Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-07-14
yaSits' 9tpartmsnt.
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
LOVE
THE BRIDE OF ROANOKE.
ny oLIS oLSEY.

80 NAS III IL
land Of Roanoke. The calm serenity 90
its appearance, the balmy zepl,yrs which
breathe through its whey groves, and the
murmuring of the waves as they break in
gentle rpptes against the shore, all com-
blned to throw an air Of romance and fas-
clnatlng beauty over the scene. The for
UNITY 81 ITS soil, the varied beauty Of ;ts
scenery and the cool shade of it, groves
redolent with dae floating perfume Of INV.
riads OF flowers, first charmed the sersas &c
the weary marinersof England. and;nv;tod
them to rest amid the Joyous yerdure of
this fairy land There is no place ia Amer.
ica, fraught with so many pleasing recol-
iec1ons and hallowed by so many romantic
incidents as the Island Of Roan0ke Here
the loot OF white woman first pressed the
SOL OF America Here the first Euronoan
child saw the blue skies and green valleys
OF the New WORLD Here was once t6e
haunt of the bkcedy pirate Blackboard
Here amid the silent caves. he wonJd -.
tire TO enjoy the fruits Of plunGered wealth.
or when danger threatened to avoid nnr.
suit. IL stil! wears much of that serene
beauty, which 80 captivated the first set
tlers OF America. Nature seems lnlled 70
Seep by a concordance Of pleasing sounds.
NO one can visit tic island embosomed ,s
U Is IN the sblniRg waters of the Sound.
without being delegated with its encbant,
ing scenery.
Naniy years ago, upon this beautiful is
land hyed two wealthy gentlemen, proba-
bly, OF french descent, who lad some time
previous emigrated thither from the Ber.
muda Islands. They had brought with
them much OF the refinement of a more
civilized land and tlcE unbounded wcalth
furnished tbeta with every luxury the most
refined could desire, Why they chose the
seclusron of this island lrome.I cannot COW.
but Che beautiful sightan "a tasteful ARRANGE.
ment Of their villas betokeued a rp6nod
taste and love of the beautiful far abovo
The generality Of the Inhabitants OF that
period. The family of Mr.. Beaumont. the
younger OF the two consisted of himself his
wlie and an only daughter-the pet of the
iamily-who at the commencement of opr
story, had Just reached the age of ten sum
mers. Flora was q beautiful chill Hor
eyes were of the deepest blue and her
form was cast IN a mould so perfect. so ex-
quisitely beautiful that enc could almost
see IA the unfolding bud of infancy. the fnIi
blown rose-the graceful and beautiful wo-
man. Golden oarls in rich luxuriance fell
about her salny countenaace, ever radiant
with the smles of happiness. Her gentle.
LOVING spNit gained the hearts of ali who
knew her; and sko was the pet Of all.
rom her iadulgcRt parents to the lowest
slave OF tho folds.
Mr. Boaumonts villa was situated q short
distance from the Sound in a grove of live
oaks and bali hid frem the water bv the
dense foliage of the trees. From a roman
tlc landing place surrounded on each side
oy tii'ck matted grape vines a walk. white
with the pebbles of the beach. wound in
graceful curves UP tho easy slope of the
groyeto the mausion; from the high gothic
windows Of Which could be seen the level
surface Of the weter spreading ont far IN
the distance, and gitteriag in the sunshine
with a thousand varied flashes. Arbors,
and gardens and springs, and rivulets, were
scattered IN rich proiusion on every side.
far away along the shining beach,, could
DC seen the white sails Of the old wind mill
whlrlIng In huge circles with the breeze.
Away over on the opposite side of a little
landlocked cove, the high topped roof of
the mansion OF Mr.. Irwin shone through an
opening in the forest.
Mr.. Irwin, as | have before said had
emigrated to Roanoke in company with
Mr.. Beaumont. His wife had long since
been consigned to the tomb and he with
his son Eugene the last remnant of a larre
family, were now living surrounded with
troups OF slaves and furnished with all that
wealth could acquire, amid the forests and
groves ot Roanoke. His home was remar-
kable Tor the beauty Of its situation /: and
was surrounded by all that plain and rustic
profusion which charactcrizes the abode of
inc wealthy PAINTER We cannot wonder
that families situated 70 similarly, and com-
ing from the same land, should naturally
be muchin each others company, and that
they should be bound together by the
strongest ties OF friendship. Their families
were almost constantly in each Others So
ciety. Often a light sklf would bound
from the opposite shore and glide across
the little bay, to the landing near the man
siol VI hl. b~tdNVfOat- MI Irwin and his
little sou were sure 10 be met at the waters,
edge with a kindly welcome from the lord
or lady Of the mansion. Eugene was a
pleasant lad, naturally of a shy, pensiye
disposition, but when excited displayed all
the fire and aniVaation which SO character
lied his southCrnparentage, He and Flora
hal beea companions and playmates from
the first and were often ia each others ON
pany. A strong friepdship grew up be-
tween taem. No contrast could be more
pleasing than the noble dark-eyed bow. and
the fairy-like term Of the blue eyed Flora.
side BY side. Time passed rapidly amid
the silence Of this dream-like land; and the
two families had lived in perfect friendship
and almost unalloyed happiness ever since
they had first sought their island home.
AT length Mr.. Irwin was taken suddenly
i'll, and in spite of all efforts to save him.
IN a few days was a corpse. On his death
bed he requested that Mr.. Beaumont should
see TO the settlement Of his affairs, and do
with his estate as he thought best for the
interests Of Eugene. With his last expir-
ing breath, he asked him to be a father to
his orphan SON Eugene wept in all agony
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