Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-07-04
Criminal 9apus.
WRITTEN FOR THE sr1Rir OF THE AGE.
M A B Ell III A EEL L I.
BY EPFIE GRAHAM.
CHAPTER /.

By EPFIE GRAHAM.
CHAPTER l.
"Gldiug round her soft and sweet
Angels pinions lightly meet
While the evening shadows glide
Slowly nom the mountain side;
And the summer air that breathes
Softly through the crimson leaves,
Strays amid her flowing hair
whispering in a voice of prayer,
Earth is dark, but Heaven is fair!'
The beautiful summers day was drawing |
to a close The fiery wheels of the day gods |
swiftly-hying chariot sped onward and down /
ward, tin nothing was left above the western !
horizon but long golden streak of light, !
shedding halo OF glory around the tops Of
the forest trees, smiling on the yerdant land |
scapes encircling Hazel Vale, and stealing
gently through the half closed easement Of a
tiny dwelling way down in the lovely valley.
Softly it kissed the pale, fair brow of young
girl who sat there alone dreaming-yes, day
dreaming unmindful of the past, careless Of
the present, planning for the far off future,
dreading, vet hoping, bit dreaming, dreaming
still dream on, Mabel, and may you not
wake to fiEd aim twilight gathering arouna
you, the sunlight all gone, and sorrow hang
ing in gloomy night-couds from your sky.
Why does pretty Mabel Hazelet, the young
mistress Of that fairy-like home, Of charming
Hazel Vale, sit there so long in the twilight,
regardless Of the gathering night shades, and
the cool breath that delicately fans her cheek
With her head reclining against the open
window, the long braids of her raven-hued
hair dropping over her fair neck, and twining
round her white arms, and her dark eyes
gazing upward, her whole soul seems speak
ing through those lustrous orbs through that
pale, intellectual countenance, stamped with
the insignia of genius and there we read of
solitude and suffering. Her every thought
seemed centered on one star, the one she had
ever loved to sit and gaze upon. Night after
night it came from out the dark blue ether,
and took its wonted place amid myriads OF
other diamond-like ones around and day after
day Mabel boarded up all the saddest and
sweetest thoughts to brood over at nightfall,
when that wildly beaming star, like guar
dian angel spread a calm and holy peace in
her heart. But now, well might she gaze
and long too, for she had food for contempla
ton With brothers and sisters she had
frolicked in innocent childhood, with nc
thought or care for the morrow; for there
was loving mother to watch over them, anC
kind, indulgent father to care for them
Alas when the destroyer bade, the strong
man could but obey. The mothers kind tone
were hushed in death. Baby Minnie needed
her mamma, and she went to join her; anC
thus, one by one as the circle grew less rount
the hearthstone, another green mound witt
its marble adornings found place in the quie
family burying ground; Mabel had one les
on earth to love the midnight lamp had on
more grave to shine upon, till at last hv
lonely beds were numbered in the graveyard
and Mabel was left alone Homes wer
offered her by those who would gladly hav
taken and cared for the orphan one, but sh
would not go. Her maiden aunt kindly too
upon herself the household duties, and Nab,
repaid her affectionate care with deep graf
tude. She would have been content to hay
dwelt amid the lonely scenes in that quit
vale, in sight Of the consecrated spot whel
her loved ones were sleeping, but she ha
now an aim in view. She must be more Wo
thy to live, that she might be more worth
to die. In this world there is much to d
and how could she well perform her part wit
out more knowledge? Knowledgel the vel
thought fired every emotion of her soul; 81
would gladly "dare all, could she but ''atta
all" One summer evening, on the fou
teenth anniversary Of her birthday as 81
sat with her head bowed down in the midst
the moss-covered mounds-for inexorab
Time had left its traces there as on all earth
obiects-she heard low voice at her side, al
raising her eyes they fell on the form Of
unknown gentleman, though from that ho
he was no stranger.
Excuse my intrusion /; | thought it an Il
frequented spot. But why are you here, a
alone, my little girl? VIII you tell me t
story of the departed ones" and seating hi
self beside her on the soft grass, he hea
from Mabel's lips her life-story. His ki
words would quickly have won heart Ii
warm than Mabers; no wonder, then Ii
cL ao,,GJaI IN ba Y,Chfa or Ma
times during the summer she saw him; VIII
hours they spent in reading and talking
gether, for Mabel was wise far beyond
years, and his was a mind well stored W
learning. She would listen sometimes to b
as if spell -bound-dwe ell on his soul-thrili
sentiments that pointed her to high and h
aspirations, till in his words she forgot
man. He it was who had aroused in her 81
thirst for knowledge, and ON many an
tumu evening" after he had been called ay
from his pleasant summer retreat, perh
never again to revisit Hazel Vale, Mabel
and gazed at her star, peopling it, as Of
with creatures of her own imagination,
wishing, striving, praying to be more
him, the good and gifted. Oh! how Gle;
the words he uttered at parting, as he
her hand in both of his, still rang in her
as incentives to higher attainments; and
bhisi 1hC iaSt W DS SPCbb III hci "a
for many long day to come, she repe
them aloud, slowly and meditatively, gat
ing new thoughts with every word that
waited off on the fragrant breath of even
to be retraced indellibly on her soul, +.
your own sake, Mabel, be what God inte
you"
The pleasant breeze lUlled her. The
fringed eyebrows dropped heavily, since
had done watching the star that had m
on from its place above the white tomb
solemn silence pervnded the whole, and |
the head with its dark braids dropped
bending over the white arms it rested Oh
tiny hands in the open window, ant
night-breath stole goodnight kiss, for !
was asleep.
CHAPTER II.
Helen Carleton was decidedly the pre-
girl, and her father one of the wealthiest