Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-02
tai before, the nameless. unacknowledged

tai before, the nameless, acknowledged
twin-ship Of the soul.
"The rest of that evening passed like an
airy vision. At parting, a stray bud fell
from my curls at his feet. He raised the
flower, but took the hand | extended to
receive it in his own, and smiled gravely,
and left me, paler and more serious in his
department than ever. | did not stop to
analize my feelings toward him that even
ing, but sought my pillow, afraid that one
calm, collected thought would frighten
away the throng of new, rare feelings hat
crowded my heart with the quick futter of
their fast coming wings.
"lt Is not necessary to tell you that [
loved him. From the first moment our
eyes met we loved each other purely, fer
yently but oh! at last despairingly The
dream was very sweet but bitter was the
waking. However, the end was not vet.
We met again and again, in the crowded
saloons of fashion, and amid all the glare
and gaiety and mirth of those halls of pride,
we were much alone in the stiffness and alb
sorbing idolatry of our hearts great love,
as if we had been alone upon a desert. A
something had whispered to my secret soul,
that this would be no happy love but un-
der the spell of his dark eyes, his grave,
sweet smile, | listened only to the syren
song that was lulling my heart with its
false, and fatal tones. The hour came. [
was dressing to attend a brilliant assembly.
Laces and jewels, flowers, ribbans, and
gloves. were scattered around me, and with
my hair unbound and hanging loosely, |
sat and dreamed, ali loves most delicious
dream. A letter was handed me. The
writing was not familiar, but something
! Old me 1t was his. 1t contained a brief
page and a halt, short indeed, il which to
chronicle the record of two blighted hearts!
l His hand was ~plighted before he ever saw
, my face!
|. easy and light had seemed the tie that
! bound him to a young and gentle being
! he had not dreamed Of a stronger, deepel
love until we met and that his love fo1
5 her, IN comparison for his deep devotion
! to me, was like a mountain rivulet to the
broad illimitable sea. For a time he hae
! yielded to the witchery of the spell bu
= his honor-the ties that bound him to he
e spoke in clarion tones, and babe hin
5 leave me, ere my peace was sacrificed
ere too loved! Alas he little knew
that he alone had been the "angel' tc
trouble the waters" Of my hitherto still
and waveless spirit. In strains of passion
J ate anguish he wrote me his eternal fare
well, and told me that ere | read the line
I ne wrote, he would be far on his way t.
a South Carolina, to consummate his vow
OF betrothal. And thus it ended!
d For one brief and bitter hour [ We
u crushed to the earth, but like the storl
bruised lily, | raised my dropping head an
looked on life again. Two hours afte,
wards moved smilingly through the ga
throngs in fashions halls, and Q n cuesse
?. the dull sense Of agony struggling at m
heart for not a culver Of the lip tol
aught Of the inner woe. l am sometim,
sad. | feel that my cloves young dream
is ended. 1t may, and will be, that | W
love again. In my soul are fountains
love that wiH gush forth as long as l lv
the "strong necessity of loving" is a or
wing Of my heart, and only by a deep al
~ love IS with man an episode.
r. with woman tits a history"
q u have given you mine. [ have bee
II SAD IN It's recital; now Carrie is bersf
again and she brushed back her oloss
: rlnglets, and looked cheerfully around n
II on us. y
r ~, May left her seat, and going to Carr
y imprinted a kiss upon her brow and sftl
>, thls characteristic expression of her svn
Pathy' gwen with thewomanlv delicacv e
y which she is so distinguished, returned +
lo my side. | looked over at Ada. and 7 90,
= mat tears filled her soft dark ewes. and
felt that a chord was touched that had y;
u orated painfully in her pure heart. Ate
a moments silence, Ada inquired. awh
next, Gertie ?" y"
:. I will Tess next" said MAY, smilinol,
: as she passed her small hand mnsinolv 90
L her brow. siy owe
Again we were all attention. and Nav,
l sweet voice broke the silence.
: 10 be comhnued.1