Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-04-14

the dance IN the next room. Yon shall
see Sc, her-you shall Judge for yourselves /!
whether the American woman is not the
most beautiful in the world I"
1here was something in the mannar of
.ne young Refugee more than in the ma
lure Q! MS information, that arrested the
attention Of his brother officers. For )
'lhorafPf Efresrgil sdfnesnrnp Of syoura
marriage" said the young Ensign, Q" but we
did not think it would occur so suddenly.
Only think of it-to-morrow you be gone,
settled-verdictb brought in-sentence pass
ed-a man ! But tell me! How will
your lady-ove be brought to this house p
| thought she resided within the rebel
lines 2"
She does reside there But have
sent friendly Indian Chief-on whom
can place the utmost dependence to bring
her from her present nome at dead of night
through the forest, to this mansion. He
IS to return by twelve it is now half past
eleven
Friendly Indian" echoed the old vet
eran Colonel, "rather an odd guardian for
pretty woman. Quite an original idea
of Duenna, | VOW !"
And you will match this lady against
all the world, for beauty 2"
Yes, and if you do not agree with me.
this hundred guineas which | lay upon the
table, shall serve our mess, for wines, for a
month to come! But if You do agree with
meas without doubt you wilI--then
you are to replace this gold with a hun
dred guineas Of your own"
Agreed 1t is a wager! chorussed
the Colonel and the other two officers.
And IN that moment-while the door
way was thronged with fair ladies and CAV
officers attracted from the next room by
the debate-as the Refugee stood, with one
hand resting upon the little pile of gold,
his ruddy face grew suddenly pale as
shroud, his blue eyes dilated, until thew
were enclrcled by line of white enamel.
he remained there as if frozen to stone.
Why, Captain, what is the matter"
cried the Colonel, starting up in alarm
do you see a ghost, that you stand gaz-
ing there at the blank wall {"
The other officers, starting up in alarm.
also asked the cause of this singular de-
e'n}'l, p,sV -471. ll1'..,,4
or more, the Refugee Captain stood there,
more like a dead man, suddenly recalled
to life, than living being.
The moment passed, he sat down with
a cold shiver, made a strong effort as if to
command his reason, then gave utterance
to forced laugh.
Ha, ha See ehowPve frightened you !"
ne said-and then mingled that cold, un-
natural, hollow laugh.
" And vet, half an hour from that time
he freely confessed the nature of the hor-
rid picture which he had seen drawn on
that blank wainscotted wall, as if by some
supernatural hand
But now with the wine cup in his hand.
he turned from one comrade to another,
uttering some forced jest, or looking to-
wards the doorway crowded by officers
and ladies, he gaily invited them to share
in his remarkable argument Which were
the most beautiful women in the world
As he spoke the hour struck.
Twelve o'clock was there, and with it
afootstep, and then bold Indian came ur-
glng through the throng of ladies, throng-
ing yonder doorway.
Silently, his arms folded on his war
blanket, look of calm stoicism on his
dusky brown, the Indian advanced along
the room, and stood at the head of the ta-
BILE. There was no lady with him
Where is the fair girl? She who is to
be the bride tomorrow Perhaps the In,
dian has left her in the next room, or in
one of the other halls of the old mansion
or perhaps--but the thought is a foolish
one-she has refused to obey the lovers
quest-refused to come to him?
There was something awful in the deer
silence that reigned through the room as
the solitary Indian stood there at the head
of the table, gazing silently in the lover:
face.
"Where is she 2" at last gasped the Re
fugee. "She has not refused to come g
Tell me has any accident befallen ner by
the way! [ know the forest is dark, and
the wild path most dificult-tell me-
Where is the lady for whom l sent you in
to the rebel lines'?" ,
For moment as the strange horror o
that lovers face was before him, the Indiar
was silent. Then as his answer seemed
trembling on his lips, the ladies in yonde
doorway, the officers from the ballroom
and the party round the table formed
group around the two central figures
Indian, standing at the head of the table
his arms folded in his war-blanket-th
young officer half rising from his seat, hi
lips parted, his face ashy, his clenched han,
resting on the dark Mahogony of the ia
| ble.
The Indian answered first by an actio
then by a word.
First action: Slowly drawing his riob
hand from his war blanket, he held it il
the light. The right hand clutched wit
blood-stained fingers, bleeding scalp. an
long glossy ringlets of beautiful dark hair
Then the word: " Young warrior sen
the red man for the scalp of the paleface
squaw. Here it is!m
Yes-the rude savage had mistaken h
message! Instead of bringing the hrid
to her lovers arms, he had gone ON hi
way, determined to bring the scalp of th
victim to the grasp of her pale face chem,
Not even groan disturbed the silenc
of that dreadful moment. Look there
: The lover rises, pressed that hairs
; black, SO glossy and so beautiful-to h
heart, and then-as though aheavv weigl