Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-05-20

IN your obstlnaey, You shall be turned
pennies away from my house and from
my love- iion
Then it must be SO. Sooner than bar-
ter my love, my happiness awav for oold
| VIII be a beggar. Sooner poverty with
Edgar LIttleton, than luxury with Major
Dahcan." ol
leave me and reflect on what 7 have
said, and when you are over you excite.
ment, shall speak to you again on this
subject" 'nS
Mary left her mother and went to bor
room. When there she gave rent to bar
grief in tears. She thought on the unnat.
ural commands her mother had given her
and inwardly resolved, come what wonld
she would never give her hand where her
love accompanied it not; and that was
Edgar Littleton's and to him her hand was
pledged.
Again and again her mother spoke to
her OF Major Duncan, relaxing not in
praises OF the gallant Major" urging his
SUIT with an energy which would have done
honor to the wooer himself. And was he
idle! No, but he sought on every oppor-
tunlty to engraft himself into her favor
and good will Rsat her laua mas l,nahanae-1
aDiy another and no encouragement did
he receive in his constant and repeatedly
repulsed advances. This was a trying time
Tor Mary. Alternately hope Of her moth
ers relenting and despair of such a ter
mlnation of the affair, filed her heart
she saw nothing but Punishment from
her mothers home and love, or else to be.
stow her hand On one, for whom she en-
tertalned only feelings of dislike and alb
horrence. She had heard sad rumors of
MAJOR Duncan. He had been seen in ga
ming halls and in those soul-destroying
haunts, fashionable restaurants" or in
other words manufactures of d,u1nkords.
Sad, sad was her experience of the effects
OF alcoholic drinks. She had seen the
f%alrest prospects and hopes of happiness
blasted; she had seen youth grow imma-
turely old, and the full rosy cheek turned
pale and sunken. She had seen a friend,
young, beautiful and dear to her, descend
into an untimely grave, caused by sorrow
tor the fate of one brought on by intoxi-
eating beverages. Too much sorrow had
she seen caused by this fend-this enemy
OF man, society, religion and all that is
lovely, good, or that tends to the raising of
humanity, to unite herself with one, who
was the subject of such suggestions.
The spacious dwelling of Squire Brown
was filled with the elite of B. Sweet
music, mingled with the gay laugh Of the
%votaries of pleasure, greeted the ear of the
lingering passerby. Pleasure reigned su-
preme. Mary and her mother was of the
company, and in the excitement of the
dane, sorrow for a while was banished
from Mary's mind. Like a queen did she
walk among her host of friends and admi-
rers. No cloud Of %unhappiness seemed to
obscure the brightness of her life. Her
companions envied her, but could thew
have seen her In her chamber, where no
eye, but His that sees all things, was up
on her, methinks they would have pitaed
a stranger entered. Mrs. benson seem
ed speli-bound, and tremblingly her eyes
loIlPWed him. 1t was apparent to the most
casual observer that she was worked unon
by some deep inward emotion, which seem
ed to pierce her heart with sorrow: at least.
so said her cou~ntenance.
The stranger appeared to be a verv well
come guest. Smiles and courtesies were
showered upon him in profuseness. He
was introduced to the guests by a friend
who accompanied him, and now he was
led to the flashing Widow benson, and now
her agitation increased.
Mrs, benson, allow me to introduce 70
you Captain Walton
captain Walton" spoke Mrs Don
son, trembling with her forebodings real
lied.
Captain Walton was our old friend Ro-
bert Walton, the husband of Mabel
Dressed IN his uniform, he presented q
truly hne appearance, and as he spoke TO
Mrs: benson, and gazed into her face =
sudden paleness overspread his features.
and he CALCULATED
Mrs. --! Mrs. benson. T think
We have met before" but he received no
answer, for the one he addressed, unable
TO bear up against her overwrought feel
lngs, now fell swooning. He turned awav
and heaving a sigh of relief, he asked Of
his friend:
How long has Mrs. benson been in
B." !"
About seventeen years."
self. - nlm-
Why, what's the matter with you.
Captain 7" '00'
Nothing, nothing; my thoughts were
busy with the past, and visions of hanni-
ness-lost, forever lost and gone passed
through my mind"
BY the use Of proper means Mrs. Den
son was now again brought to a conscious
state, and ordering her carriage. she nra.
pared to depart for her house, having first
requested Captain Walton to call on her
the following day.
Many were the surmises of tho srooto
tors OF this interview, as to the canse If
both the Widows and the Captains aoits-
ton but how little did they know
The morning dawned. and Canta;n W.,
ton anxious to learn the sequel Of this
strange recognition, was early at her
dwelling. That day the dark cioud of bic
soul-that cloud which had SO LONG Olsen
red the pleasure of his life-was dissina.
ted, and his life of happiness Commenced
and henceforward all his thoughts and ex,
Pectatlons were of JOY and happiness
Dack' lar back, into her life did she 90. and
when she said in conclusion, "Robert, nm
til the moment I saw you last NIGHT. onlv
feelings of revenge for my fancied wronos
reloned In nv bouom 8