Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-03-02

J 81" 10y Pc&AC1 eShO SdiA
'"Martha, something is wrong. God
grant no evil may have befallen your broth
er! Go to your mother. Do not inform
her of any apprehensions of accident, and
| will take Carlo and seek Virgil. He
may be with his friend, George Haskins."
The dog started to his feet with JOY
ful bark, at my fathers call, who turned as
he reached the door, and said:
lyon need not say anything concern
ing this matter to your-to Auber, L"
then he checked himself, and went out;
and | saw him, preceded by the faithful
Carlo, take the path Auber and Virgil had
traversed the night previous.
The hours dragged wearily by, and
felt compelled to laugh and jest; though
the bare thought or Une misery --1-::~l.- 7
saw threatening US, made me wretched.-
Mother was stitching shirt for Virgil,
! who was to return to school in few days
l-pausing occasionally, to remind me, with
a smile, that the neck-tie which I was en-
broidering for the same dear one, would
hardly be finished in season, unless l was
more Industrious; for |, full of doubts and
fears, and newly y-awakened, horrible sus-
picion, could not ply my needle. Every
thrust Of the sharp point into the glossy
satin seemed to enter my heart.
AT noon, my father returned alone,
looking anxious and fatigued, though he
strove to appear all life and jollity. After
dinner, he left the dining room; and, as
soon as could, without exciting remark, [
followedto ask after the object of his search.
His voice was husky as he whispered:
'"Martha, there is something terrible in
our midst. [ feel it. l have found moth
ing Of your brother. I have been over
the river, but he has not been to Mr.. Has
kin's. George and his father are to meet
me this afternoon to help prosecute the
search. [ don't wish to alarm the other
neighbors; as, if Virgil should return un-
harmed, it would place him in an unpleas-
ant position. We are to 90 across to the
island by the forest, as Carlo seems anxious
we should, he having swan the stream
to and from the island several times. Be
hopeful, my daughter, and tranquil.
| hope and trust our fears are groundless;" say
ing which, he kissed me, and hurried away.
The day had grown excessively sultry
and, as the afternoon waned, the sun, fiery
and red, shot over the cliffy brows of some
"thunder-heads" up-heayed from a dark
strata of clouds stretching downward even
to the horizon. Not breath Of air to stil
leaf swing a aflower-not song from the
birds among the trees, or the hum of a bee
'Occaslonalfy, came the slicHt boom o.
the distant thunder, mingled with the
shrill, dissonant shrieks of a feet of earrion
crows, circling through the upper deep
Mother was growing uneasy at VirgiP'
prolonged absence; father, she supposed
had gone to the village, as he had spoker
of doing so at dinner. Auber paced the
apartment to and fro His face was hag.
gard, his eyes blood-shot and wandering
For two hours, he had kept up this trou-
bled march, pausirg only to look out O
the open door, upon the gathering storm
six o'clock came, and evening shadow.
mingled with the gloom of the approach
ing tempest. Still, no wind; not even {
breath from the cloudy portals opening
momentarily, to give egress to the fiery
messengers of Jcve. The air seemed thicl
with sitting vapors. In the gathering
darkness, the towering form of my hus
band seemed to expand; and could feel
as he turned his pallid face toward mo
those burning eyes fastened upon myself
At length, unable to sit longer, [ went ou
upon the porch. I saw forms moving
through the elms, and with heart wildl.,
lpalpitating, watched their approach, TO
they were coming toward the house-bu
they moved slowly, as if carrying a burden
1 did not Shrek nor rush forward
Great emotion in me paralyzes, rather tina
incites my faculties to action. | stoo
with sensation Of faintness, like death at m
heart,grasping tightly ahoney-suckle branc
twining the slender column at my side
Nearer, still nearer they come. | coul
see my father at the head of the little pre-
cesson, walking upright, rigid, with hea
uncovered, and the thin, gray hair fioatin
in the rising wind, that swelled with ON
nous breathings through the tree-tops. Nj
Haskins was there with his son George
poor Virgirs most intimate friend--vt
was weeping bitterly. And Virgil! was
his form they bore so tenderly, and laid,
if overwhelmed with emotion, upon Il
iseat in the porch?
, 4 stepped forward to remove the clos
8hrouding the face, but my fathers ar
withheld me.
! "'Don't my child he said, in a chok'
! voice.
"'But, father, is it not VirgiIs Thou|
> he be drowned let me look
y "'No, mop he interrupted. You knc
: not what you ask, Wait little
; "'But, dear father, perhaps We N
: revive him. still pleaded. Every II
h ment is precious
: "He only shook his head, and held l
Of tightly.
J. ave had none Of US noticed the slig
o. figure that came out of the darkness Of
ID sitting room, and bent above the cover
Y. form, removing, with trembling hnge
S the mantle, till shrek, so piercing,
| full of uncomfortable anguish, aroused
in ard we saw, bending above the body
,r, her youngest son, my mother.
cc "a dark line of cIotted gore across
". throat of the corpse marked the path
Mt the murderous blade.
m "Father left me to 60 to my mother
IN | felt so benumbed with horror that
lily mind ceased to act, my limbs refuseC