Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-04-28
For the Spirit of the Age.
An Awful Dream.

For the Spirit of the Age.
An Awful Dream.
IL was a charming day in Spring: q
nature appeared lovely. was seated .
the nower-lined bank of beautiful brook
the Wild songsters were pouring forth the;
sweetest sweetest strains of melody, and the limpi
stream as it murmured along, leaped M +
KISS the flowers which dropped their tin,
neaoS to meet its rippling waves. Al
open Oook lay before me- and vet hat
not read one word, for my THOUGHTS wnr,
1ar' tar away, with one whose imaoe ba,
long since entwined itself around nv heart
for long time sat there musinG on tbe
past ana the present; but the dark pban.
tom OF mstrust rose up before me. and
dared not look into the future. for felt
'naG l. should lind nothing there but Gloom
ana disappointment. | had Just heard that
ne whom L had learned to love. who had
"ooed and won my hearts best and purcst
aHectons, was soon to call another his
bride. l received the intelIioencp with
talnneSs' tIl!5' but when [ found myself alone.
the tide OF my feelings came rushing over
me with such force, that it threatened to
orlVe reason from her throne 7 covarod
my face with my hands and went "Ho
Is false " seemed engraved upon nv brain
ana burned there like Goals of fire rn'
solved at once to Danish him from INV
heart, but alas [ now found that this
would be a much more difficult task than
7 7 llao ever before imagined. How could
! I7fgsf give him up! And yet felt-tha it must
and raising En MY mRye4gp 66eeRaft
my thoughts. | thought he looked paler
and sadder than had ever seen him, and
as looked upon him, | was half iuclined
to believe that what | had heard was false
that he was still the same; but voice
seemed whispering in my ear, and warning
me to beware.
Taking my hands gently in his own, he
seated himself on the grass beside me, and
enquired the cause Of my tears. | gave
him no answer, but bid him leave my pres
ence. He did not obey, however, but tried
to comfort me by pouring into my ear low
ing words. believed him not; | felt that
he was trying to deceive NE, but | could
not tell him so, for what right had I to be-
heve every report heard? Would he not
think me very foolish if | should tell him
what | had heard, and that | had believed
it? Most assuredly he would. At length,
in as calm tone as | could command, [
said to him, "Leaye me, it is not right that
you should address me thus; and | must
not, can not listen to you"
"Why do you speak thus, said he, grow
ing somewhat excited, "what have they
been telling you? what have done to
merit such treatment from vou?"
Il need not give you any reason for my
course" said l, fixing my eyes on him very
sternIy, "you already know why it is that
can never be your wife. | release you
from your engagement, henceforth we meet
as strangers perhaps it is better that II
should be so; and now Save me, | must
not again listen to words which were once
far sweeter than music to M ears" His
eyes were fixed on me with an expression
which | shall never forget; long and earn
estly he gazed upon me, then clasping me
wildly to his bosom, he said, Farewell
dearest! though you have been very cruel
though you have crushed out the last
ray of hope from my sinking heart, yet
fondly love you still-but what am say
ing? forgive me, for know not what
say. Farewell farewell forever!" liz
drew me still closer to him and pressed hi
lips to my pale cheeks. In a moment ht
was gone. | made an attempt to follow
him and explain all-tell him what l hac
heard, for perhaps it was false; perhaps
had been too hasty in believing sucI
things; then doubt came back, my prid,
rebelled and chained me to the spot. A
his form passed from my sight the gloon
OF despair seemed to settle on my heart
| buried my face in my hands and wept
Had he then given me up so easily? Il
might have urged me to give an explana
ton; but no, he did nothing of the kind
he left me without even one effort to re
claim my confidence. | felt that he wa
indeed false, that he had been deceivin
me all the time. | struggled earnestl
against these thoughts. | tried to beliey
that his last words 81 fondly love YOU still
were true, but no, had they been he neve
would have left me thus At length, calm
ing myself, resolved that he should neye
know what | have suffered, but shoul
judge by my actions, that | was as col
and heartless as himself. | know not ho
long sat thus, musing on my sad fate, b1
when arose the last rays of the settin
: sun were dying around me-the birds ha
ceased their warbling, and even the broo
as it rippled along, seemed chanting I'll
) dirgo of my departed peace, l wake
l slowly homeward, and went immediate
e to my room; passed sleepless nigh