Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-01-12
For the Spirit Of the Age.
MAY0NI MAYNO.-A CHARACTER.

Lore, LoyE--and can it be that there is
such n thing rs Lore real warm, intense
Love ! said Mayoni Mayno to herself
Mayoni was Young, not twenty summers
had scattered rose. leaves upon her cheeks,
or rather We should say not twenty winters
had placed snow-wrcathes upon her brow:
for not like a fair and smiling summer had
her life been no, winter will represent it
best winter with its freezing blasts, its
frozen pulses, its cold, dazzling grandeur.
Such was her Iife,-anG she so young; nor
was she Jcrett of personal ATTRACTIONS
Generally she was termed fair some
thought her beautiful, while others, who
were lovers OF the recherche, went into rap
lures over her peculiarly unique style of
face; and one Poet took it into his head
to immortalize her form, which he clo-
quently vowed, was cast in perfect mould
In all that pertains to female personal
attractions, Mayoni was not deficient; but
1t IS not our purpose to enter into minute
details of her personal appearance, We
would speak Of her life; and be it sufici-
ent when we say it was a strange and a
sad one ; n very life of wild romance.
Mayom was one of a small group of So
ciabIe beings who had collected in a pleas
ant parIor one evening, for the purpose of
gliding with the tinscl of gayety the some
what dark framework Of Time. There
were animated faces and bright flashing
eyes TO be seen there their theme was an
oil absorbing one-LoyE! Much was said,
and 1t may be surmised that more was felt,
for there were flushed cheeks, and ewes that
told a 'wondrous tale All warmly enter
ed into the sui ject all expressed an opin-
ION AL spake of n sweet or a bitter cxpe-
Renee, rs the case might be all, save one.
Mayoni Mayno spake no word no fuc-
tuating change passed its tremulous wing
over her pale face no thrill or emotion
quickencd her pulses. She was calm, very
calm. They chattcd or, those gay, loving
ones; clear, ringing laughter gushed up
from the hcart-iountains rainbow smiles
enhanced faces already beautiful yet
Mayoni Mayno laughed not; smiled not
but studied the faces before her.
One by one they passed out, and she was
left alone. The fire burned low tAe
lamps were growing dim yet still she sat
poudcring her thoughts shaped them
selves Into w~ords-words spoken, vet low.
'"Can it be that there is such a thing as
ovE?-real, warm, intense Love-? 1t
must be! They feel it, or they deceive
themselves. Is it that which calls up the
fgLdc aTain thing! And why am so
ankle them? Why do | doubt its exis.
@ence' Why do | almost scorn its nu-
merous devotees? Cold, calculating skcn-
TIC that am; why comes not the flush to
my eye? the thrill to my heart Whv
come they netl Oh heart, nav heart
tell me whyi Ha the night winds Of al.
tumn "aiIeth why? Save that, there is no
response My cold, strange heart deigns
no r'Fiy? but my brain, my restless brain,
mas an answer we'll prepared. 1t speaks ::
u tells me why. Other persons live and
love, ana tre2d-a pleasant way they are
not like me ;ltheir childhood was not like
ioine; their lives have rot been as mine .
The current of their thoughts flows NOT into
the same channel with mine. Their asni-
raI'ons are not as my aspirations, nor their
dreams as my dreams. To them, my world
'oi light and beauty, with its flowery wales.
.iinPid streams, music-throated warblo,s
ana plains OF surpassing loneliness; its tow.
erlhg glory-crowned mountains its sonl.
enhancing scenes; its heart-deliobtino
melodies, Is a world of darkness. without
form and void, a world of silence and Will.
ont beauty. / am not like them. They
know not dream not, Of the wintry school
IN which | was taught, nor know they Of
my stern instructions.
Ana have | neVer loved Yes: bpt
mat 1t seems as though it were years and
years agone. Yes it was love: that STRANGE
that mystic power which for a short time
PerVaded my being, wholly possessed me,
led me a willing captive. la! it seems a.
though ages had elapsed since then. And
am changed; he would not know me
were he to meet me tomorrow.
i was a wild, merry, warm-hearted erea-
ture then; full of life nd-somethinp-was
1t love! Perhaps with a bright smile and
KIND word for all And now | am Il paIc,
Gola' quiet woman; treading the halls Of
life silently my feot send forth no ecbo q.
my heart no peal of slaughter but INV Inns
Affect s%nalles, and my eyes sparkle with ar
uh'lal light on my brow | wear a oils
to1in5 ornament. All l am of the MN
br who can truly say--I am perked nm
with a dazzling sorrow And INV bra;pp
tells me too, that my heart is frozen. Il
was as a tender plant of southern cline a
beautiful, tAst-growing plant promising to
spring up rapidly into a i pleasant and fT1;t.
fui tree, bearing flowers to delight the sen.
ses, fruits to please the taste spreaJingo ont
green branches on which the birds. who
wings their flight through the atmosphere
OF affection, might alight.
But alas! alas from the frozen throne
OF disappointment went forth-a decree -
stern, irIevocatle decree Take and sI,r.
bring me a warm, young heart; n hear
bounding with hope and rife with love
BRING it to me; lay it upon nv shrine I
wall it, His messenger went fortbwbo
found mo-he did his task perform. bo
left nae as / ana cold, stranye womon :.
looking years older than those Who arc nv
seniors. AS comes the ice.flled blast of
the frozen north to the tender plant Of Tho
sun-ioVed south, so came that fell messan.
ger to me. Asthe one is left witbored 90
dead, so was the other left frozen on5 Iii.