Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-03-12
LADIES' DEPARTMENT..
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Dedicated TO the " Social Circle"
BLANCHE LYNM0RE,
Or
woMAN's LOT.
BY IDA.

unheedirg world pursues its busy way, re-
gardless Of their eaily departure. Pious
ones shake their heads, perhaps wonder at
the righteousness of Providence that
spares The aged aud helpless, aud cuts
down tho young aud fairfrom the midst of
seeming happiness and prosperity. But
the haul of disease does not alone do the
work. Victims Of faded hopes and crushed
affections, pass overy year to an early grave.
Thu. | mun, as | peruse this pile of old
letters before me, which recalls so wildly
the fair countenonce and fairy form of one
of r.y earliest and most intimate of friends.
Memory brings her back to me as | saw
her in childhood, with her hands filled with
wild flowers sporting beside the stream of
our village home. | sec again her large
blue eyes beaming upon me as in other
days, when she revealed to me the hopes
aud fears Of her gentle heart. And again
| see them when size gave her heart and
hdrr' fearc t6'Iean upon. And / see them
N their sadder, mournful expression, in
her last illness, when she took my hand in
hers and told me how all her earthly hopes
had been wrecked, and the bitterness of the
cup whose poisoned waters were doing
their work and sending her in the prime
of womanhood to an early grave.
A gentle, kind hearted girl was Blanche
Lynmorc; sensitive to a fault, yet very
much beloved by those who understood
and appreciated the purity and goodness Of
her heart. Sue was not one to shine in a
crowd or attract a host Of admirers ; her
manners were too retiring for this, and to
all save Il chosen few she was habitually
reserved. She was early left an orphan,
yet with q moderate fortune which had en-
abied her to crafty an extreme thirst for
knowledge and obtain a good education
Possessing n 6ne taste for the beautiful in
nature and art, she could not be otherwise
than a passionate admiror of poetry. Even
in her young schooldays / have seen her
countenance liz up with a glow of enthusi
asm, over the beautiful ideas of Millions
Paradise. Lost, while examining a parsing
exercise, and the others Of the class were
only thinking of verbs and pronouns.--
Hers even then was q mind that could
comprehend the deep majestic beauty of
thar noble bard. Friends who loved her,
aud knew tho delicate seusibilities of her
nature, sometimes trembled for her happi-
ness, AID prayed for her q sunny future /;
for they knew that before the chilling winds
of adversely, or the crushing weight of sor-
row, she would droop and die as soon as
the fragrant summer flowers before the
winds anl frost Of autumn. Yet peaceful
IS her early girlhood days seemed to pass
she lived quietly with a widowed and only
Aunt, who was ever atfcctionate toward:
her, yet she Otter felt the exceeding lone
illness of her situation and almost envieC
those who shared the counsel and love o.
parents, brothers and sisters.
1t was in her eighteenth summer tha
blanche first met with the one that wa
destined to exert such an influence owe
her subsequent life. Alwyn Reid came t
our village aud took up his residence there
to obtain business, as was told in capital
upon his Office door, as " Attorney an
Coaasclicr at Law" Hc was an entir
stranger, and tho he mingled freely in on
s,eial circles, yet he never even alluded t
his past history or experience. Tho nc
handsome, yet he had winning smile an
iu his large black eyes some Of us fancie
there was much Of a lurking decciver.-
He was tall, finely formed, with cultivate
mind aud agreeable manners. 1t was at
select literary party, one evening, that |
first met with Blanche. An hour usual
passed at these gatherings, reading fro
some work, tho choice of the reader. w
had Wordsworth that evening and Blancl
was our reader. She was a fine reade'
her voice loud, clear and musical. II
spirit of the poem accorded we'll with Il
feelings Of her own heart, aud her who
III .uorxol - L.,ntLx 49, IL H.
Alwyn Reid had been an attentive listenC
aud when the book was closed, he was
her side &scussing with her the merit
~favnrite authors, of Wordsworth, Byro
Shakespeare, Milton, Burns and finally Nj
~IIeinaus and Landon were each present
and duly disposed Of, according to tn,
respective merits, or their opinions.
fancied Blanche was pleased with the CO
vorsatl0n of the stranger, yet next d.
when she was rallied upon his attenti
10y her cousin Lima Morton, she reptile
. dislike him exceedingly, indeed l d
yet | hardly know why but | think b,
false hearted and tickle, and shall hen
forth enleavor to shun him. And "
would it have been for her future happin
if she had continued to shun his soci
ever after. Butthe small fortune ofBlanc
together With her noble mind, and get
virtues, constituted her an object of inter
TO the merccnary and proHigate Reid,
again and again he sought some excuse
calliag, and finally all Of his leisure
nings were passed with her, and DIANE
nor tod Of their engagement. Then CT
warnings from her many friends, but t
we're UNDECIDED.
is it possible said her aunt one
that you intend to marry Alwyn Il
whom but a short time agoyou p%rofesse
dislike?
Yes said she, I'VE are to be Marie,
a fuw months; and think love him Z
as heartily as l once disliked him ar
trust | am not the 6rst or only woman
has changed her mind en- subjects W
the heart is concerned
% no! butts it not singular that no
knows anything Of his early history?
you believe his morals are unexcept
able r
Il know his past life, Aunt he has
me all and tho he has had his yout
%follies, as he terms them, yet he assure
that with ono dear friend to love him,
encourage him in the post Of honor
So -