Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-05-26
SPIRIT OF TEE AGE....Devo ted to e

~ Ou away !! Odll j uOpO 10 dCL d
,ane man or be successful in business, when
fear to see you-the idol of my heart, my {
greatest treasure, ny richest iewel-possess-
"a by another? Oh! Ella, | do not doubt
you. know you will always love me but
know also, your affection for your parents.
fear, rather than disobey their commands,
you would lead a life ofdeepest misery. From
The time when first / beheld your perfect
and gazed upon your pale beautiful
brow, and looked into those eyes so serene
eloquent, | nave loved you. Without
you my life will be a dreary, barren, desolate
waste. No flowers will be pleasing to my
sight, unless you are by my side. No bird
will sing sweetly if its notes reach not your
Will you be my bride? Oh! dearest
will you forsake all ?"
Eyes, Henry, for you I will forsake all-all
save my hope of rest in heaven. Oh, Henry,
if it is your wish | will go with you-I soHE
die Nth you."
Henry clasped her to his bosom, and i'm
printing a kiss upon her pale, trembling lips
said-"No Ella, | will not ask you to share
my lot of misery. will not have you blushfor
my poverty. | can never see your fragile form
stopped with labor. No, meCer! Twill drink
the cup of misery alone. The bitter draught
will be sweet to my taste, if l know it con-
tains no drop for you. will go and battle
alone amid the angry waves of the sea oflife;
and when | have a home and wealth, and
reputation worthy of you, | will come and
claim you for my bride" Then kissing her
again and again, he tore from her and hurried
away.
That was the last time Ella had seen him,
70 a few eklaftsrwar5 she-eame to P
Academy.
"Why did you not teN me of this sooner ?'
was NV first nDOuiru aftnr El1a ho6 told hpr
story.
Because l knew how unhappy you would
be, if you knew how wretched was your
friend"
ooh! Ella, | was silly in being offended
at one so good and kind as you-forgive my
~unkindness !"
"You have committed no offense to forgive;
| am the offender" She spoke this with so
sweet a smile, that I was truly ashamed of
myselffor being so easily offended at her.
At times Ella would appear sad and dejec-
ted. She had not heard from him since she
parted from him in her fathers garden two
long years ago. He might be dead. He
might be false. But she remembered his
promise and consoled herself by saying: "He
will come. know he will come! He is so
: good, so noble, so manly, ne will never forsake
me-"
1IlIlO LlC 1dplulJ Will SCIlOOl SIlS llllC
parsing over French verbs and assisting each
: other to solve difficult problems. So it was
with us. Almost before we expected it, two
e years had glided noiselessly by and the time
d had arrived when we were to take leave of
I the dark old grove; of our shady walks; of
# our teachers, and | of Ella Vane. Then there
7 were tender farewells, suppressed sobs and
l parting signs heard in the old chapel, where
we assembled to bid farewell to our teachers
and receive their parting blessing. Some
ID were about to leave school to return no more.
N Others to seek their home in the North
,e others to spend a happy vacation amid the
r. sweet flowers and blue skies Of the sunny
~ South. One more night and Ella and I would
- leave the old school house forever.
y That evening she received a letter from
he Henry Godfrey. He had been successful il
business. He was no longer poor. Awealthy
as relation dying had bequeathed him a large
ad estate. Next day he would be at the Acade
vn my and demand the ful1llment of her prom.
ly Use.
That night Ella retired to rest happy
ed Little did she think ere the morning sur
.s, should gid the eastern horizon with its gol
IN den light, her fair form should lie amid the
ar- smoking ruins of the old school house.
Near midnight | felt myself torn from my
bed and borne by strong arm through smok'
of and flames down the long flight of stairs, til
tn l tainted from sufocation and fright. Whel
ny l recovered my senses, [ saw the whole ous
nd was wrapped in flames. care all saved =?
was my first inquiry when l found myself il
- the portico of a neighboring building surroun
ded by my school-mates.
ad eyes, thanks be to God all are safe !" wa
ell the reply.
'Is Ella here ?"
ag- Then for the first time she was missed
ok "Save her! oh! save her J" was shouted b
asst fifty girlish voices.
nd Then there were mighty and brave effor
ok, to enter and snatch her from the flames, b.
red the fiery element drove strong men back
md chaff before the wind. Noble and despera
attempts were made, but without avail.
No doubt she was already suffocated, f
and the whole building was fast becoming OF
nto sheet of burning fame. Numbers we
crowded around the doorways, but no Oh
dared to enter. [ in my despair cried OF
her evil no one face the danger to save II
ven friend? At that moment a tall, noble loo
BOY, ing young man rushed through the throl
tant crying, 81 am Henry Godfrey! l will sa
rey. her or perish in the ~attempt!' In an insta
hose longer he had entered the house and was il
FL mediately enveloped in the suffocating atm
and phere.
m a We waited silently and b~reathlessly for !
the return, and just when we began to despa
de- we saw him Keeling amid the smoke and fan
hood towards the door, with Ella in his arms.
cry of joy sprang from the lips of all. E
g of ere he reached the Threshold, the floor ga
that way beneath him and he with his precic
burthern was precipitated into the fiery m
were below.
A wild wall of sorrow rung out upon
mess air, as the flames roared over the lifeless
sun dies of Ella and Henry.
when In the mean time the fire increased 6
rrow ragged with terrific violence.
: gol- Suddenly Frank Marbury, who l had
egun seen in months, came running to the pl
wing where l was standing. I shall never for
1frey the piercing look of anxiety and desp
from which he gave me, when he exclaimed
All "Helenh has she persisted? feline? bequic
you'd l could only point to the glowing mas
versi- fire.
had "Then | will perish with her p
mage So saying, he broke through the crowd
ggar. before he could be prevented leaped into
labor raging heap of fire.
lisfor- Next day two chalky skeletons were 70
God amid the smouldering embers, locked in G
nix in others embrace; and at a little distance,
and the whitened remains of my poor cousin.
the The three were buried side by side in
lone old church yard, beneath the waving bral
e was eS of a weeping willow. | shed hot and