Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-10
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MA, AUGUST 10, 1859.


very name of this man to be shadow be-
tween us? Now, do you love this man III,
Well, that's the way Of the world, sup
pose,' as the blush on her cheek answered
him more eloquently than words could have
done. ghaven't been such fool as to
think to keep a handsome girl like you all
my days, nor amt selfish enough to wish
it. But Jessie, don't like this man..
knew his father, Nick Gresham, hand |
some, dashing fellow-the sons his image.
He broke poor Bessie Moultrie's heart
and married Miss Cavendish, the great
heiress. I tell you, Jessie, it's bad stock
like father, ike son. q
Iessie'sl Lin quiversd, ,lnnd largo tsnrs roll
| ed silently down her cheeks.
sThere, there, don't cry about it r. said
the squire, hastily. If your heart is set
on it. Idon't say You shan't have him..
| don't believe in opposition in such mat
ters; only if his name had been Reuben
Ellsworth, the match would have pleased
me better" a
| And so Arthur Gresham became Jessie'sI
avowed lover I; and day by day the gulf
grew wider between her and her father,
and day by day she drew closer to and
worshipped with more intense idolatry
/ her handsome suitor.
| Aunt Judith had never spoken of him
but once, when she broke out with strange,
passionate cry of: "Oh! child! for what
sin is it that this blindness is fallen upon
YOUR and though Jessie strove to shut out
its remembrance, it would come back to
dampen her JOY and chill her with strange,
undefinable misgivings.
One day, al she sat with Arthur on the
stile, lady with a proud, hands, me face
passed them, bowling as she did so with a
meaning smile, that sent the blood ting
ling to Jessie's very finger-tips She fan
cied, too, that Arthur looked annoyed and
it was in no delighted tone that she asked
him who she was.
"Miss Hastings" he answered, slightly
hesitating.
"She is very handsome" said Jessie, in
terrogatixely.
"Yes, but | don't like tall women"
!, "What makes you like me?" she asked,
curiously.
Because you are beautiful, my little
, darling"
"Jessie's countenance FELL Was that
all! Had she no frmer hold on him thar
that Why, any boor might love her fol
her beauty
"Supposing I should grow ugly?"
: Little inquisitor! why torment your
:, self SO needIessly? Yours is beauty tha
: can never change" And they turned to
). ward home, he laughing and trying to dis
pei the cloud that had overshadowed heI
= she resolutely crushing down the dull pai
: of distrust born in heart.
" She found her father shivering by fire
though the day had been warm. al
y had felt ill all day." he said. Perhaps h
= was affected by the death of old Mrs. Rait
= He had been to see her a short time be
FORE little thinking it was the last tim
>, they should meet on earth.
:. Jessie was about to question him farther
3 but Aunt Judith stopped her with look
= 81 have sent for the DOCTOR" she said, i
;, a whisper. Mrs. RAFT died of the small
!, pox.
x < 60 my father! my father!" exclaime
10 Jessie, in an agony, all resentment vanish
ing in view of his immediate danger.
: "Don't distress yourself, Miss Jessie,
. said the doctor, who had just arrived. "l
will probal ly be mild attack; and Will
: it lasts, you had better visit some of you
friends. Come and see us-my wife wi
be delighted
"And leave my father?" said Jessie, il
:. dignantIy. Never" And spite of h'
- fathers earnest entreaties and her lover
e a expostulations, which, indeed, amounted a
~ y most to commands, she at once constit
|. ted herself chief nurse, watching her fat
y, er with unwearied tenderness, till deal
terminated his sufferings. Then she,
~ turn, was attacked by the fell disease, whic
left her life, indeed, but not one trace
!, that enchanting loveliness that had so e
a. - slaved Arthur Gresham. Poor child ho
% she shrank from meeting him.
:. Aunt Judith sat mournfully watchil
~ - her, as she tried to arrange her shini
!: hair in some more becoming fashion. The
80 - eyes met ~. -e...s
w. 90 auntn she exclaimed; it is
over. He loved me because was beau
- full. He will not care for me now"
:. Aunt Judith stroye to answer, to rebu
q this disregard of the Creator in love for
creature, but words failed her; and bur
go ing into tears, she held ont her arms to |
,d nJ niece, who mingled tears and sobs with
own.
An hour after, Jessie went quietly do
to meet Mr.. Gresham, who was impatie
aos 90, ly awaiting her. As she entered, he st
80 ted back, exclaiming: "Great Heavel
81 how you are changed r And Jes
u thought, with keen pang, that had it b
II Reuben Ellsworth, be would have sa
,,;,h Thank Heaven! You are saved!'
The conversation was embarrassed 9
Il, unsatisfactory. Arthur was half ang
.;n oa half grieved; Jessie was nerving her
, for the trial that awaited her.
pe Arthur rose to go. Now was the ii
No and with choking sensation in her thl
m not Jessie began:
and "Mr Gresham, one word before you
,ino Your manner tells me that circnmstar
,ing make your engagement irksome toy
nam and as a final proof of the love have
ath ways felt for you, now tell you you
she free"
,hed Perhaps she had secretly hoped tina
sat would not accept his hberty-that
might vet prove to Aunt Judith how
suse, taken had been her estimate of her love
e Il a.. L Al