Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25

TO answer; they probably took it for grant.
cd tnat had been the victim Of some broil,
to it.
Thirty years Of hard work rolled by,
Harry, during which [ acquired family,
fortune, name, and grey hairs; but [ never,
In all that time, saw or heard from my
clients, with the exception of one letter,
which was received some years after the
occurrences which I have related, and
which contained two more fifty dollar bills,
with the words:
We are very happy; may God bless
you 81 . hoRA.p
But IN all that tune, I have never for
gotten that beautiful, angelic face, nor the
mute appeal which it made to my heart
the answer to which cost me the deep scar
which is the subject of your present curl
osity, and one thousand dollar fee, less
the amount received from the young folks.
Neither did |, in all that time, regret the
course I took
Some ten years ago, as you probably
remember, | spent winter in Havana
| boarded with a Spanish landlord, whose
house was gener lily filled with American
visitors. But strange to say, [ passed one
week with him without single American
arrival, and | was mentally resolving one
day to leave for New Orleans, where |
could find troops Of friends, and rid myself
OF the ennul consequent upon my solitary
position, when | heard my host calling me;
l,- 4
canos.
Looking from my window, saw a fine
portly gentleman attending to his luggage,
ana answer 6 the demands of the thous.
and and one leeches of porters who each
claimed to have brought something for
hlm: Thinking that might be of Service
to him, | went out, and with two or three
dimes dispersed the Williams who, knowing
me for an old stager, submitted to my or
ders. The gentleman turned to thank me,
but suddenly started back, then glanced
at my temple and seeing the end of nv
candle-stick mark peeping out beneath nv
sombrero, he caught me by the hand ex-
claiming:
"We have met before, sir how glad
am to see you ~
And then, without explanation, he drew
me to the doorway in which stood mat
ronly but still beautiful woman.
"See, Dora,' said he, ''is not this our
old friend ?"
At the word "Dora," I started, and
there before me, sure enough, stood the
Doraof thirty years previous, still retaining
rnany@of her chGftns,sbu with the marks
OF time, Notwithstanding, impressed upon
her features.
on may we'll believe our reunion was
most pleasant; and after dinner was over,
and we were out enjoying the sea-breeze,
the whole story was told me- [ will not
give you the details Of it it was long. but
the main features of it were about what /
had surmlsed. Dora was the only child Of
her wealthy father; her mother died when
she was mere child; old Augeline had
remained with her father In the capacity
OF housekeeper, and had, while Dora was
away at school, acquired as is generally the
case, complete influence over him. Dora
was wooed and won by poor clerk; the
father would not listen to it; an elopement
was the consequence and the old man in
his rage broke up housekeeping, and ia
king old Angeline with him, had started
for the South. Dora followed him with
her husband, although she knew he would
not see her, AMI although he had always
been harsh and unkind to her, yet she
knew he was in the last stages of consump-
ton, and she determined, if possible. to be
with him when he died. At the time of
his death, they had been following him
about month from place to place, keeping
concealed from him, and eluding even the
keen eyes Of Angeline. When Dora ap-
peared IN the room, it was only because
tie man servant, who had been with her
father, and who, as you remember, left the
room when | entered, had observed their
arrival and had kindly gone to her and in
formed her that her father could not live
an hour; she was entering the room to
make one last effort at reconciliation, when
my voice reading the fearful words O: her
fathers curse caused the outcry and de-
aouucement. Her husband, who followed
her in, found the old man dead, Dora in
swoon, me senseless, and old Angeline in
vain trying to put the many pieces Of the
will together, raving and cursing like
bedlamite. He and the man-servaat put
the old mans body into the bed, took Dora
to her room, and while the servant kept
guard over Angeline, he took me home in
a carriage. The rest you know.
I have only to add that, whenever |
wander North, either alone or with nv
wife or family, we always stop at the house
of our kind friends. They have spent one
winter with US at the south, and we expect
them again in the coming season. And
the young gentleman who studied law un-
der my instruction, and who now practices
law with my name on the sign with his
(as senior partner, although he does all the
business } is Dora's son, and from certain
conscious looks and bright blu hing on my
pretty laughter's cheek when he calls, |
Imagine he may possibly be mine, too
But of this, Harry, rest assured-I shall
not curse her if she marries him.
T7nc1o;.v,,o oJ D.,i,7.oIe Tho lact Gonar