Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-29
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Written fer the Spirit of the Age.
Eugenia WintOn: or, The Deadly Hate.
A LEGEND CT THE BLUE RIceE.
BY oLIN oLNEY.

NO one has ever been among the noun
Aains Of Western North Carolina, without
viewing with admiration and awe, the sub
lime and ever interesting scenery which is
here spread out in such profusion. Wes-
tern North Carolina is truly a land Of ro-
nance. It's lofty mountains overgrown
with laurel its overhanging crags cover
ed with moss and ivy its sunny slopes
and green vallies, witered by limpid brooks
from crystal fountains all c~ouspire to
make the mountains of the "Old North
State" a fit home for the lover of the lofty
and sumiime. Almost every towering cliff
and every rocky chasm has some romantic
story connected with it, which adds new
interest to the already sublime scene.
Not far from the Devils Courthouse,
in the Blue Ridge, lies a valley encircled
on almost every side by high hills and lof-
~ peaks; sometimes jutting out in per-
pendicular cliffs, and NOR melting away
into gentle slopes till lost in the green
meadows that o~nclrcle their feet. A rip
pling stream gushes from its fountains
among the hills, and wends its serpentine
course through shady groves and green
meadows, till it disappears in the wide
spreading IOfc5L laT III tue ulSbduCc.
Many years ago, upon this lovely spot,
transpired the principal events Of my tale.
Here lived in the time of the Revolution,
Laurence Winston ; an aged gentleman
who had some years before emigrated thith-
or from Pennsylvania, in search of tranquil
hcme in the south, where he might, with
his little family, pass the remainder of his
days in peace. His family consisted of
himself, his wife, a son, and o beautiful
daughter Of sixteen summers, whose angel
ic form and rosy cheeks would have wed
with a painters brightest dream. All his
other children had died in Pennsylvania.
When they first came to this (now love-
ly) spot, it was a wilderness-and the place
where then the mighty oaks reared aloft
their heads, is no1 converted into fruit
ful fields, covered with waving grain and
grazing herds. But the cloud-eapped
mountains have remained unchanged, and
seem to look down with regret for the pass
ing away Of the dark old forest, and the
old house that in days long passed reared
ITS moss covered walls, perhaps as green as
the sward from which they arose.
There was the home Of Eugenia Wins
ton; and here among the hills she spent the
happiest of her days; with her parents
and her brother Edward a noble youth,
whose eagle eye told plainly that a true
heart beat within his manly bosom.
At first, owing to the small number Of
settlers, the acquaintance of Edward and
Eugenia were few; but the sound of the
woodlands axe, and the crash of falling
trees echoing and re-echoing among the
hills, told that they were soon to be sur
rounded by thrifty aud onterprising neigh
bors. Ralph Thompson and Walter Payne
were the youthful companions and friend
Of Edward. They were both noble lookin,
FhF nEdgsRlR."' Ralph was tall, graceful
and brave while the form of Walter wa
remarkable for its compactness and sym
mesry aud his dark eye was but the in
.dex Of a passionate soul within. Thes
young men were friends till Ralph frank
acknowledged to his friend, that he love
Eugenia dearer than his W life. Waite
loved equally, but he kept it a secret with
in his own bosom, and with it cherished
secret dislike for his former friend, VIII
never once suspected he had found a rivi
and enemy in Walter Payne.
Time passed on and both became th
avowed suitors Of Eugenia, and both offel
cd up their devotions at her shrine, will
out either having any assurance he was r.
garded with more fondness than the oil
er.
In the mean time the Revolution havin
broke out, the whole country was one seer
of excitement Old and young Joined j
the glorious cause Of freedom. The coui
try was divided between blood thirsty pa
ties, who waged war upon each other wit
asavage barbarity, which obliterated ever
tie OF friendship that might have once ext
ted, between those who fought for the
country and those who fought for the
King.
Ralph Thompson was a decided WIFI
and braveiy did he contend for the honC
and freedom Of his country. Walter Paw
indicated the cause of the Tories, an
thus sprung up o fresh breeze to fan IL
flames OF anger already kindled in tile
oosoms. Yet with Ralph, there was l
,cowardly hate towards his rival. Not
with the passionate Walter Payne, who
merry and vindictive temper could not be,
TO be thwarted, when he had for his enen
MS rival both In love and war. Now b
former dislike was changed into a lastir
undylng hate, which nothing but the Ii
OF Its unfortunate victim could satisfy.
AT length Eugenia declared her prefe
Gnee for the brave, generous and 90,
halph,. whom she loved with all {
strength and favor of her maiden hear
ana like a true, and noble hearted girl
she was, wished her other suffers to KIN,
IN whose hands, and whose only, she cou
'ntTnst her hopes, her happiness, her a
When Walter Payne heard this decisic
MS reason reeled under the shock
TaVed-he wrung his hands; and as if
MS demon-like passions had arrayed the
selves against one object, he swore to to
the life Of Ralph Thomson and-die!
Ralph we'll knew his danger, but n
that ne possessed the love of so pure a or
'ure as his Owl dear Eugenia, he car
not, Tor with her by his side, he was h,
Ply.
Days and weeks rolled on, and MOTH
more was heard or seen of Walter Payne
Many were the enquiries-where had
gCne-Whathad become ofhim. No one co
tell none of his friends knew ANYTHING
Nun Some supposed he was lurking
Tue mountains, seeking q fit opportunity