Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-11-17
a glass of water, and then resumed his for
mer appearance of inattention. Fanny re-

"Ryers then assured me that | should
never want friend, if / would accept of
his protection that his regiment was re-
called to England, and that, if would ac-
company him, he would pledge his honor
| should be treated with al proper respect
till / could get settled, which he assured
me his friends In London would effect
What could do? / knew it would be
long before | could hear from you, even
were certain my letters would reach you.
placed every dependence upon the power
OF conscious virtue, and accepted his offer.
He took me to London, told the history of
my Inisfortunes to sistes, who wanted but
his virtues to make her his exact counter
part, for never were twopersons so exactly
modelled; she received me kindly, placed
my child at nurse, and promised me every
favor. Rivers behaved as man of honor;
he but once attempted to make dishon-
orable proposal, and my repulse that time
silenced him yet the generous youth felt
an affection for me so pure, so ardent, that
he even offered me marriage. | felt pene-
trated with gratitude, but my heart was
wounded too deeply to feel satisfaction at
the proposal it rather chilled with horror
at the idea. "No!" cried |, snatching my
infant to my breast, 81 will beg with thee
through the world, rather than wrong thy
fathers memory by uniting myself with
one whose arm has been raised against his
life" A shower of tears rebuked me for
the injustice of my accusation, yet every
day brought fresh proofs of the strength of
his passion and his sister, haugaty, AFRO
giant, and unfeefing, discovering the par
tiality of Rivers, and alarmed for the honor
of her family, dismissed me from her house
Rivers once more offered his hand-his
fortune once more refused them at
is well" cried he; 81 know your noble mo-
tives, dearest of women, and will no furlh-
er urge. Permit me only to point out one
asylum; you have too proudly declined &C
cepting any pecuniary favors from me, but
there is on my estate at D an aged
respectable man for whom | some time
since obtained the Office of gate-keeper !;
he leads solitary life; your conversation
and society would be solace in his old
age, and by exercising your needle you
will amuse your leisure hours, and in some
degree preserve your favorite independence
| will take care the old man shall have eve
ry comfort, and, though shall be far dis
tant, my heart will often be with you."-
Upon my demanding an explanation, he
toia as.<l 0-.terosl vs;..--errt
drafted for America, and only waited to
see me in some safe asylum before he took,
as he hoped, long farewell of England ;
in which the principal unhappiness he had
, ever experienced was my rejection. Suffer
me to abridge my tedious tale; hither !
came, and hereI have been tranquil, If not
happy. This good old man has proved in
conduct father to me; but the first real
CLEAN of pleasure have experienced du-
ing the three years Of my abode here, was
| in being reunited to you, my dear brother. "
r Frank kissed the tears from her cheek
i "And have you not heard from the no.
Bile, generous Rivers?"
"Oh yes" Fanny replied; "his letter:
r are polite, friendly, but tinctured with such
) sadness as makes me shed tears at every
: perusal."
Q The stranger arose, walked slowly to
; wards them, and presented Picture; a
g which Fanny gazed with pleasing surprise
r at is Rivers-do you know him!"
The gentleman opened his coat, threw
n off his hat-"Do you know me 2"
Y Fanny shrieked, and fell lfeless in hi
n arms.
4 Il am her husband p exclaimed Obern'
d wildly. "She is my long lost, injured wife!'
,s Upon her recovering, he informed th'
7 astonished party that he was the only on
% who survived the carnage of the day, whel
o it was reported he fell; covered wit
q wounds, and in state to which death woul'
i have been preferable, he was taken to th
n hut Of rustic, where he languished lon
i of his wounds, nor could gain the least in
bt telligence Of his wife, her removal from th
w place of their retreat having bafhled all al
in tempts at discovery. When able to wall
or he went to her fathers, where, with brut'
to insult, he received the distracting INTEL
g. gence that she had eloped with an Office
a of the regiment by which he had been cal
W tured. "Driven to frenzy" added Obern
as "the fever Of my soul affected my bod
ed and retarded my pursuit, for pursuit an
sr. vengeance were my intentions. When
N reached London, learned that the reg
II ment had embarked for America; thith'
h. followed, met Rivers-challenged him
,s- but he refused to accept it; related tn
"a whole story, as you have, minutely, but r.
nv fused to inform me of the place to whic
y. you had retreated till had obtained m
"a pardon, which he fatters me can be easil
IN procured by letters with which he has SUI
- plied me from himself and Colonel D.
, = a man high in favor. ''If You succeed N
to dear friend" cried he, "you shall immed
rr- ateIy gladden. the heart of a matchless "
- man if not, far better will it be to let h
81. remain undisturbed by fresh hopes al
le- fresh miseries. Accept my picture" a
10 ded he; s'think of me as one who wou
an die to servo you" Charmed by this ma
IL ner, avowed eternal friendship; | am nc
Gl fully sensible of errors for which have s
ler verely suffered; and, since bis pIecauti'
ON has proved useless, we will 60 together, n
,on Fanny, to London, and live or dietogethel
M Oberne succeeded, obtained pardc
me and, by sharing with Frank some, hone.
ted earned gold, purchased commission in t
,ty. same regiment to which Rivers belongs
ns- The vicisitudes which Fanny had expe
.ai- enced secured her in her future life, the s.
lfnl isfactory consciousness of having discharg
J,,&,, on1 ho mn