virtuous happiness. He
was upon the eve Of putting away childish
things, and unseen Angels had been softly
at work upon his heart strings, tuning them
to higher resolves and holier purposes than
had ever before rung out from its tremb-
ling chords. He was standing as it were
upon the Threshold of a grand and beau
tiful edifce = charmed with the glory of its
decorations and the symmetry of its pro-
portions-lost in the wrapt contemplation
of carved %cornice and column, massive
dome, mosaic floors, frescoed ceilings and
gorgeous garniture, yet fearing to venture
in alone, lest the charm should be broken,
and shrinking back in dread from an inva-
SlOu " OHOSt SdCICuL pIcCIuCbS NhlCh LIS
untried feet had never trod. From such
thoughts he found himself ever turning to
his betrothed, sheltered by the arms of love,
protected from the snares and temptations
to which he was exposed, and oh! how
his heart glowed and warmed beneath the
conclusion, that with her appreciation of
his sentiments, and her determination to
aid and strengthen him in every effort to-
ward a noble and %virtuous manhood, he
could brave the frowns and smile at the
taunts of the whole world. Her assistance
would deepen and develope those subtle
sounds, now faint in their vibrations, upon
his souls harp strings. With her to coun-
sci and cheer, he could dare to explore vir-
tues inmost temple and mould his life af-
ter her choicest moral and religious mod
els. His was to be the sustaining, hers
the directing arm-his the daring, hers
the encouraging and sympathiztng heart.
All! if poor Lima could have known
all this-if she could have beheld the sell
fshness and vice which his business en-
gagements had daily revealed to his gaze,
until there was danger of a dark and dead
ly distrust both of spiritual and temporal
things taking possession of his soul-ifshe
could have seen the dark cloud rent and
the glorious glimpse of truth which had
shimmered through, she would have real
lied her own true mission better. ShC
might have still proved to him that consis
tency was not all an idle dream-that ther
! were human hearts capable Of lofty aspira
I tions and generous deeds-and still more
that however simple the step suggested t
his mind of a higher and holier life, sh
9 could appreciate and enter into it with
; zest which purity of preeept had inculcs
: ted and which in practice she would neye
disown.
y 81 am sorry you regard it SO lightly,
was Charles Grey's reply to her last r.
mark and a servant entering at the nj
e ment with Lina's wrappings, he laid hi
u cloak about her shoulders and prepared
y draw on his own gloves.
/" will do as you wish, Charles ;" r
e turned the fair girl. "I will not look
G. a glass of wine tonight, if that will do.
nc But again that old vexatious smile playt
e about her lips and ~deepened the chill
re his heart.
&C "Nay, Lima, l hope | am not SO self'
a' as to consider my own qualification alon
II you feel no conviction as to the for
le, and truth of what | have uttered, not f
Oh the world would | have you act from
IL higher motive than to please me''-and
TX offered his arm and led her out to the c;
III riage.
a.'' The conversation thus abruptly termir
ln' ted was not renewed, for there was a d
eV- uncertain kind of unquiet feeling upon t
ON lady's mind, and of chilled and wound
u sensibilities on the gentleman S, which p
pa- vented either, though through widely
ferent emotions, from another ~allusion
an it. / can atone for what [ have done,
n.y. liloquized Lima to herself, by humori
: 10 this within of his and RETAINING from viii
l. though really the request was and still
ION pears so strange that [ am almost glat
TN is dark SO he cannot see the smile it c
n. M tinues to call ap. However, [ am sorry
seems so hurt, and would give anythin
~ it had not occurred.
III And he, after the first feeling of dis
not pointment that she should fail to unt
Don stand and appreciate his motives
'ne passed by, and a calmer mood came
Say' knew that he had acted both unjust
ls unkind. What could she know, in
: y great seclusion of her life, about the tt
use to which he was exposed? he asked
'ncy self over and again. What of the
~ phases of his inner life, which he &C
r1hy hardly recognize himself? And yet
am: words of explanation passed between Il
l''p as the carriage rolled on nearly a mil
the place of destination.
Once arrived at and fairly embarked
: So on the scene of pleasure, it was not
"a " markable that Lima should forget the
versation between herself and Cha
'taln Grey, and of course all her resolution
tna' connection with it. Once only it
forced upon her in a manner we W
nos suppose not at all likely to be soon fol
ten.
% u She was standing the centre of a
secu and animated group, herself the gave
any, if the light words and lighter laue
mes which rang from her lips were to be t
not as evidence upon the point, holding a
same glass slightly poised in one hand,
'Ane- which she slipped ever and anon as care
ly as if no adder's fearful sting had
rnest once been coiled within. Suddenly
ltn q ing her eyes, she encountered tho
%ordS Charles Grey fixed in an earnest, fas
aklng ted gaze upon her face, whilst he too
70 10 q wine glass filed to the brim, abstrac
in one hand. Even as she caught hi
AMY she had raised the glass to her lips
10 Ch0 i