Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-01

fond of nature. Ruth had always been, and
so far was her heart raised above ee.rth-like
thoughts. that she gazed on him whom her
young heart had worshipped, with more of
compassion than resentment, though the tu-
multi Of feeling in her heart was a miniature
Niagara. The recognition was mutual /; but
she saw his eye quail, bis frame was shaken,
he seemed fearfully agitated Pressing for
ward to meet her, he offered his hand, and
IN voice agitated by emotion trembling like
the last lingering echo ola wildfuneral note,
ne said Miss Irwin, and offered his hand,
so pale and thin, while his bright black eyes
were filed with tears which rolled over his
pale sunken cheeks The sight of his suffer-
ing over excited the tTied girl and she fell
faintsng az f1is seeBs Hs b5f3 her to q neigh
boring house and recalled her to life again.
With soothing words he begged her pardon
PROSTATE at her feet he confessed his faults
and entreated her to listen to his history
since they parted, and before they met.
We will not give all, but brief outline
He was an only child brought up in the in
dulgence OF every wish of the heart His
cheif fault was indecision of character, which
IN a gentleman is fearful defect His faith
er had nelce for whom he was GUARDIAN
Associated together as brother and sister they
had loved each other very much, and when
ne bade her farewell, to spend the summer
IN travelling, he parted as if with a dearly
loved sister. Her mild blue eyes were glis-
tening with tears as she took her leave.
He saw Ruth he loved her truly, fond,
ly, and ne thought not of Ella Vane, his
lovely cousin. He returned to his home
His father died, leaving his large estate to
him, with the earnest request that he would
marry Ella and share his estate with her,
for she was an orphan, poor and friendless,
save him. Love for his father was his mas
ter feeling. 1t amounted almost to adora-
ton. When he thought of Ruth he was mis-
cradle; he knew not what to do. When
pale and weary, Ella Vane appeared, her
eyes dimmed by her watching beside his
father, he felt as if she had claims upon his
protection. Who in the wide world would
protect the fragile girl? Who would be her
strength through life, should he refuse his
fathers dying request. He knew should be
refuse, Ella would never, never receive from
him the means of support she would rather
trust to the charity of the cold, proud world
and he would drive forth from his fathers roof
the gentle being who had been the Joy of his
fathers heart, the comforter of his weary
hours, the blessing of his home. Neither
Ella nor his father knew Of his attachment
to Ruth Irwin. If Ella had known the con-
tilct IN his heart, she would never have &C.
cepted his hand. Fluctuating as the wild
waves OF the sea, now his mind was in an
agltated state. But-he married blue-eyed
Ella, and Ruth, the loved one, was forsaken.
For one short year she lived to bless him ;
to spread around his hearth-stone the radiant
beams of piety, and. then her mild blue ewes
peace. oir1 ney6r Knew y 90 -oE..J -
a sister, that Clement loved her. She died
with his name on her lips, his hand clasped
in hers He mourned sincerely for the de
voted girl who faded so young, so lovely
from earth; but he was comforted with th'
thought that the lovely flower was transplan
ted from this unfriendly world, to bloom il
everlasting beauty in the celestial city, wher
decay and sorrow are never known.
He hastened, after years mourning fo
his wife, to the beautiful village where b
had loved Ruth Irwin. She was not there
He enuuired where she was, and was tol
she had gone to some watering place for he
health. He went there, but saw her not
From place to place he sought his heart
idol. and they met beside the foaming cata
| act, the wonder of the western world. e
| prayed for pardon, and besought the mob
| girl to be his wife. He had not changed,
| said his heart had ever been hers as whe
they parted. Circumstances had conquer'
him he was not faithless and long yea
| of devotion should atone for the past. 81
| listened to his sad recital with interest az
wept over the early death of Ella Vane b
she firmly refused to listen to his request.
"No, Clement" she said, " have alwa
loved you, but my confidence is destroyed
and without confidence there could be
happiness. | could never trust my earth
happiness with one who has once deceiv
me. | too have done wrong. Wild and
, pulsive as I have ever been, | yielded I
heart too easily to stranger but havi
done this, my future life must be the atol
ment for the past. shall ever regard y
as friend and should the time ever col
when you need friend, don't forget tt
: Ruth Twins love is yours, as when in
beautiful days of youth we parted. ;
not unhappy. have consecrated my futl
t life, With the help of my heavenly father,
l his service shall endeavor to walk bef
him so that when my life is over, [ sh
e meet the loved ones gone before in that wo
: where there is no suffering, and where v
/ wait to welcome you, the one l have m
/ loved on earth, to everlasting happiness.
forth in the world, Clement, not to idle av
y an existence Short even when we'll emplt
J. ed. Let the light which streams brlllian
q from your watchword-Excelsior lead
y to higher exertions for the good of others
y Live not for yourself alone. Be in earne
is accomplish something for the cause of y
IS follow men and humanity, and when
x have succeeded in this, when the wido
rt heart shall leap for joy, and with blessi
pronounce your name; when the poor orph
s shall crowd your pathway and greet
n with tears of gratitude, and the good
er great shall echo your name with thought
us ness. then will Ruth Irwin bless you
ut fondly, as she now loues you. May you
ne happy is the prayer Of her you have so f
y fully wronged."
as- Clement Ryland, with one kiss on the
Ia brow Of the noble girl, one earnest, linge
farewell, uttered in such hollow, sepulc
m tones, that in the midnight hour Ruth
not could hear it for many months, he rus
ia from the house, a changed man! He
hor loued Ruth before, now he qoorSbipped be
tba So bitterly did he mourn that crowning Fl
sbe that indecision which had made hin
Itb wretched for life. But with the inspi
ofI words uttered by Ruth Irwin, her ewes
so with tears, her holy look for his incenti
.ose action, her approving smile the goal for "
- he strove, he could not idly yield to des
aart but ever after that he lived true life
! devoted to the interests of humanity.
yaze And Ruth Irwin lived an old maid !
3 ON many fairy like creature, over whose
lid disappointment had never cast its dark
, II ow, smiled at the firm old maid and wo
tbot ed why she. the gentle Miss Ruth. goo,
t;ost ,oyely as she was, could never love,