Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-23
WRITTEN FOR n Spirit OF THE AGE.
ANNIE LORRAINE +;
LIES vICIssITUDES
(coNTISUED FROM OUR LAsr.)
BT ANNIE GEORGE

HIS hhA, GVNAOt " dth idplNlJ " Wv /.
foot Of the Hill, which he reached just as
the pufing locomotive dashed in sight !
-Four ladies and as many gentlemen com.
posed the party. There are more than we
expected said Mrs. N. but all the better,
isn't it Annie | suppose they are friends
travelling with their party'-and she talked
on, busily scanning them, and not noticing
tho flushing and paling checks of the timid
Fad sensitive girl at her side.
Two ladies apparently about forty years
Of age, and two young girls, composed the
female position OF the group. An elderly
man, with locks Of silver, another rather
younger, and two still in YOUTHS calendar,
are the remainder Of the party. Annie
had only time to make this discovery, and
remark that one Of the young ladies was
very beautiful, when Mrs. N. spoke. MY
dear Mr.. and Mrs. Manning, | am delighted
to see you, and you also, Kate and Robert.
Mr.. Clemens, Mrs. Leroy, Miss Leroy, Mr..
Coleman, | arm very happy to welcome you
TO Brookland.' Then drawing forward the
blushing Annie, she introduced her to them.
Annie hal never appeared to better adj
vantage than on this evening. Dressed IN
India Muslin, trimmed with rich ValeEci-
,ennes, aud no ornaments save a pearl neck
lace, and rosc.buds in her hair, she looked
very beautiful.
Annie, my child, you are perfectly
charming exclaimed DIR. n. as Annie APP
peared on the piazza in the early part of
tho evening, and so thought his wife.
Now, while the guests are doffing their
travelling babilimcnts, we will take a brief
survey Of the party.
Mr.. and Mrs. Manning are an amiable
couple, wellto-do in the world, and almost
idolizing their two children. Kate is a
pretty, sprightly girl Of eighteen, not long
since cmancipated from the school room.
Amiable and unaffected, she had already
won many admirers. Robert, a handsome
young man Of twenty-five, was a lawyer,
and promised to rise high in his profession.
He w~orshipped the beautiful Belle Leroy.
Tall, graceful and brilliant, Belle de-
served her name. An accomplished CO.
quote, and naughty in her disposition, few
saw beneath the brilliant exterior the pas
sionate and willy character of her heart.
MIR. Clemens is a gentleman of the old
school, high-soulod and generous, brother
to Mrs. Leroy (whose character can be
Aiudged by that Of her danshtegl and 3
them With every luxury. lie knew his sis
ter to be fond Of the cav world, but as she
was ever kind and thoughtful of his wishes.
and expressed often her gratitude, he little
knew Of what she was capable.
As for Belle, educated by her mother
to conceal her real emotions, under the
guise Of suitability and artlessness her un-
Gle believed her to be what she seemed
She ready loved him, and was ever ready
to oblige and make him happy. He be.
came greatly attached to her, and gratiGed
her every wish.
is MIR. Coleman, a former ward of Mr.. Gle.
mems, aul a great ~favorite with him, haG
inst visited him a few weeks before. Find
ing them making preparations to visit Sara,
toga, he concluded to accompany them
As he resided IN the sunny South, and hac
not visited his former guardian for seycra
years, be had never before seen Mrs. Lero,
or Belle. They had often heard him spo
ken Of, aud knew him to be possessed O
great wealth. Mr.. Clemens had often spo
ken also Of his high qualities of mind anc
soul, but these were but secondary in the
estimation OF the ~manGnvreing mother
whose heart was fixed on a brilliant ALI
ance for her beautiful daughter.
Belle had determined to captivate him
she knew the power of her charms, TO
many had been their victims.
Her uncle looked on and wondered, a
Belle laughed, chatted, and flirted with tn,
most eligible, but he little knew her to b,
the heartless coquctte she really was. Sh,
delighted in fascinating and bringing to hel
feet all who approached, and then hauchti
~ rejected aud scorncd them. Rober
Manning had been encouraged, and laugh
to believe she returned bis love, till th,
appearance Of Horace Coleman, when sh,
suddenly grew reserved and cold toward
him. But he still adored her, and sad 70
him, showed it all too plainly. Kate offer
told him this; then he would endeayor t,
be more reserved, but one soft reproacbfu
look from the large black eyes of his be
loved Belle would again bring him to he
feet, utterly subdued.
Horace was at the first sight struck will
the beauty and grace of Belle, and charme,
to lind her with intellect cultivated, and su
perior accomplishments. Visiting tn
~Aease, he naturally saw much Of her, bu
was SVhiNtihbS9 oAb W q lOOh, q LOD
which instiuctively repealed him why b
could not tell. But her syren voice an
witching arts soon wound themselye
around his heart, and he grew happy oul
in her presence. Strange to relate, whe
away from her he despised himself for b
infatuation, and resolved to sunder tn
chains which bound him to her. He di
not know her power. Belle loved him
we'll as her selfish nature could love an
one. This very love made her the mo,
fascinating. She had well nigh succeede
in winning him entirely, when Annie Lo
raine, as pure and lovely as the mnsli
dress she wore, met his gaze.
Day by day disclosed some new CHAIR
some gift Of genius, softened and almo
hidden by true womanly reserve. Artles
graceful, intelligent and accomplished, v
Annie was modest almost to difidence
the presence Of strangers. The beautif
words Of Rogers may well be adaptedto he
'The soul OF music slumbers in the she'll.
Till waked and kindled BY the Masters spell.
And feeling hearts--touch them but liRhtiv-po
A thousand melodies unbeard bcfore.S