Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-06-11
Ynmbsr A1.
LADIRS' DEPARTMENT..
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
LUCIE, THE BROKEN HEARTED.
A6tetioHatcly described 70 the "Lored ones at
Home."-BY ZONE.

A0NAM9 &&@A 9A&NAAGAN 4AIOs =
AfSotionately described 10 The " Lored ones at :
Home."-BY lone. i,
In alovcly valley in the mountains of my
native State, where the hoarse winds of win 1
ter aud the gentle brcezes of summer sweep |
over il, is a grave-a solitary grave-with
a gray NOISY rock at the head, on which is
carved " LUCE, TIE BROKEN HEARTED"
How touchingly beautiful the gentle name
{" Luciep % but that which followed-"the
Broken Hearted" ali what an ocean of
love and sorrow is~comprisedin those words.
Broken Hearted" Methinks l see her
in her joyous youth, with her light graceful
figure, her sparkling eyes, her rosy lips
where a smile ever nestled, rejoicing in the
innocence of a pure unsullied heart.
AS l stood gazing at the stone, these
Thoughts passing through my mind, | es-
pied nm old man approaching; on coming
up, / asked him concerning her who slept
beneath, when he elated the following
story:
1t is eighteen long years, to-day, since
we laid her down to rest in this quiet spot.
TIE scene comes wildly before me now,
and l see all her loved ones gather around
her TO take a last, long look of her whom
they bad loved in life. l see, too, her chill
dren-that daFk-eyed, dark-haired boy OF
ing with grief; and his golden haired
sister leaning on him, while her tears fell
like summer rain upon the grassy turf, as
the minister's voice called them to look
above to Him who called little children to
him and blessed them. The heart Of eve
- -. - a.. - zx G
anguish, as they threw themselves upon
the coffin, pressing passionate kisses upon
the marble brow of her who they had so
idoiized in life. In her youth, Lucie was
beautiful. / shall never forget the eve
when first | saw her. She was standing
beside q clegr running brook, gazing in
tently upon the waters which reflected her
dimpled face, asshe placed lovely wreath
upon her golden trcsscs that fell around
her like rings of light. She would have
formed a study for a painter as she
thus stood, with her graceful attitude, her
simple rustic dress, her little apron and
snowy handkerchief around her swan-like
neck, and a sweet smile lighting up her
lady face. | saw her a year after, as she
stood by the altar and vowed to " Glove,
honor and obey" Robert Lanier, her noble
looking lover. And how that vow was
kept, her broken heart too sadly tells.
When she went forth from her fathers
leapth, sundcring in a measure the tics of
love, her life of sorrow began. They NOV
ed to their pretty cottage and on " golden
wings the hours passed merrily and when
their spirits would flag and the mind and
body call for rest, the hidden power of the
wine cup vas called into requisition, while
the gentle loving Lucie looked gaily on,
dreaming not in her innocence, ofthc sor.
row the goblet was even then binding a.
round her-sorrows that would turn t.
iron chains and crush her heart.
Time passed swiftly onward, bearing
them nearer the line where intemperancC
would pour on her victims the vials Of he
wrath. Lucie began then to awaken iron
her dclusiyo dream of happiness, as sh
saw her husband leaving her and her in
nOcent babes to frequent the vile shop
where was sold the hguid curse.
Her husband sunk lower and. lower
The outrcaties of his gentle wife and tn
sight of his lovely children maddened hin
more aud more, until ut last he left theI
and joining a band with whom he was o
terms of intimacy, they wandered fartht
from the right, strengthening each othC
in their evil ways. After a months al
sence he returned to see his family drive
from their house, where they spent I'll
first years of welded life iii happiness, o.
tnto the world, with scarce a hand to he
~ a heart to pity. But it had no effe
in softening his hard heart he turn,
from them, heaping curses upon their i
nocent heads and plunged deeper andm nj
madly in the vice which was dragging hi
dorm, DOWN. There were kind hearts
pity his wife, and she was furnished
small house and work was given her,
which she supported herself and childr,
meanwhile, the hope that her husba
would reform, still threw its bright +;
around.
IN qrmQ, bF ihrn andbrd council. III
were in need Of a hundred dollars to G,
cute SEINE design, and they drew lots,
know who should furnish the amount. Z
;ell upon Robert Lanier With an O;
he turned %iiercely andspokerapidly WI
he had finished, they drew n plan by VIII
he would be able to raise the required
mount. About niue miles from the
lage, in NOrrow deflc SO thickly Woo
that the soft moonbeams could not pie
the darkness that calmly slept there, :
to pass about twilight a traveller, ESQ $
che scout who carried about him Sc
two or three hundred dollars. Rot
Lanier was to meet him there and s
him After some consultation he acre
making only one provision which
that he was to have the surplus over
required amount, for his own use. T
heard his decision with JOY, and after {
graduating him and themselves they IL
ed their steps homeward.
About noon the nextday they met az
to slake their thirst with the brotl
6ends." lie arrived at the place of !
devious just before the sun kissed for
last time that summer evening the me
tain tops, and looking before him he
his victim slowly coming toward him.
check paled-his lips quivered, and
frame trembled, as he thought of the
which he was about to perform. But
thought of the oath with which he
bound himself, and the fear of the rid,
OF his companions rushed over his m
and with an oath he draws out his bottl
swallow the fluid that was even then co
ing through his yeins-scorching his b
hardening his heart and strengthen