Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-03-02
Gboite Hlteratnre
THE HAUNTED HOUSE:
OR, THE MANIACs BRIDE.
Concluded from oar las


He struggled with his inward tormen--
tor until his face became as white as my
bridal robe; and then, with glance new
er shall forget, grasped my arm fercely,
and returned, outwardly composed, to the
parlor. AS we entered, Virgil sprang for
ward, and placing his arm around my
waist, and putting back my curls, kissed me
fondly The action thrilled me to the
heart. The thought that I was bout to
leave my childhood's home for that fan
other, burst upon me, for the first time,
with crushing force. was that otier's
now. All my hopes and joys must heace-
forth centre in him. had voluntarily
gone out from the dear shelter Of moth
er's protecting loye-a fathers wathful
care. had linked, indissolubly, my des-
tiny with a stranger. | sank upon VigiPs
shoulder, and burst into an uncomfortable
passion Of tears.
4 could not resist the overwhelming tide
Of emotions, though knew that theten-
der eyes of my mother were chidins me;
for she saw that it panied my proud, haugh-
ty husband, and Virgil essayed to soothe me.
when once again looked at Aaber,
there was terrible expression about the
compressed, bloodIess lips. I drew away
from my brothers arms as if guilt were
there. [ went to a distant window, and
gazed out. A fine mist was falling, and
gray clouds trailed along the mountain
side. The winds moaned drearily in the
woodS-presaging storm; and 1 caught
sight, through the branches, of the grave
yard elms tossing above Lincoln's grave
Of the river, making sullen bounds toward
its ocean burial.
Mother went to the kitchen to assist
! the servant in removing the remains of the
wedding supper; father vas eontersing
with the clergyman, Mr.. Beauchamp, who
yet fingered. I saw Auber and Virgil 60
out, taking the path down to the river, and
enter my brothers boat.
"There it les" she said, pointing to the
one had seen an hour since. "His ini-
tials, carved by her own hand, remain yet.
Poor Virgilr'
The speaker paused, and buried her face
in her hands. When she lifted it, there
were traces Of tears; and, if possible, still
more auguished look rested there.
"They went out together Virgil seem
cd light s.c--..~i, errvrc me
his inger-tips, while my husband strobe
with rapid strides along, his eyes bent
gloomily upon the ground.
at was quite dark, and the fine mist had
become a drenching rain when Auber
came in, alone, wet to the skin, and sat
down shivering by the fire.
Mother insisted that he should exchange
his saturated clothing for dry apparel; and,
this being done, he again crouched close to
! the fire, taking me within his arms.
could feel great shudders rolling through
his huge frame. A tempest, where all the
mental elements were at work, seemed ra-
ging within. To our inquiries after Virgil,
he made only e7asive replies Ny brother
, often spent night with friend across
the river, and no fears were expressed for
his safety; though felt grieved that he
should absent himself from home when my
= stay was to be so brief-as Wednesday had
been fixed upon as the day of my depar-
ture. [ could not talk. Auber appeared
disinclined to converse, So. early in the
f evening, my parents withdrew. Hours
= passed, and Auber yet held me tightly in
his arms-muttering at intervals to me OF
. the dying flames.
'You love me. No one, now, can come
- between us. You are my own-body anc
- soul-soul-soul?" when his voice woulc
die out on the last word, and silence woult
follow, only broken by wind-gusts and tn,
o rain driving against the windows.
= 4 would have given worlds to have gon'
y from his clasp, but any effort to reIeas
n myself resulted in farther compression o
r those muscular arms, and at last ceases
d to struggle: and remained cowed ant
y trembling mute and stern.
1 Morning broke and, as the family be
'0 gan to stir, Auber released me, and wake
. away to distant window, and sat dowr
Il folding his arms over his breast
'0 The rain had ceased and, as the da
. advanced, the clouds, already assumin
:; the shape Of white billows rolled ava
,e from the sky, which seemed, from the pr
N rity of tie atmosphere, to be farther ava
ne more blue, more expansive.
in The fields looked green, and the fov
Id ers beneath the windows sent in, throug
n the lattices, their wealth of perfume. I
'r us me, coming from the darkness and gloor
l. and mysterious fears OF the past night, in
,e- the glad sunlight-from the prison with
&C. those brawny arms to the freedom of on
nd door Hfe-there was something exhilar
v ting. Auber was irritable and refused
Of reply to my polite inquiries; 50 stole for
Is Is into the garden to enjoy the beauty Of Il
nc nc morning. While bending over bed
,rs s violets, Virgirs dog-a noble Newfoun
we Iand-came bounding to my side, his shs
he gy coat dripping with water, and tugg
AN at my dress, moaning and whining piteous
nat Something must have befallen his m;
nLln mn ter, else they had not been separated.
~ , o. hastened to my father, whom had left
st the house. met my husband in the do
rds who, startled apparently at the appearaI
are of the dog, eyed me sternly and inquiring
icy IA feeling for which I could not accol
sed flor had no suspicion of treachery)
lse- pelled me to smile gayly and choke do
o.: 90 my rising emotions $50, with merry s;
,Iar Ia upon my ips which appeared to appe
tes t, his evident distrust, passed by him.
Il found father alone in the break
room, and while imparting to him
Z ~.lo,Ata ~ NV hyother the. dor,