Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-29
CHAPTER Y.

u wonder why it is, that Percy Gilwood
has been here so little of late 2" pettishlv
exclaimed Eva st. Clair one morning. as
she saw him pass down the street. ''He
has not been here for month, and he used
to call nearly every day."
"You have driven him off by your cross
actions, | expect" was the consolng re-
Joinder of Mama. 81 rather think you have
oyerdone the matter, and instead of bring
ing him to your feet you have driven him
off"
"Well, Mama, it was your fault for you
advised me to it." said the dutiful az daugh-
ter; and with an ejaculation of anger She
left the room. 1t was severe trial to the
proud beauty, to find that her charms had
proved so Intellectual, but her disappoint-
ment was heightened by the fear of her
fathers failure. She knew that if he be-
came insolvent, she would necessarily have
to give up her present proud position, and
sink into comparative obscurity, and the
thought was gall and wormwood to her
99E sS9q fr14 aatqFe sr NJ it sh2!d not be- she
have to be by marriage, for her fathers at
fairs were not whit better than when we
| first introduced him to our readers. Yet
! by borrowing and creating heavy bank
debts, he managed to keep his business 60
| ING on and to make brilliant show. Poor
man he had a hard, hard time Of it. For
between a cross wife and heartless daugh-'
ter at home, and his difficulties in business,
he passed a troubled life. He was to be
pitied; no loving wife cheered him in his
tolls or sustained him in his cares. Oh !!
no: his wife was too fashionable for that.
No daughters hand cooled his burning
brow when fevered by disappointment and
despair. No. his daughter was too much
afraid Of disarranging the folds of her cost
" silk, to render him any such attentions
, and he was left to bear alone the trials
which were fast crushing his once fine
| mind. The extravaganza of his family
knew no bounds. 1t mattercd not what
the cost of an article was, provided it was
, fashionable and thus it took all his time
and energies to avert the catastrophe which
> was hanging thus darkly over him. The
= season for summer travelling had now ar
I rived, and Eva had determined on rOun(
of the usual fashionable watering places
- and though her father expostulated, he
h mother and herself joined fashionabl
!. crowd bound for Saratoga at which plac
+ we will, for while, leave them.
# Our readers can we'll imagine that it re
u ouired no urging to make Gilwood repea
g his visits to the cottage of Mrs. Woodbury.
n and now scarcely an evening passed by
n what he might have been seen vending h
:. way thithcr. 1t was fair and lovely ever
Y mo; the moon shonc bright and clear; Il
., air was rcdolent with the fragrance of nun
Ia berless flowers, and the zephyrs were pla
inc amid the leaves anal boughs and brcat
o. ing vows of tender love to the founta
We that played so mcrrily about. Togeth
ID. on the piazza enjoying the calm loveline
IN of the scene, sat couple whom we reco
uize as Percy Glwood and Lillian Woo
ith bury. They are engaged in earnest co
he versation, and taking advantage Of the
mo- visible ring, we will seat ourselves near a
nd listen to them. Start not, fashionable
dies, their subject was the beauties of I
elf ture and goodness of God. Their hea
,rd were both attuned to the melodies of
cen ture, and to them the star-gemmed canC
: of of heaven presented exceeding beauty
and LILLIAN" said Gilwood, 'look at that bri,
If star which beams so gloriously in yon,
an heavens! When first saw you, likel
the you to it; so beautiful yet unapproacha
ar | feared that l might as soon love and W
to possess it, as to think of winning y
liam From the first time ever saw you, y
ions image fairly haunted me, and l vowed
,arl could ever make your acquaintance,
,;ngg Emo vou proved to be what ! believed you W
ndeT 10 try and win your love. Lillian, dea
odgn Lillian, do not cast me from you, but
, his cept a heart devoted alone to God and y
nev- | give you the words, kind reader, but
hers look Of pure, passionate love, is more
| can transcribe. leave it to your in
ono nation. LILLIAN have you no answer
her me! Am l then utterly indifferen
tbot YOU 2" exclaimed Gilwood She r;
hove her eyes to his for moment, and he
oter- answered Reader we will leave t
: c.. as their happiness is too sacred, the