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

There is 20 safety fras anywhere but
here
There is safety for you any here. INV be-
loved sister, il you viii xaiy lean ,lnon the
Everlasting Arm. But = re svaatsd down
stairs I hear father aae Willis inonir;nc
for you. Here, bathe ace 81, fhis eoaf
fresh water, and will brs.s pour hair : lifflss.
There, now we viii go ds xiss=-vou DON'T LOOK
at'all a. If you had been gyinrS-a with
their arms about eachpt waists. tie sis
tiers descended the staira.%
! A few weeks found q aide fairly estah.s
hshed in her new home And an sIeeant
and luxurious home It Mr.. Fletcher
naa Ls purchased 9 beg = Snlaes just out of
sis l5s bride 6,5s, asa s;.b hssse l sssptisa
th@t AEea1t. "a ~ asasss s..s. J
tidious taste, could ptsca3e. 10 Adelaide it
was all novelty and beauty. Her fatherwas
in what would, in New England parlance, be
calledmoderate circumstances, about midway
between the vale of poverty and the mount
of affuence-not poor enough to be deprived
Of any Of the real comforts of life, and vet not
rich enough to indulgein any very expensive
pleasures.
Adelaide had an almost passionate love for
the beautiful In Nature and art. Her hus-
band had taken care that in the home he had
provided for her, she should be enabled to
crafty it to its fullest extent, and he was not
disappointed in the delight it afforded her.
But what touched her woman's heart more
than all the rest, was to find that her own
peculiar tastes had been so regarded. 1t
seemed to her that she had never during all
the years of her acquaintance with Willis,
uttered in his presence awish, or even fancy,
that he had not remembered, and gratifed
as far as it was possible.
They went from room to room, each SEEM
ing to Adelaide's eyes more beautiful than
the last, and at length ente red one that her
husband designed should be exclusively her
own. 1t contained harp, bookcase filled
with the choicest books,in the costliest bind
ings, writing-desk and workable, all of
the most exquisite workmanship, and in the
large bay-window, which led into the garden,
and afforded a fine viewof the Hudson, was
collection of rare and beautiful plants. The
chairs and ottomans were of the lightest and
most graceful patterns and one or two ex-
quisite paintings hungfupon the wall She
approached one of then, and then with an
exclamation of astonishnent drew still nearer.
Not great while preTons to their betrothal
she had been speaking to Mr.. Fletcher of an
engraving that she particularly admired, and
had said she believed she should never be
tired of looking at it. She had never thought
of it since, but not so her husband. At great
expense, and with no little trouble, he had
succeeded in obtaining the original painting.
'Oh, Mr.. Fletcher she exclaimed, as she
turned her swimming eyes upon him, you
are only too good, too kind to me. How can
l ever repay your
Very easily, my love- he replied. 4 Icon
slider myself already repaid if have given
l you any any pleasure but # your gratitude at
charge all your obiigaesUns very readily
just call me by some formal and more famil.
lar appellation than Mr.. Fletcher, and I shall
be the debtor. You have never called me
Willis once. Do you find any difficulty in
pronouncing the word?'
oh, no, none at all, said Adelaide, laugh
, ing and blushing. 'But-but-'
But what? p
'Oh, nothing. Only suppose havn't got
in the habit Of it yet''
: We'll, l hope you will get in the habit of
= treating me familiarly before great while.
!. Are you always SO chary of looks and words
= : of affection, dear Ada? You do not know
: how long to feel that the deep, pure love
! bear you is returned fully. have always
:. been alone, as far as the nearest and deares
- relations of life are concerned. l can remem
~ ber neither father nor mother, and my littl,
, sister died when I was just old enough t.
weep as if my heart would break over some
= thing very terrible, but which / could no
- comprehend. And have such wish to
y loved, for myself alone, as you, Ada, VIII
= = have always breathed the atmosphere of al
- fection, can never understand. I though
= that when I could call you my own swee
LII wife, that restless yearning would be stille
forever-but it is not. You are always kline
but want more than kindness, Ada; | ca
T. T. be satisfied with nothing less than love-
- 10 There was an earnest, pleading tone in he
- husbands voice that went to Adelaide's hear
- - What would she not have given if she could
te in all sincerity, have thrown her arms abou
u his neck with the fond words that would
y once have sprung to the lips of true an
" loving wife,
"a She replied kindly, afectionately; but st
!u felt that he was grieved because she did NJ
IL respond as he wished to his expressions
9, attachment. She felt how deeply she ha
M .Mr' wronged him in giving him her hand whe
~ her deepest and holiest affections did n
= accompany the gift. She had told Kate tn
ek 81 she should be good wife-that she shou
81, discharge all her duties faithfully. She nc
as saw that her first duty was to loue-that ia
an ing in that, she could discharge no other
:. she ought.