Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-12-22

luS anu LOT Gay uau OecIi onGiIely speech
less. In the evening, while she was gently
slumbering, Margaret was constrained tc
leave her room for few moments, and or
RETURNING found stranger kneeling by hel
bedside, her hand tightly clasped in his
on which he was wildly imprinting kisses
as he murmured incoherently-"Too late
too late but o God, thank thee, not toe
late tc know that my wish is granted-that
the idolizing love of my heart has been re-
turned"
| Maggie knew it was long-lost Willie, for
the expression was still the same as in the
miniature likeness, though there were deep
er thought in the large earnest eyes-more
raven-like locks clustering round the high
classic brow, and the delicate features
Drowned by the southern sun. Delicacy
forbade her intruding, and she would have
left the room, but Edith beckoned her to-
ward her, and motioned to her to kneel by
her bedside; and as she did so, she drew
the ring from her finger, placed it on Mar
garet's and clasping hand of each of her
friends-hcr only two friends in the wide
world-within her own, she calmly sank
into that holy sleep which on earth know
eth no awakening.
Angels had borne her spirit to blissful
realms on high, yet around her pale lips
there still fingered heavenly smile, and
it seemed the light of life had not all faded
from those loving eyes. She had chosen
her last resting place it should be
down beside the mossy bank Of the stream
let, at the foot of the hill, where the merry
birds would pour forth their lays of glad
ness, and modest violets would spring up
around her lowly bed. Thither they bore
her, followed by long train of the little
children she had loved, dressed in white,
with mourning badges and their last offer
ing Of flowers to strew on the coffin of
'dear, beautiful Aunt Edith" But
'Tney put the red-rose garland off
1t was but mockery there
And gathered half blown buds of white
To place upon her bier"
And there they laid her, with hearts
bursting with sorrow, in the consecrated
spot she had always loved. Spring came
and went; summer deepened into autumn,
still two unwearied watchers sought that
solitary grave. Day by day found Marga-
ret by the mound raised above the moul-
dering body of her fair friend in that seclu-
ded dell but when night came on, the
stars lit up beaten path, where flowers
lay crushed, for pale mourner to pass
~ N fturo1co
row, as he knet by her grave and prayed
for strength to toll on here, till called to be
with angel Edith:
One day Margaret and Willie chanced
to meet there; and as they sat in the same
arbor where she had so many times sat, and
by which her mortal remains were then
reposing, he asked Maggie to listen to his
story, too; and before blaming, to hear
him through-to see how he had loved
hear what he had suffered.
edith has told you Of our early love-
of our sad parting | will not speak. I
went to the sunny land of Italy, and there,
beneath its radiant skies and mid its flow
cry dales, where nature has been so lavish
of her charms, | dreamed of her alone. Ny
vow was not broken When the pale mid
night bride would shed last lingering
beam across my scantilbTe ant lbTe6HFFen fHFnShAh III hRRag
ed picture, never wearying when I thought
of the goahfor which was striving. On
ward was ever my watch-word-EDITH
my guiding star. had been placed un.
der one of the best masters in Italy, ano
praise from his lips would ever nerve me
on to higher attainments. Beng often a
his house, l was repeatedly thrown int
the company of bis only child, beautiful
girl just emerging into womanhood.
cannot describe her to you-Weak Ian
guage would but be mockery. She wa
very like Edith for this blest her, tina
in stranger land / found one to remln
me of her. She was an innocent, fono
hearted maiden, and | cherished her as
pet sister: of making her my wife | neve
dreamed. For three years | had been at
sent. I could never hear from Edith. lie
father, of course, would not permit us
correspond; yet never doubted her col
stancy. l knew her noble principles to
we'll for that. Still longed to hear froI
her, and my friends in my own dear hom
and would always gain the utmost INTEL
cence possible, from my native land.
One day picked up paperfrom1l Amel
{ ca, and turned to the deaths. The III
one which met my eye was Edith Conwa
AGED eighteen. For days and weeks kne
nothine-mv life was held by one britt
thread was but step between
! and DEATH know not why liyed-'tW
, as awakening from horrid dream, to Il
i it all reality yet my destiny was placed
f higher hands, and though | wllled II n
: 81 lived-for life may long be borne,
e Ere sorrow break its chain
! The world all seemed to me a pert
!, blank-a dreary waste; and such f@eal teal
q would have proved, had ditnot teen Tor M
: They told me owed my life to her-t
i through long, lonely nights she would
= quit nv bedside, but fingered beside
= = couch until worn out with fatigue the re
: fed from her cheeks, buoyancy was e
IL from her step-and with. her soul-lit e
i beaming gently from behind long dro
at ing lashes, she seemed asbelng htted
~ for earth than heaven. lhad never be
= suspected the depth of her love for I
- but now Tcould not doubt it. For me
II had sacrificed her health, given up e'
- endowment and nursed me tenderly, 9
ID darling sister would have watched by
;tb bedside of dying brother. Edith was