Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-08-27

!
.DEs.-This Lodovieo sa proper man.
Earr.-A very handsome man.
BEs.-And be peaks well-Ohello.
Since We last saw Henrietta, a,air bride
.of oxieen. The bitter waters which minele i
SO largely in the current Of human life, had
passed darkly and coldly over her. With
out quenchiug, they had sadly chilled the
fine enthusiasm, which then, at the song of |
the bird, the murmurs Of wind and wave,
aud, above all, the deep hush Of moon
light or starry night, would gush forth in
poetry, like waters yelling up from the
depths of fountain.
IL was near the close Of day, that she
entered her apartments at Saint Cloud, and
threw herself upon a sofa enriched and
hung with tapestry elaborately wrought,
aud the light came softened and subdued
through windows of stained glass. She
was now twenty-five, and her rich and pen
sive style of beauty might have been COM
pared to that displayed in the portraits of
Mary, Queen Of Scots. The strings of
lutte which lay by her side, occasionally
gave forth a soft, low strain, as her fingers
wandered lightly over them, and sometimes
the words Of sweet and melancholy song
gushed from her lips in music clear and
wild, as notes of the wood bird. Her face
was pale, yet now and then bright Grim
son would break over her cheeks, and a
brilliant light beam from beneath her droop-
ing eyelids, as if the flash of some sudden
and exciting thought had crossed her mind
A shower had recently fallen, and as the
frshening breeze agitated the foliage Of a
vine that shaded an open window, large
rain drops were thrown over the polished
floor, and among the rich folds of her satin
robe.
"Look, Sophie" said she to her friend,
who at that moment entered, "and see how
much like jems appear these drops of
rain, frightened in their fall by the beams
of the setting sun. Are they not true en-
blems of the pleasures so eagerly coveted
brilliant, yet unsubstantial 2"
" hoped, " said Sophie in reply, "that
your pleasures were, at least, not so evan
escent Have you not performed an impor-
tant service for the King, by detaching
your brother from the triple alliance, and
do you not. in return, receive his warm ap-
probation? All, Henrietta, is there not
some real pleasure in this ?"
"There is, or ought to be. What clock
is itT"
"Almost seven"
"So late? 1t is time for me to be think
ing what dress to appear in this evening.
/ should endeavor to look well, seeing that
the King gives ball in honor of my sue.
cessful nepotiation "
d" You should So"
al will do my BEST but there is weight
upon my spirits which feel myself unable
to shake off, and ever and anon | seem tc
hear warning voice whisper in my ear
Do not such melancholy faneies porteuC
some evil?'
"Nay, my friend, the mind ever sympa
thizes with the body, and you have not beer
we'll to-day"
"It may be as you say, but I feel {
strange heaviness Of spirits. But no more
of this. Have you seen the handsom,
stranger who is to bo present this even
ing ?'
"Ncvcr Have you?"
"Once"
"And is he really the courtly and no
ble-looking gentleman the fair danes des
cribe him to beY
eyes and yet there is something iu hi
eye which do not like. 1t dropped be
meath my glance, and once, when he stooc
apart, and imagined himself unobserycd
his countenanee darkened, as if cloud o
evil thoughts were passing over him."
At this moment the ringing of horses
hoofs was heard in the court below, and
looking out at window, Henrietta behel
the person who had just been the them
Of their conversation.
"Come this way, Sophie" said she, in
whisper,and you can obtain a sight of hin
She obeyed her request, and, throug
the disguise Of a dark wig and compile:
ion arti6cially embrowned, at once kne
him to be her knsman, the Chevalier {
Lorraine. She recalled conversation
which, many months before, she had acc
dentally overheard, between the Duke
Orleans and q person unknown to her, d
ring which Lorraine was frequently alludC
TO. At the time, she felt considerable
larm, and now horrible suspicion fasht
into her mind She grew deadly pal
Henrietta observed the change in her cou
tenance, and inquired the cause.
" \ sudden faintness," replied Sophi
" / am better now"
"And how like you the looks of t
noble stranger? In spite Of his quaili
eye, there is a strange fascination abe
him"
"His looks do not please me" said
phic. "Bcware Of him-avoid him. III
goodly exterior if read Alright, mask
dark and revcugeful heart Does the DV
of Orleans krow who he is?"
eyes, to him alone he has confded
secret Of his name"
And the King Z"
Z" He does not even conjecture who
is. lie told me so with his own lips,
only knows that he is an English kni
of gentle blood, and as such he treats
with hospitality and courtesy"
Believe me, Henrietta, though he
of blood ever so gentle, he has sav
heart. To me it appears written in ev
lineamcnt of his countenance."
Now, by my troth, Sophie, you