Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-04-13
For the Spirit of the Age.
Autobiography of a Handkerchief.
BY ANNIE GEORGE.
(CoNCLUsIoN.)

You may be curious to knoS, dear readers,
where | was, during the search for me; and
how | felt when | heard inquiry after inqui-
nv, and frequent lamentations and yet could
not by word or emotion, betray my hiding
place.
/ was safely deposited among piles of mu-
sic leaves, they, and myself both, in pictur-
esaue disorder, most admirable. The young
lady who carried me to the party, having
been called on for q song, placed me on the
piano while she played, and thus ! became
displaced among the music, which was being
tossed about by those around her. She did
not think of me when she first arosefrom the
instrument. Several times when searching
for me, they came to the music stand and
gave a careless glance amongi it's contents, but
/ was overlooked.
My mistress returned to n without
me-. ! was in despair, for never expected
to behold her again.
1t may seem strange, but 4 remained in my
hiding place for weeks. | could see nothing,
but heard all the more acutely. / learnt to
distinguish the voices of many persons, and
therefore knew often who were assembled
around the blazing wood fire in that comfor-
table parlor. ! often listened for theyoice of
him who had been treated so cruelty by the
fair young lady of the house, but in vain
He came not. Others visited her. To some
she was all smiles and graciousness, to others
cold and forbidding. learned to understand
her. She was coouette. Nature had form
ed her such, and she truly obeyed her die.
tates. Heiress to a large fortune, indepen
dent of her father, who was himself a man d
great v Y4 81 ter ffFga9 Rag / h little hler turned % BY
these things? For remember, reader, she
was but Just sweet seventeen.
At length, one day, she was alone in thu
parlor. l felt she was unhappy, for sigh at
ter sigh came from her lips; and for a while
heard her softly weeping. Soon, however
with another deep sigh, she went to the piano
opened it, and played piece after piece. The
sounded very strangely-and yet were fasci
mating in their wild, sad music. At first, sh,
seemed scarcely to touch the keys, the sound
were so soft, so sad; then peal after peal @
wild, loud, vehement music as if she was il
agony. Oh! | cannot describe it! But i
seemed to soothe her, and she m~urmured-
"Well, | believe | will practise that stupi
thing / took fer my last lesson, for Monsiau
will surely expect me to know it when | re
turn to school," She slowly turned over tn
sheets, when suddenly | appeared in view
She at ONCE forgot her object, and eagerly t.
king me, glanced m the corner, and foun
the name Of my darling mistress written there
ooh! Pm so glad I" she said, and springin
from her seat, ran to tell her sister she ha
found me.
And now arose the query, &How will W
send it to her p They could not tell, bl
resolved to let it depend on circumstances. =
] had began to grow weary of my s~eclusion
for though a dear lover of music, | BEGAN
thoroughly Disguised with the black linz
which were but the scientific portion of tt
art--the mute inspiration which the fpge
Of genius were to awaken to melody.
But l found, though / was emancipate
from music sheets, | was not to figure muC
in society, for she placed me away in h
trunk, till time should Gewelope some pl;
for restoring me to my mistress. So there
remained, and only by conversation Wink
occurred in the room where the trunk stoo
learned any thing which happened. Fro
these | learned that the lover of the your
lady still remained aloof, and never approac
ed her on any occasion. When tested abo
him, she laughed and spoke carelessly, scor
~{ully-but 1 knew she did NOT feel this.
The time arrived for the sisters to retul
to the Seminary. They had only been hoy
with them, hoping they might find some WI
" CGAlH liz W NY ONIlCI OO VIC WOLAI.
{ was delighted at the idea of a change.
/, found the Seminary a large, handsome bui,
: ing of stone, surrounded by noble trees, a
situated ON a beautiful, sloping, green Law
: It was a lovely spot. Crowds of young gi
gathered around the sisters as they enter
' the piazza, and welcomed them back aga
They did not room together. In that of t
:. younger was a stranger, a beautiful you
t girl. A merry, gleesome hoyden, sent by |
e relatives to the Seminary, hoping she wo,
there learn to be dignifed-hopeless task
- and accomplished. But nature had given
; the bright-eyed girl the very spirit of n
g chief. She was, withal, very amiable, a
4 soon became a great fayOrite with all
schoolmates. / had often seen her at
former home, as she lived but a few mi
= from N, and my dear young mistr,
loved her very dearly, and never wearied
J. laughing at her merry FRANKS; though
too thought she needed discipline. WI
9 my possessor found she was an acquaintal
e of my mistress, she eagerly embraced the
N %portunity to resign me to her charge, to
q. restored to my dear young lady. OH l
!: very happy at the bare idea Of seeing
a. again: but many weary months passed
ir this occurred. / dared not think what mi
ID happen before then. / listened eagerly
:, the letters the young girl received from
~ HRtnnAR and w1nn &C. $500