Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-06-17

interview, previous ~ Adela;de's illness, and
he remembered how tauntiIgy-how scorn-
tnly he bad told her that she could deceive
him no longer. and how sterldy he had bid !.
len her cease IT, mock hins with iser preten-
d'd love. Aad yet, after AL, that, he had
wondered why she held herself 80 COLBY
aloof and made 10 effort 10 soften his heart.
lie marveied Dow AZ his awIf bnliness, and
spriaging up, he rang fhe belt yioleutly.
James answ red the summons
Did Mrs. Fletcher leave word how long
Size intended to be gane?'
No. sir; at least ! nave not heard that
she lid
Did she taFe the cars or the heat?'
Neither, sir she went with tle carriage
Send Robert to me-.
IN teas moments the coafsL man appeared,
has IN hand.
EFT
AZ Len.
s. Mhe.. did she ell yss, Ia eanae AT ter lAi2s
ns.asd aes tsll me = eonse - ~ siz
who were to meet her there.t
When did she expect them 2
She thought they would he there before
she was, but they were not She would not
let me wait; for she SAID they would come
1efore night, anu had better return imme-
dately
Had she much baggage?
Only one trunk, sir.
Very well, you may go.'
Willis sletcher vas ssIore-wife and child
were gone. One was at rest, but as for the
other, Oh! where was she? All night he
walked the floor lmpatiently, for not until
the morning dawned could he pursue his in
quiries.
Ii wore away at last, and few faint glim
merlngs in the east forotold the coming day.
He went forth with strong heart H.
would lind her. No power on earth should
keep her from him. now that he knew she
loved him; be would bring her back to her
happy home again: he would tel! her how
iOndly his heart had chung to her even when
he Believed her false !; he would tad heI for
get those long months of sorrow. and while
ne held her IN his arms aad kissed away the
tears that had dmmed her eyes SO long
be, too, would plead for forgiveness ne
would tell her that he, too, had erred.
One month afterwarc Willis Fletcher agaiu
sat In the SAM room alone-but how he had
altered ! The fire hal faded from his eye
his cheeks were wan and haggard, and his
whole bearing hopeless and desponding You
would have thought that many years had
flung their lengthening shadows upon his
pathway, since you lastlooked upon him.
lie could not find Adelaide-he had used
every endaavor, but he could trace her no
farther than L.. The landlord of the
hotel there remembered that on such day
lady stopped at his house and dismissed
her carriage Immediately; that shortly after
party of travellers arrived, and that the
lady vent on with them they staid but a
few moments, anGNdid not re egister their
names. Whether they went north or south
he was sure he could not tell the place was
complete ughfare-and he had never
considered it his business to enquire into
the movements of his guests if they paid
| their bills it was all he asked Of them.
Anxious and disappointed, Mr. Fletcher
went next to Barrett & Co. To his great
W hole year.
! He retsrned to his own house and repair
ed to his yife's room. After some search he
succeeded in finding the keys to her ward
robe and bureaus Her iewel.case was there,
and be opened it. Not single gem was
missing-not All ornament that he had given
her had she taken away, excepting a minia-
rnrp, which had been one of his wedding
gifts.
Adelaide had very valuable watch that
lld beiongei to her mother, and some few
oi-ces of plate that had for Il long time heen
cherished a. heir'l0o in her family These
she had sold. ani her husband { .und some
| a'nutes Of the transaction, in pocket-boot
/ me had left behind. 1t had evidently brer
y mistake. for it contained also a Jock G
| 4 - II ~.
cttpr or two in her fathers hand writin =
and also the few tat ne had himself writer
? 81 her previous To their marriage Thes
7 last were nearly woru out and were blister
ed with tears.
Hcw his own fell over them!
fer richest articles Of clothing were all il
= their respective places She hai taken wit
her only the planest and least valuable
only such as she would absolutely need j
! the new station she was about TO ill.
II was soon rumored in the circle Of thei
. acquaintance that Mrs Fletcher left home-a
/ long visit during her husbands absence
People wondered at that, but they wondere
! still more when weeks heightened int
4 months, and she did not return.
y Willis Fletcher sold his splendid establish
; ment and took lod sings at BOARDING hous
# He could not remain where every thing spoh
4 to him of his lost wife where every rool
and every article of furniture told him son
tale of her.
y He took lodgings. as we have said, but
i the vain hope Of fleeing from himself, as We
n as with a vague idea that he might by th
>. means obtain some tidingS Of Adelaide,
II became wanderer. From city to city. fro
state to state, he roved like al unquies spir
: seeking rest but finding it not.
IL