Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-05-13
CHAPTER III.

She went her way with a strong step and slow,
Her pressd lip arehed, and her clear eye undimmed
As IL had been diamond, and her form
Borne proudly up, as if her soul breathed through
WILLIS.
have no joy of this contract tonight:
1t is too rash, too unadyised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which hath ceased to be
Ere one can say-it lightens
ROMEO AND JULIET.
DO not give yourself any uneasnass
about me, Kate assure you do not in
tend to play the part of love-lorn damsel-
go into convent or die of broken heart
Do look like it %
These words were uttered by Adelaide
Lindsey in reply to :ssEiaEsl.sT.t T.tary exclarna.
tion of sorrow on the part of her sister, a
very few days after Theresa left In turn.
ing over the drawers of bureau, which the
sisters shared together, Kate had found some
little articles that Adelaide had already pre-
pared in anticipation of her approaching
marriage; and a very mournful comment on
the instability of all things earthly had been
the result. She now turned, and gazed at
Ada
Say, Kate-do I look like it ?"
No, Ada, not at all. never knew YOUR
color to be so bright, or your lips SO red, and
your eyes fairly dazzle me- But do not
like your looks. nevertheless"
Adelaide laughed-but it was laugh that
had little gladness in it.
" 1t is very hard to please you, Kate how
would you have me look ?"
Kate sighed, and turned away. she was
completely puzzled by her sisters demeanor.
She had never known her to be so gay-so
fullof the widest spirits yetshe eltinstinc-
lively that she was not happy. More than
once had she found her pillow wet with tears
in the morning; and let her awake when
she would in the night Adelades eyes were
wide open. Once and once only, had she
found her in restless sleep, and then name
she had never breathed aloud since the eve
ming of their parting was upon her lips, cou-
pied with passionate words of reproof and
entreaty. In the morning, Kate had been
unable to restrain the expression of the sym-
pathy that glowed so warmly at her heart.
and in Adelaide's reply she mi ght have found
the key to all that was strange in her con-
duct.
Don't pity me, Kate; tell you I cannot
bear it-that is worse than all the rest.o-
And her lip curled very bitterly
Three months had passed since George
Tilden had left for the South, when one eve
ming, at a rather late hour, Kate and AIDE
laide returned from a small party at the
house of one of their friends. During those
three months the village had been unusually
gay. There had been many strangers in
town, and parties, rides, and gatherings of
all sorts had followed each other in Quick
succession. Adelaide had been incessantly
on the wing, and had prevailed upon Kate
lwho had not yet laid aside her mourning)
to accompany her two or thres times. This
evening" after they had thrown off their hoods
and seated themselves by the fire, Adelaide
thought her sisters face was unusually cloud
ed.
What is the matter, tonight, Kate p
You look very forlorn."
8 l am troubled about you, Ada
About me, Kate-why so ?"
Don't be offended, dear Adelaide, but I
must speak plainly. never thought you
coquettish before. but your treatment of
Willis Fletcher this evening has looked very
much like it."
Adelaide colored deeply, but she did not
answer.
You are not angry with me, Ada?
should not have noticed it, perhaps, if had
not loved you so well. l want you to be on
your guard ittle-that's ALL
Still Adelaide neither moved nor spoke
Iel me that you are not angry, dear
Gnu Noee AnelG Dy ner sisters size,
ana tWlnlng her arms about her waist looked
afectionately in her face.
Certainly not, Kate: bat why did Won
think me coquettish p
How can you ask such question. Ada ?
You know very well already: he was with
you constantly. You scarcely spoke to anv
other gentleman during the whole evening.
Wen-was there any one present better
worth talking TOP
Oh, no, Adat do not mean that Hike
him exceedingly, and his heart is too noble
to be triaed with
l am not trifing with him.
"nat else can you call it? IF he had
peen an acknowledged lover he could not
nave appeared more devoted to you, and you