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

remain with her until her death, which she
knew could not be far distant; for ghastly
consumption had marked her for his GER
tain victim.
Margaret Earle knew nothing of her
friends early history. They had been
schoolmates together, and during three
years their ''life paths" had been one and
when they "diverged in line,"-the strong
friendship was not weakened, but the holy
bond OF love grew stronger and stronger
as years passed by. Margaret would never
ask her friend the cause of her grief: still
she hoped she would sometime hear it from
her lips; none other, she knew, could tell
her, for Edith Conway had no confidante
to whom she had entrusted her secret
One evening, after day of unusual weak
ness to the invalid, she called her friend to
her.
"Come sit down close beside me. Mao
gle dearest, and here in the dim twilight
while all sounds in nature are hushed. and
silently the little stars steal forth one by
one, to keep their nightly vigil beside theiil
silvery queen, | will tell you my hearts
story. My brief life has been deeply mixed
with sorrow; bitter draughts have been
mine from the cup of aff1iction; yet will
tell you all deem it right that you who
have been so very, very kind to me should
know; why have chosen such lone and
dreary life spurning every offer Of mar
rlage that has been made me by Intelligent,
deserving men, and spending my youthful
days in solitude. IT'S because nv hearts
idol has been shattered-my love-dream
changed to bitter reality" and placing her
wan, almost transparent hand, on which
glistened a splendid ring, her only orna-
ment of jewelry, in that of her friend, she
commenced the sad, but 'o'er true tale"
of sorrow:
"My father was wealthy merchant
My mother died when | was quite young,
and my father being much engaged with
his business, | was left to do pretty much
as | pleased. The servants stood in great
awe of him, for he was stern man, and if
they endeavored to cross me in any of my
wild, frolicsome schemes, would proudly
draw myself up to my full height stamp
my foot angrily, and say-"your master
shall be told of your misconduct" This
was enough. They we'll knew the punish
ment they would receive at his hands, and
therefore let me have my way.
We never had any company. Nv faith
er | seldom saw, except at night; when
used to recite my lessons to him, as there
was no female school in the parish.-SA
tAABEagh ABag, tba day Eapla yapdeart aee80qqt ths
and laughing over their ancient oddities,
until weary of the very sight of it all, |
would ramble far off alone in all the beau
tiful little valleys around, gathering flowers
with which I would gaily deck myself, and
when evening approached, Carlo, my faith
full dog, would lead me safely home.
Thus l grew wild and wayward; till
what SO mach longed fora companion
i at last found. You know the old cot
tage down behind the hill. Twas on my
fathers grounds, and he had never allowed
any person to live in it. Well, one morn
ing my father came in and ordered the
servants to remove all the rubbish from
around it, and repair it nicely; for widow
lady and her son were to live there. Yol
may imagine how my eyes sparkled as
listened to this wonderful bit of intelligence
but | sat quite mute in the corner, a
though | heard nothing at all. If m,
tongue was still, my little heart fully mad
up for it, for by the time he was don
speaking | had formed more plans than
could put in execution in many long day
were ever so busy.
/ OF course | was the first to call on Mr.
4 Granton, whom l found to be dear, kin
old lady, and soon liked her very much
often heard her speak Of Willie, her sol
but some how or other | could never g
but that he always chanced to be frol
home. This rather worried me, but | W;
not easily foiled in my attempts, when full
determined upon anything; and at last,
soon as Carlo would see me get my bonne
he would start at once toward the cottag
One bright morning on my way home,
had still not seen Willie) | passed rour
by the side of the hill, instead of going {
, rectly over it, and on turning the corne
noticed not far from me, in shady lit
= nook that had been my place of resort
youthful figure reclining against the trt
engaged either in reading or drawing,
could not tell which. Of course | mt
have nearer view than that; but to stu
4 bic abruptly upon him, was quite foreign
i my ideas of propriety; SO | was for a m
' ment sadly puzzled, Twas but for a n
4 ment his back was toward me; pulli
a off my gipsie hat, with its long blue strea
. ers, gave it to Carlo, and pointed towa1
Willie He was ever ready for cha
If and off we both darted. On, on P
:. Willie went Carlo, but had no notion
10 going farther than to where he was seat
70 and sinking down on the turf screamed
ad 20 my hat that mischievous dog !!
es ''Never fcar," said he, as he sprang fr
be his seat, and hasteneG in pursuit of the d
,lv Before long he returned with the identi
IA hat, and placed it carefully by my S
no while /, at the same time, would not h
he cared had Carlo torn it'inpieces, as he
bo served several others like it. | picked
10, his drawing and said (very innocently
4 coursel "Ohl if only knew how !"-u
al which he kindly offered to instruct
Iro telling. me also at what houwte return
~ the same place on the following morn
You may be sure that on the next
;ng had not forgotten my promise to I
) : Willie :. and when got there fonnd
tho nice little seats newly fixed, and in
80 ments for drawing; but Willie was
+hore Presently he came up. hat In h