Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-09-02
Gkoite Giterature.
THE MIRROR SISTERS.
BY A NEW CONTRIBUTOR.
CHAPTERI.
And on the hunter hied his way,
To join some comrades of the day
Yet often paused, SO strange the road,
So wondrous were the scenes it showed.


Yet often paused so strange the road,
So wondrous were the scenes it showed.
LADY OF THE LAKE.
During an entire afternoon, a solitary in
dividual, in fanciful hunters garb, and bear
ing a rifle, handsomely mounted, but no
trophy of his skill with the weapon, had wan
dered along the level prairie, or up aud down
the sides of chain of wooded bluffs, which
skirt it upon one side, describing many de-
tours, and altogether accomplishing only an
unimportant distance, although putting to
good test, an ability, fully perceptible in a
frame naturally athletic, and thoroughly and
discreetly exercised from his youth It was
easy to discover that the stranger had lost
his way; yet, Notwithstanding all his efforts
to regain it resulted so insignifcantly, he
still held undannted mien; and was even
nearer to making merry over his situation,
than to INDUCING the fear and dread for
which he might be readily excused, and
which, with another temperament, or with
less of experience, he might, at the last, have
found it impossible to escape.
Next to the eastern deserts, with which
they are often compared, range, in point of
undiversifed extent, the prairies of our wes-
tern and southwestern borders. Less dreary,
if not less monotonous, to the eye, since, du-
ring three-fourths of the year, these are luxu-
riantly clothed with verdant grasses, they yet
are destitute equally with those of the susie
nance necessary to human life, which,
wherever civilization has not extended its in
fuence, is, as there, in constant jeopardy,
likewise, from savage hordes and beasts Of
prey. However, the region into which our
story would lead, is not the most utterly de-
void, as already seen, of natural variety and
geographical interest; neither, at the precise
date l would recall, was it entirely unpro-
ductive of what might preserve from famine.
Several times, in the course Of the last half
days route, our traveller had pressed his way
through thiekets of plum and grape, well
laden with ripe fruit; but only paused to
taste sufficient of each to know that they
were delicious, and hastened on, being anx-
ious TO overtake and join again the party
from which, by mischance, he had become
separated.
He had counted, perhaps, eight and twen-
ty years the locks, though still dark and
soft, lay thin about bis full temples; his
hazel eyes were deep and flashing; his nose
combining the Grecian with the Roman; a
mouth firm and somewhat wide; complexion
once fair now tinged with brown, from ex-
posure to sun and wind-these embodied a
strongly marked physique; while often an
expression of playful humor rippled over it,
for the moment merging the grave student in
the frolicsome boy. Warmth and generous
ness Of impulse might have been deserted as
among his chief characteristics.
Randolph Campo, the individual thus has
tily sketched to the reader, leaving his FIVE
companions DOING upon the grass, or enjoy.
ing their cigars, resting indolently, with
crossed legs, against mezquite trees ina grove
or, it might be said, a forest, of which the
party had partaken their noon repast, shiel
ded imperfectly from the vertical sun, whose
| heat, fortunately, as they remarked, was tenn
pered by a haze, strolled away, with a curl
GUS interest to discover what he might of the
country beyond for, in order that they NIGH
reach by nighttall the remote settlement they
had left at daybreak. it became necessary tina
the little party should, after briefly refresh.
ing themselves from the fatigue and excite
ment of the morning, begin to retrace theil
route.
At his habitually rapid gait, and abstract
ed in mood, our friend was unaware of tn,
distance trayersed till he emerged from the
immense peach. like orchard of mezquites,
and struck out into the plane, open, and, Il
the eye, interminable LLano estacado. H.
had proceeded not much further, when, upol
rising to his feet, after having, with consld
erable difficulty, and by the aid of his knife
forced up tuft of sward, and attentively oh
served the earthly formation beneath, he, witt
some surprise, beheld what appeared to b
his party, moving forward at no great dis
tance in advance, and hastened towards then
without further delay. Having Travelled OF
for a quarter of an hour, or more, not percep
tibly lessening the intervening space, he be
came suddenly able to account fo- the part,
taking the direction it had, being opposit
the. one intended. A beautiful lake, wit
green and shady groves upon the fathe
verge, gIaddened his sight; this he now un
derstcod to have been the attraction of th
others, and, with view to overtake and unit
his admiration with theirs, quickened hi
pace still more. Once he imagined his ol
ect almost gained, when, presently the Fl
'ures strangely receded, leaving him as E