Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-02-23

NndL Is SnaQOWy anu InQlSlluCG now ana,
perhaps, the great overruling Power will
permit me to come and tell you what is be-
yond the veil or, I shall draw you, by
the magnetism Of my superior spirituality,
to myself
| thought much upon these words, so
nysterious-so terrible to my child-s soul /
then. | often fancied | saw him coming
upon the white mist in a serene mid-sum- /,
mer day, and watched for form like unto
my brother to come out of the golden
splendour Of the sunset clouds.
Three years passed without any incident
worthy of record, till one fine August even
ing, when Virgil, after a two years ab-
sence, returned home. | sat on the steps
Of the porch, on the opposite side of the
house, leading into the family sitting-room,
weaving some flowers I had been gather
ing into garland, when he arrived with
stranger. He was warmly welcomed,
as also was his companion, whom he in
troduced as Arnold Auber-his particular
friend for the last year.
was then fifteen, dreamy, pensive
thing, [ remember had previous to their
arrival, been looking at the pale, harvest
moon riding through sky serenely blue,
and wondering if my brothers eyes, ava
kened and frightened in the better land,'
gazed upon the same mild planet and
thence to me, his pet sister; and would he
know me so changed? Then the flowers
l had been arranging, yielding, as they
passed through my fingers, their varied
perfumes, reminded me of him who so fond
ly cherished the beautiful, whatever its
guise. But Virgil interrupted my dreams
with a kiss and a hurrah and, when |
had recovered myself saw standing by
his side a tall stranger, with the whitest of
faces and the blackest of hair, and eyes
which outshone the moonlight, while some
thing in their depths seemed dancing and
playing all the while. 1t was not the spar
kle of soul overfowing with JOY, but a
cold glitter, like moon-rays falling on burn
ished silver. gazed steadfastly into those
burning orbs, which seemed to drink up
the light of my own. He entered into
conversation with father, taking a seat on
the bench in the porch, and the moon
beams stealing through the lattice-work,
lay amid the dark, heavy locks of hair and
played upon the broad, massive brow. He,
to me, looked unearthly; and his voice, so
deep and low, reminded me Of the flow OF
the brook by the garden-fence, when
choked by dead weeds and fallen leaves.
He was gcntlemanly, scholar, and had
seen much of the world-whose sounds
came to my lonely retreat like the surging:
of an naseen sea.
His eyes, felt, had read my soul-had
discovered my genial old fathers kindly
disposition. He understood my gay-hear-
ted, atfectionate brother, and OWNED the
superior intelligence of my lady-moth
er. He chose strange topics Of converse
ton. His soul seemed penetrating mysti
cism and darkness. His words rolled along
like sullen, turbulent stream rising in th'
strength of spring floods to swallow "
green grass and daisy fields; then subsiding
leaving mire and blackness, | forgot sun
shine and flowers, and thought of tempests
and desolate, moaning winds wanderin,
through charnel vaults
Mother was out in the kitchen ASSISTING
Becky in preparing supper; and for som
lent, listening to the strange, wild meta
physics of the visitor. I could perceiv
that they grew thoughtful and wonderin;
and, at last, uneasy. He, perhaps, notice
this; for, suddenly leaving his all-engrossin
topic, hemade afew commonplace remark
and then, coming to my side, placed h
hand upon my head, saying:
so this is the little sister you have
often spoken to me about, Virgil 2
Yes, Arnold,' my brother replied, ar
dear little thing she is
Arnold! The name struck unpleasan
ly upon my car My history told me
an Arnold who was traitor; and thong
it told me, too, of many noble, genero
traits in the character Of him who forsoo
his country, yet this great crime swallow'
, them all. This was not he; yet might n
} my brothers friend be fresh embodime
of the spirit of one so base-at least,
, one act? There was something startlil
r in the idea, however foolish. 1t quick
e assumed the air Of truth. glanced up
/ his face; the eyes were fastened upon 1
A with a greedy look Would he devo
} me?
Y Strange as it may appear, Auber so
grew into general esteem. My father Fl
0 admiration for his talents my mother S;
in him superior genius; my brother,
n warm, devoted friend. He (VirgiD h
made Auber's acquaintan ce while spcndi
}. his vacation in New England town, W
is college chum. His parents were wealth
n and he the only son at home He had G
: brother married, living in Italy. Vir
d babe me never to mention to Auber l
IL knowledge that he had brother, as,
S, some reason, it effected his friend m
u strangely.
e 4 Stunned Arnold Amber, for his pr
enee distressed me. [ always felt, WI
e, he was at my side, as if standing on
$ verge of crater, whose crust would cru
N Bile and consign meto the fiery waves bel'
or beneath a jutting granite crag, VIII
e. threatened momentarily totoPple over q
bury me.
as He, in a weeks time, became compile
" ly domesticated, readingin the parlor ale
at to mother, accompanying father and Vii
a out upon the farm, and wandering away
as the hill beyond the river, or padding
is to some one of the green islands, VIII
ar lay like beauty-spots on the breast of
ID. graceful Susquehanna, always request
L l.