Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-07-09

ed by a host Of 4 friends and fol- tat;ons
,wers, who applaAatter, and offer ~ D
le the serTiio r hearts her hu
oved affection W desire to obtain. +ronabl
The attentions, Is, the adulations, mPx
which are paidt S and not to my mo 3
self, are ois'as'o@koly me not; as rabl
the dropping flo for the dew, my to1
soul thirsts for tfte Of truth-for
E2d.ds Of ngI ere esteeh.-H
| could VOC this I M1zafay
and humble individual, might [ not
love that the favofSd offortune seldom pos
sess, and that kinga often SIGH for in vain %
Pulcherla approves her brothers senti-
ments, and assuresThim that his desire can
be gratiied. They arrange that he is to
gaze unseen upon the fair stranger, and
then, unknown, to seek to win her love.
Concealed behind the drapery in his sis
ter,s apartment, he awaits the entrance of
Athenais, who has been summoned to the
presence Of Pulcheria. With what deliobt
he beholds her radiant face, and listens to
her silvery voice! HIS ardentimagination
finds the original fairer, if possible, than
the picture his sister had SO vividly drawn.
and his youthful heart beats rapidly beneath
the touch ofLove. He can scarcely await
the lifting season for the interview, and
longs lmpatiently for the appointed hour.
AS he led a quiet and secluded life. #
was easy for Theodosius to practice the IN.
nocent deception which he had planned.
and in a humble grab he vas introduced to
Athenais as one ofthe tuto,s Of the vonno
Emperor. Pulcheria daily teyised eycuses
fol an interview between the yq1no ,air and
by that means the lover had ta necnsSarU
opportunities to carry on his plaa Eyery
onewho approached Athenais was istr1cta3
inthe secret, and commanded not toa ;TnIo
it, thus she had not the most remot snsn;
cion Of the truth. Feeling none o the :;
nudity which would have characterizdber
intercourse with hin, had she dreandof
his rank, and grateful for his respectfully
%tention, Athenais soon extended to t.
young tutor her confidence and regard. it
: was not long ere warmer sentiment sprung
t up in her heart, and lent a new charm to
her life. Then, indeed, all things wore a
smiling aspect, and time sped by on the
, wings Of joy.
Athenais became daily a greater f~avorite
e with the Empress, and receiving from her
constantly the most u~nequivocal marks Of
, regard, she ceased to feel herdependent sit.
' uation, and banished from her mind all
thoughts of care. She was grateful and
y happy. Her heart, like a summer-bird
n warbled forth necessarily, the music of de.
light. She was surrounded by every com
e fort and luxury of life she loved and was
J. beloved! With what happy dreams anG
s. anticipations she looked forward to the flu
ture. One day, while indulging this pleas
J. ant frame of mind, she received a messag,
' from the Empress, bidding her to an inte,
d view. Witha Light stepand a lighter heft
'e she entered the presence Of her benefacor.
V "Well, my bird of beauty" said Pu'he-
P ria, q art thou not happy in thy neEpoW-
to err"
n The maiden's face was radiant nth the
sunshine of the soul, as she reptile:
l. "Not even in the days of innocent child
le hood, when I wandered by theslores OF my
ne own blue sea, or decked my bpw with the
We flowers of my own dear native 'lains, did my
C. heart revel more gladly in tie joyous senst
I'd of existence. [ I'm no lon,er a friendless
er houseless exile; for thou dear lady, has
ry supplied the place of country, kindred, an
he home. What can [ do 10 serve thee :"
"Listen, my dear 4thenais have [ no
ge in all things studied thy comfort ? Hav
of [ not given thee a home that the creates
might envy, and clothed thee in raimen
NJ that queens might wear? Have I not bes
towed attendants to obey thy slightest bic
Il ding, and surrounded thee with luxurie
III that only the noble can gain 2"
of eyes, my Sovereign, you have done a
Nv this and more. You have wiped the tear
ne woe from my eyes, and plucked the AFRO
Iad of grief from my heart. You have soothe
he my wounded spirit with the voice of cons
vac @lation, and whispered peace when despa
&c was at hand. You have converted fear /
ors to hope, and regret into joy. You ha
b;s awakened love in the heart where sorrc
no before reigned supreme, and made the Ii
90 that was fast becoming a burthen a blessil
I'd and a delight. lAll this you have dor
dear lady, and non what can I do to testi
,t,s my gratitude? Name. but the price, a
on UnOu9H IL were uIelISeII-Lne very HE y
oc have so cheered-it shall be sacrificed t
your good"
" want no sacrifices, Athenais ; [
md fully rewarded by seeing you happy, a
en-, to show my sense of your gratitude, [
the about to confer a favor greater than y
ZEN, have yet received. | am about to 6
lev- you in marriage to my imperial broth
orm the young Emperor Of the East.
'ns, AS if a mighty spell had suddenly c.
yet verted the maiden into stone, she sto
IAN pale, speeches., motionless, her hal
sui clasped, her head bent forward, her
'cks fixed despairingly upon the Empress, {
url- her whole appearance Indicative of
ev- most intense amazement. At length
arts spoke.
day 81 pray thee, dear lady, unsay tn
ing fearful words. Mock not my misfortu
ely, with such an offer. [ am too humble
own too unworthy to share the splendid de
that ny of thy brother. Choose him a bl
nee, more suited to his birth, and more b,
like ted his exalted station"
all "Not 50, Athenais-thy beauty,
hese virtue, thy learning, make thee his eq
ture and render thee, in all respects, worth,
e f; a be a monarch's consort. | have willeC