Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-03-21
Original papers,
WRITTEN FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE Age.
S LA MAS ON:
TRUTH AND FALsEHooD.
By ANNIE GEORGE.
CHAPTER iii.

CHAPTER III.
when first met thee, warm and young,
There shonc such truth about thee,
And on thy lip such promise hung
did not dare to doubt thee" MooRx.
"Who is that exquisite creature. Clavtons,
said Ned Levern, as they stood at a window
IN the balcony and watched the dancers
"Faithi but she is the most beautiful girl
OF the season. Such fgure! Such an air
But you know her, Clayton. Who is she p
But Mr.. Levern was not to be enlightened
just then, for as Hubert looked in the direc.
tion pointed out by his sfriend, he bowed
pleasantly and hurried in the saloon to speak
TO the fair and aristocratic looking Clara Glen
more. he is received very cordially yet mod.
estiy, while rosy blush sweeps over her
Iace, making her appear all the more lovely.
while they are conversing Of the past and
the present. we will give the reader an in.
sight into the true character Of Clara Glen
more.
An only child and brought up By a mother
whose god was Fashion taught from early
infancy to think only Of self Clara who
was not naturally bad, became selfish and
unprincipled. And now, ACCOMPLISHED and
brilliant as she is, her artfulness and anna
rent naivete deceives many. She is finish
ed coquette, naughty and capricious. able and
ready to assume every and any character she
pleases. -
Mr.. Glenmore, the father Of Clara. had
really a kind heart but being Of weak and
yleidlRg character, he was entirely Influenced
oy his wife. Thus his best and noblest i'm
pulses lay buried, hidden beneath the seeds
OF dlstrost which had been gathering for ages
in his soul
1t seems almost useless to speak of the
character ct Mrs. Glenmore She was of a
manoeuverlng, artful disposition, ambitious to
stand In the foremost ranks of Fashion and
show, while her heart was hard and Gallons
altogether impervious to the cry of the or
phan, or to the prayer Of the INDECENT.
About four years since, Mr.. Gienmore re-
ceived letter, informing him that his only
sister, one he had once loved naost teaderly
but whom be had neither seen or heard from
tor years-was dying and wished to see him
once more. He hurried to her southern home.
and arrives but just in time to receive her
last farewell, and to ease her troubled mind
oy promising to be ever as an own father to
her only child. Col. Masen had died the glo-
rious death OF q soldier at his post, when Stel-
la was but tiny babe He left a sufficient
support tor his wife and child as he supposed
but by some means the greater part Of their.
little property was lost to them, and for long
weary years the young and breken-bearted
widow toiled on, resolving Of the few thous-
ands left to touch nanght save the interest
for too well she knew that each year as Il oil.
ded into the past, carried with it much Of her
strength, and was hastenjng her to her last
nome. Now her darling girl was thirteen
years OF age, proud, impulsive, yet truthful,
just one to need the loving care of mother.
and she must leave her. Twas agony. but
dis will must be done, and she was called
away, but her heart was relieved by her
brothers assurance he would care for her
child.
When the funeral was orersand Al, s,eees-
sary arrangements completed, Mr.. Glenmore
started homeward, accompanied by the for
iorn and heartsick orphan girl He entered
nis home with shaking heart, but Fortunate
~ IL was night when they reached Phi,adel-
Pnia, ana Mrs Glenmore was absent, attend
ing brilliant wedding reception. Clara,
VINO was then fourteen years Of age, and was
not so worldly or selfish as she Afterwards
became, received her cousin kindly. Very
soon the fatigued child retired to her own
room, and slept the sweet quiet sleep of child.
hood. On the morrow, when she awoke the
sun was peering brightly in through the
closed shutters, and she sprang from her he'd
reProaehing herself for having slept SO late
Havlrg attired herself she took her Bible and
read chapter, then kneeling, engaged in
prayer; Then as all appeared Still and quiet
IN tne house, she sat by the window looking
out upon the street, and wondered how her
aunt would receive her, and why all was SO
quiet for she had ever been accustomed to
early rising. = y
Unfortunately for Stella, Mr.. Glenmore had
C0nEnItn6 rusfa L. Al
pursued, but dreading the storm which he
felt sure would burst upon him. had delayed
writing her anything which had occurred :
When he left for the South, he feigned busi.
ness, and she knowing all communication had
long since ceased between him and his sister
dld not once think his visit was to her. She
mad always hated Mrs. Mason, knowing too.
well, that in mind and heart she was supe-
rior to herself.
one was In an ungovernable rage on re-
turning home that night when informed by
her maid OF the arrival of Stella Mason. She
was furious, and seeking her husband. de-
manded Of him why she had not been conspl.
ted-then declared that Stella should mot re-
main there SO he might take her awav among
persons OF herown class-her daughter should
not be contaminated by her presence-tbat
Deggar girl Mol she should not stay there
But the aristocratic lady q forgot that an
angry woman Is very weak one-that she
loses her influence over man when she con9
descends to abuse and command him 50 She
grew all the more beside herself when her
husband calmly but firmly answered,
ada, It's useless to rave thus. Stella is
my sisters child. 4 have brought her here
and here abe shalEstag. And more than that
she is to enjoy all the same privileges which
are Clara's, and share equally with her in All
things Also my niece must be treated with
kindness and respect And now, my wife.
forgive me if I seem harsh, but / have neg.
lected my sister, aud now must atone for It