Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-02-03
EaSin' 9tpartmtnt.
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
THEVOw.
BY LIMA Ike.
looroLupEp rRoN oun LAsr.l

and caressed fayorIte OF q large circle OF :.
refined and intelligent friends, who were
proud TO acknowledge the superior charms j
Of the beautiful and accomplished heiress !
and adopted daughter Of Mr.. Edward For {
est. Through the many changes which had !
marked the life path Of the ~orphan-from !.
a~fiuence TO poverty, and then again to her !.
state Of p!osperity-she had ever /
retained her early truthfulness Of character, I,
her innate appreciation Of all that is high :,
and noble in mind, or holy in affection; !,
ever retaining as her manitou, which would
prove impervious to the assaults Of vanity
and selishness, faithfaIness IN discharge Of
duty. That sustained her as she passed
through the trials of poverty, living for
Others which refined her from that mas
ter passion of the world, ~sel6shness, and
Lilly felt that even more watchfulness was
necessary TO enable her to pass dhcontami-
mated through the tempting splendors
which surrounded her, in her new sphere.
At a brilliant party given in honor Of the
18th anniversary Of her birth day, she was
the 'sbright star" Of many hearts, for she
was indeed Of surprising loneliness. Her
beauty Of mind too, that higher beauty
which exceeds the beauty Of fines and color,
as far as the brilliant orb Of day outshines
the queen Of night, attracted to her side
many noble gentlemen who prefer to con-
verse with asensible woman ofthings worthy
their highest thoughts, than to utter fool
ish compliments and vain tlattery to the
enhancing fair ones, who will fiatter their
vanity by listening to them. To all she
..a. LII. o..nnahlas htrA Vvl,on tho fuvrnl-
ling stars were keeping their nightly vigils
and the silvery moon casting her pale
beams Ger carth's scenes, alone in her
chamber Lilly Linwood sat and unused, but
the image Of one alone remained enshrined
in her heart, as the bright realization of all
her childish dreams Of manliness and no.
bilty. From the time when a lonely girl
she treasured in her mind bright and beau
tiful ideas, she had loved an ideal one.-
In that one was concentrated all the vir-
tues which adorn the human mind, and
when at this party, her debut in society,
she met James Hervey, she felt by the in
stinet natural ~ her sex, that henceforth
he would be linked with her future, insep-
arabic by time or things.
He had sought an introduction to Ia
belle Lilly, as she was called, expecting to
find in her a beautiful but vain and roman
tic girl, not realizing her responsibility as
q Womdn or her influence upon those
aroundher. But he was disappointed, and
as further conversation revealed to him hel
noble heart, and he saw her standing there
on the very verge Of womanhood, so calm
dignified and lovely, who will not say tina
he felt instinctiyely a higher veneration 70
the sex Of which she was the brilliant rep
resentativel And in his dreams, who vii
say that Lilly LinwoOd was not the ruIini
spiritl
Party succeeded party in honor Of Mis-
Linwoods entree. Amid the bright an
gay she appeared even in her native love
illness, giving pleasure to every heart b
her affability and grace. But her cheek
pale, she clings closer to the arm, the stron
arm of James Hervey, on which she
leaning, and looks into his face with a fonC
inqui1ing gaze. A servant is approachin
with Wine, that liquid poison which place
low in a sad cold grave her father an
mother. Society c~ountenances the praC
tice. The high and honorable, by their ca
ample, encourage it. Those fair ladies VIII,
OIEtbAlnE liSlA lllhAiNAlON, blClE ICbDOuhlDll
ty, are slipping the red wine, as if the Sc
pent were not lurking there hidden, it
true, in its sparkling foam. Those mob
forms, bending low as they approach the
fascinating friends, and smilingly drin
their health, are not the outcast from s.
ciety. No, indeed they are the elite
the city of B. Poor Lilly, am
that throng Of wealth and beauty, stoC
there alone in refusing to drink from Il
wine cup-but with her wonted indepe
dence she still refused. James Herv
uses his most eloquent entreaties, but tn
failed, for Lilly actel from principle
principle which was deep as herp pure hear
affections. All JOY was banished from /
heart for that night, and for many nigh
and in her hearts conflicting feelings, {
had forgotten that she, with her pecul
views on temperance, were the topics
conversation among her friends.
"Miss Lilly, are you not an enthusiast
the subject of temperance Do you
think a man can drink and not become
toxicated, or even be injured by it9
would not have you entertain such d.
dedly strict views on the subject"
"Mr. Hervey, l am no enthusiast.
do not probably know the cause of my
eutGr views on the subject. / believe I
is the epithet my friends have given
views. l am conscientious in It. II
are not from impulse, but from a firm,
cided conviction that they are right, ar
shall not yield them to any eonventiC
form Of society. alone ! will stand. '
my motto Touch not, taste not, ha,
not; for full I kROW, il "at last stinc
like an adder" They separated. /
and months passed by, only to Increase
love which james Hervey had felt for
Linwood. lie felt with her to cheer
in his tolls, to bless him in his home.
would be sweet indeed. He felt sure
Forest would not refuse his niece to
only son Of his valued friend. With
and trembling he spoke to Lilly of his
his hopes that she would be the il
rs earthly Eden. lie told her of the G
est love OF manly heart that would s
fee for her happiness AL his earthly h.
Il was not without agitation that she b
his ayowal of love, his offer OF his heaI
AIR. Hervey, il would be inconsi.
with my sincerity, to say that | am j
ferent to yon. Nay, still farther, /
confess evento you, hat / love you fol
devotedly, and no. feel that | have D,
blush INV modegtv. No. there Il not