Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-10-21
@A. 9. !:
Gains 9spattmtnt.
The Orphans Departure.
by MARoAREr FLorD.-coNcLUDED.

his aunt, who wrote urgently for his imme-
date presence. He took a reluctant leave
ofhis companions, but not before he had had
a long conversation with Mr.. Frazier, In
which he asked his permission to reveal to
Edith the love that had already become q
strong feeling in bis heart.
Heretofore he had beenathrown, he said,
among a set Of worldly and fashionable wo-
men, and had come 10 look upon simplicity
and unwcrldliness as traits no longer to be
met with among the educated and polished
members of society, and Edith Frazier exhi-
bited a character as new as attractive to him.
MIR. Frazier's parental pride was grati6ed
at the tribute thus paid to Edith by a man
like Mr.. Hildreth, but he could not bear to
think Of giving up the only object of affection
left 70 him, nor contemplate without pain the
idea that his daughters home might be in a
distant land. He did all that he felt justified
in doing to avert the day Of separation, and
pleading Edith's youth, requested Mr.. Hill
dreth to postpone for a year his declaration.
To this delay Mr.. Hildreth was unwilling to
consent, bat ut last was obliged unwillingly
70 yield to a probation Of six months.
lie le(t Edith. in accordance with the prom
lee he had made Mr.. Frazier, entirely uncon-
seious Of bis feelings towards her, and for
some time almost equally unaware other own.
She knew that the loss Of his society had
NNpElNSu Y VI ttb kIthtCf part VI the pledh-
ure she had taken in the new scenes through
which she vas journeying, but it was not
until sko was again settled in her own home
at Hillcomb that she began to feel that Mr..
Hildreth had been far more to her than o
mere agreeable casual acquaintance.
This discovery mortified her extremely
She felt as though it was both wrong and
humiliating. that one whom she had known
80 short n time, and who had shown no proof
-. q .A-kks,~ I,k an uN.- $3.50.
and rather pleasing girl, should engross so
much Of her thoughts. She resolved to use
every means to crush the feelings that, new
as they were, seemed to have struck their
roots so deeply in her heart. But at first she
could not resist asking her father ono ques-
ton
DO you think we shall ever see Mr.. Hill
dreth again, father7 said she one day, with
affected indifference.
Perhaps So said no, quietly we can
never tell what may happen
IIIe can never have spoken to my father
about coming here,' thought Edith, 'or he
would not have seemed so uncertain about it,
and, with true feminine pride, the young girl
forbore any farther mention of the one whom
yet she foundit impossible 10 forget.
Two months Of the six had passed away,
when Edith was called to bear another heavy
trial. Her father died suddenly, leaving her
unprovided for and alone In the world
Such an event was apparently tho last in the
world to be expected, as Mr.. Frazier had al
ways seemed to be a man in vigorous health
and with q fair prospect of long life. To 9
long life he had evidently looked forward, fol
he had made no arrangements for his cherish
ed daughter, and had left no directions b,
which she might guido her future course.
In her desolation, Edith could think of Blu
one person from whom she might expect pre-
lection q half-sister Of her fathers, VIII
resided in London. She had seen her aunt
Mrs. Burnleigh, but seldom, but knew tha
she was q widow in easy circumstances, wit
n large family Of children. To her she a.
cordingly applied, and received in return a
invitation to come to her until she had dec
ded on her future course.
With q sorIowful heart, Edith left the hon
where so many bright and happy years ha
been passed. As she sat alone waiting fl
the coach 10 pass that was to convey her
London, with no attendant but the gardener
boy, aud no companion but her canary,
parting gift from Mr.. Hildreth, sent to Hill
comb by him from Dover just before he on
barked for France, the contrast between h
present desolation and the warm, shelterin
love in which she had 80 long lived, almo
overcame her. But the lonely soon acquii
the power Of selfcontrol, and Edith had q
FeaUN DeRuH u iohFu lNG nuTu IDSSOl OF gel
reliance. With an outward composure tin
hid the painful throbbings Of her heart fro
her travelling companions, she took her SO
in the coach, and in q few hours arrive
safely at Mrs. Burnleigh's.
Edith found her aunt an apparently we
meaning, proper kind of a woman, kind al
sympathizing in her manners, but who e.
IDENTIFY had not the slightest intention of Z
nying herself or her children the smallC
luxury for the sake Of her brothers orpha
ed daughter. For a few weeks Edith i
left to the quiet indulgence Of her grief, q
then Mrs. Burnleigh, thinking that she h
done all that society could possibly dema
Of her in the way Vt respect to her brothe
memory or kindness to his child, began
sound Edith as to her intentions for the
ture.
The young girl, thrown so suddenly VI
her own resources, had not yet begun
think for herself, and the idea Of seek
a home among strangers made her heart s
within hSr. She begged her aunt to I
upon herself the task Of finding for her 81
position that she could Gil creditably,
she hoped, she said, timidly, that it mi
be somewhere near her aunt, her only
naming relative.
This did not suit Mrs. Burnleigh exat
who, being Of that turn of mind that alN
forosees the possible evil in oil cases,
not pleased with tho idea that she Nigh
any time be called upon to offer q hom
her friendless relative. Like a prudent
man, however. she forebore saying AM
that might reveal her true feelings, but
mono the less resolved that, il two ecu
favorable situations offered themselves
would be wiser for her to advise Edith t
cept the one at the greatest distance.
She succeeded beyond her hopes. {
ing in one day, she said to Edith, with
usual animation
My dear, ] have found a most doligl
situation for you. Two hundred poun
wear for teaching one little girl. You
speak French, can you notP
Yes, l have spent a year in France.
And you play unusually we'll, and
and paint beautifully, 80 that l thin
parents Of the child may consider thems
quite Fortunate
'Who are they 2 asked Edith.
They are Americans Mr.. and
Blake, from South Carolina
Edith's heart had bounded at the me
Of the country, bat il sank when the
was named TO which Mrs. Burnleigh W
20 send her. Unlike most English girl
knew enough Of the geography Of the [
States to remember that a wide distanc
nrated South Carolina from New 70
that, even If Mr.. Hildreth had return
his own country, which was uulikel
would DO almost as distant from him t6
IL she remained in England. The i,