Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-04-16

and throwing her arms a ound his neck,
she cl"ng to him moment in silent, tear
less agony. 1t was her last display of
weakness. She heard his parting blessing,
and sitting by the side of her husband, was
wbrled apidly away from the home of her
childhood
A month elapsed before the pair returned
to occupy their elegant mansion, far = up
town But in that month change had
taken place in Grandson He eseemed rest
less, uneasy and agitated; he followed the
stately movements of his wife with anxious
eyes: he was unhaJpy in herr.nei-ty, aud
wretehed away fro.a her side Th's Short, he
was little like the merry, light hearted
bachelor, his dearest friends had known,
and one and all foresaw matrime ny on the
spot, since it had altered him So
It was not long ere Madame Rumor re-
ported the startling fact that the rincely
hous hold was carried on upon the Europe
an plan, that the gentleman and lady occu-
pied separate apartments, and only met at
stated hours in the great drawing rooms
below Great WAS the wonder of the up
per ten; :; many the surmises hazarded up
on it, but no one dared question the parties
most deeply interested, and they held their
peace. In public and private Alice was
uniformly kind ar polite to her husband;
but this was all, and the wondering city
had an opportunity of witnessing that ano-
NAL y-a man violently in love with his own
wife, and seeking in vain to win her.
dou bt if Alice saw the struggle in his
mind. Her own feelings were benumbed
her own heart seemed cold and dead
Judging bis nature by her rigid observation
of all wifeIy propriety and digni-y-it was
all he required Of her-She was true to the
letter of her vow, and her spirit was at rest.
! Two years had passed away. 1t was the
anniversary Of her wedding NJ ght and Alice
| Grandson sat at her bo,tloir, rObed for a
party and only waiting the arrival Of her
husband, WHO was to escort her, The years
had changed her little. She was fair and
proud as ever. Her robe Of azure velvet
her coronetofpearls and diamonds her neck
lace, with it's heavy diamond cross, her
bracelets, and the single ring she wore, were
tt adornments for an empress, and right we'll
did she become them. She was alone, and
tonching secret spring in her private es-
cgltOt1e, the took from small drawer, two
miniatuers eascd in gold, and laid them
side by side. One was that of her dead lover
the other of her husband. Leaning her head
upon her hands, she gazed long and earnest
ly at the two, and as her dark eyes dimmed
with tears, she could not but acknowledge
the sh dowy likeness that existed between
tile }}evc1 atrd ire unlovesl. It was faint anc
shadowy one, but still it was no fancy. A
something on the lip. cheek and br0w-the
same careless arrangement of the waving
hair-and more than all, the same earnes,
loving intensity of look and expression in the
deep blue eyes. This never seen before. was
what now chained her attention to both.
The small pendule over the mantle piece
strsck the hour of nine, and with deep sigh
she replaced the portraits in the drawer. and
lett the room. She rang on reaching the
drawing room, to ask for her husband. There
WAS hustle and the sound Of many feet in
the hall below. before her summons was
answered, and then the servant who entered
looked pale and frightened. strange
slckenlng sensation crept over her as she as,
ked-
Where is your master 2"
The servant stammered, hesitated anC
cast strange looks towards the door. Dream
ing she knew not what, she stepped out into
the hail. and looked down the wide stairs
-Four men were ascending bearing motion
less form between them. The long hail
n he rehead hhe the SaF Sa anld red re eo9
was flowing freely They stopped short whel
they saw her awaiting them they evidentl.
dreaded the scene, hut she was firm and calm
though heavy at her heart lay the thnnght
:" If he is dead, how can forgive myself to
the unbappiness have causel him -
0haDiu,r hnr palmlU Spnko orders the
laid him down upon sofa, in the splendi
drawing room He had been struck down
before his own dwelling. by runaway horse
and the family physician, who was instant
" summoned, gave little hopes Of his recov
erv. The wretchpd wife sat close beside hil
while the unsightly wound was closed h
blood flowed unheeded over her rich attir
and one small white hand was crimS0ned. d
it held his head for the first time her pa
lips pressed his own; for the first time 81
hid her cheek to his, and called him by
: thousand endearing names for the first tin
the knt wledge that she loved him came
her tenfold misery. The enlargement
years was forgotten the stone rolltd aw;
from the door Of her heart, and its living W
ters gushed opt once more But he WI
: would have peEilled life and limb for one u
solicited carress from her, now lay pale a
still while she pressed him to her heart; a
{ the love that he had sought in vain duri
life, seemed given only too late-only
!. waste itself upon palid corpse-a gild
E coffin and lonely gravo
She watched beside him, day and mig
in the chamber where he haa speut so ma
lonely hours Into this room she had &C;
cely entered since he had Installed her n
;, tress Of his household and everywhere S
. saw such traces of his love for her, rs pi
| ced her very heart. In a small alcove
= :, vond his bed, hung her portrait, the ii
and last thing be saw as be opened and {
e sed his eyes. A small inlaid cabinet b
is the gifts she had bestowed upon him fir
,e time to time; a iavorite book-a picture
4 tress of dark brown hair-withered boqU
E. "a small golden star, and many thi
II which she had given tremendously or liz
~ ly. which he had treasured as his cholt
possessions.
lg The glitter of a golden chain upon his n
h attracted her attention, as she bent at
ID him one-night Safely she drew it 70
he and gazed upon splendid picture of
or SELF sat in small gold frame. She ga
=. in silence for a moment, but when upon
y other side she noticed a ring,-the wedc
a' ring that she had never worn-her compo
re gave way. Pride had left heI heart, and
nd nsurped its place. Sinking upon her k
he by the bedside while her tears fell fast I
an the dear hand that lay feebly on the C
IA terpane, she prayed a. she had never pr;
Il i,efore, that God would spare his life,
'ou she might atone for her sin by years 0
ner mt and enduring love.
ner Her prayer VS. heard, for God Is mel