Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-12-07

supposed him married 10 Belle Leroy-for Z
though Kate Manning and Annie had kept f
up a regular correspondence, their names c
were studiously avoided by Annie, and Kate I
from instinct did the same-they inquired for t
her. Horace looked surprised, and said he q
had not seen her since their visit to the Lakes. |
They were astonished, and told him they
had supposed, ere this, she was Mrs. Cole {
man. He looked annoyed, but made no re- I
ply. lie, however, had noticed the blush
which came DER the face of Annie, when she
first met his gaze, and saw her LOOK of sur I
prise and pleasure when he told of not having !
seen Belle for so long a time and hope
kindled in his breast. "Couid | have been
mistaken Could she have loved mel" he
thought. II will not remain much longer in
suspense, and before | submit myself to the
fascination Of her presence, will write her,
and tell her ALL" This he did, directly af-
ter leaving the table, and dispatched it to An
ME. We will, with her, peruse its contents
"You may imagine, Miss Lorraine, my sur
prise on seeing you to-day, when | inform
you, | knew not of your presence on this side
of the Atlantic. / cannot express to you my
feelings when | beheld you; joy and hope
rose in my heart feelings which have long
been strangers there.
MANY times while at Saratoga, | was tempt
cd to seek this explanation. You must have
seen, dear Miss Lorraine, how dear you were
to me, for | could not conceal'it, and did not
desire to do so, for the first object Of my life
was to win you for my own. hoped to sue
ceed-perhaps vanity taught me this-but
suddenly 1 found you were greatly changed
towards me. | often sought your presence
for the purpose of telling my love, but your
GOODNESS, or a certain indifference of manner
~repulsed me. Annie-let me call you thus
| cannot tell you how this panied me. con-
sidered you the realization of all my dreams
Of purity and loneliness, and you cannot con-
ceive how tenderly loved you. Your image
was enshrined in my heart. By degrees, |
Ebegan-forgive me-to believe youto be what
all called you, a coquette. / thought you
had thus tri1ed with me. ] grew morose and
unhappy. l loved you, and often, in defiance
of all | heard, and suffered, euld not think
;. you aught but the embodiment Of all that is
!, lovely and beautiful in woman.
: 81 sailed for Europe in three weeks after oCI
departure from Saratoga. l am aware there
= was a report that | was engaged TO Miss LIE
|, Troy. 1t is but justice to you to say, it was
? false. never loved her, and would not
. | ~could-marry one | did not love.
= 81 have been wandering from place to place
where | thought | would be solitary, for
Y was too unhappy to mingle much with socie
III Il ~ 10 NAN
, leave my room, in consequence of fatigue, ii
= to-day.
: "And now, dear Annie, you know all.
! cannot believe you to be a triher with tn
- hearts of men, and wish to know, if aught hs
- been told you, to prejudice you against m
- | love you with my whole soul, and / if yo
81 will he mine, mDl life shall be devoted to yo1
happiness. If you refuse to become my vii
| dare not think of the future. 1t will ev
IS be clouded with sorrow; for | am in earnes
= when / say, my whole life is bound up
=. yours. Relieve this suspense, dearest, spe
~ Oily / will await an answer with impatien
u and hope"
" We cannot describe her f~eelings-they C
- better be imagined than written. She ope
70 ed her writing desk, and taking from it t
90 note which had caused so much unhappine
y" placed it in another envelope, and then wr'
1.-the following:
o ~: II enclose a note which will explain Q
III will await you in the parlor-I too haze 81
cred"
two fond hearts. "This is the work of b
,ce Leroy. Yes, | recognize the writing, {
,;se lgnised as it is. win go now to Annie, a
iexcalpate myself from these base charges
| never thought to be SO happy" and he b
ricd to the private parlor where Annie aV
'nH ted him.
I'd We will not intrudc, but suffice it to S
when Mrs. N. entered the room some ho
,od later, she found them still engaged in carr
- conversation. She read all at a glance,
and smiled meaningly, but Horace taking An
nar. by the hand led her to Mrs. N. and S
e. "Wil you give her to me p She replied,
"a you will ever cherish and love our darl
sS. Mr.. Coleman, | win gladly make her hapT
"a Armies friends were all pleased when t
H. heard the news, for they had much liked
arc young man, and were only ~prcjudieed by
dav mistake which had occurred. Mr.. Lii
r. affected to be very angry, and told Hora
- he took Annie, he would have to take
also as he was determined not to be SEP
rora ted from her. SO all was amicably set
and they were to be married on their re
-, to New York.
M The remainder of their %sojourn in Paris
,nors busily consumed by Mrs. N. in preparing
hnS bridal paraphernalia.
- Horace engrossed so much of Annie's a
nom ton, she gave little heed to these things.
a. Linton had given Mrs. N. carte blanche,
80 she procured a magnificent trOsseau.
49, Annie was gayer than her friends had
seen her. The old sadness was all dispe
a.a With health fully restored, happiness q
H. brighter look to her beautiful eyes, and
anu ened the color on her cheeks. Z
60 Soon after reaching New York, the
rage was solemnized at the residence o
,nrbt N. After which the happy pair went to
~ own home, near that of her friends, a s
49, did mansion, filled with everything v
ny could please the eye, or crafty the fast
: snS Mr.. Linton lived only a few years.
rn died, blessing his darling Annie. to joil
t.i;nn wife and daughter in the skies. They b
hn"s him by their side, for the remains of
81 Lorraine. had been disinterred, and plac,
the side of her mother.
; go" The large fortune of Mr.. Linton we
ii ms Annie, who never forgot in her prosp
AZ those in adversely. Her former friend, B,
OHanan, was employed as laundress
have own family, which she preferred to
:. obi alone, and enjoying the modest indepen
war Annie had settled upon her.
Kate Manning, who had oficiated as b
ars 60 maid at the wedding, passed the winte
Annie, and then returned to Virginia,
- her with her, to her own wedding. ST
! ,ha;. happily married to the man of her che
mna One worthy of even our sweet Kate.
= - Belle Leroy married Robert. Her
by an unfortunate speculation, lost his
:, erty, and then she gladly became his
J After spending o few years, happy {
% cnriafv peolactipo har huchona and