Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-05-08

beer trained to run in at the window and
trail itself about the pure white muslin cur
lain suspended before it. On a pretty table
lay several books, and small inlaid writing
desk, with half written sheet of PAPER ly-
ing on it, and in cage that hung near the
window, canary was hopping about, twit-
tering and chirping in soft, low, murmur-
ing way.
had time to observe ard wonder at these
things, hile my hostess was for few mo-
mengs engaged in small outer room, from
which she soon appeared, bringing ON tray,
neatly covered with snowy napkin, some
hot tea in a cup of delicate china, and sin
gle slice of crisp buttered toast.
Her voice, wife she pressed these hospi-
talities npon M was oN and sad, but musi
cal, and affected me almost to tears. Her fig
ure was slight and delicate, and must have
been, wh,n better filled and rounded OUT,
very pretty and graceful Her complexion
was purely white-so white, it seemed al
most like marble; her eyes very large of
deep hazel, but with a set stony gaze; her |
lips full; teeth white and perfect; but her
hair, which was abundant, was winter than |
all 1t was evident that some great sorrow /
had fallen IL ION her, blanching her hair, with /
ering he; irame and lay ing her life de-olate. I
She was unremitting in her delicate atten- |
tons, but her lips never once wreathed them !
selves into sm,lc her voice never lost its
sad, suhdued tone, nor her eyes the.r look of
stony desolation. Elsie retained in little
mo'e than an hour, with my father, and
carriage to take me home.
TO our grateful thanks she only replied
1T is nothing am happy to have been
of the least service to any one
As took her hand at parting, | whispered
/ ~
| shook her head, in desolate way, and only
replied:
| Better not-better not
1t was two months before | could walk as
\ far as the gorge ; but, the very first day that
my ankle was strong enough, | took my way
along the same path that | had gone with
Elsie, on the day | had met with the adyen-
ture.
found Alice Waldron-for that was the
name by which | knew her-alone; and if
she manifested no pleasure at seeing me, |
think it was because all pleasure had died
out Of her lie, and she looked Tor none,
craved none to light it up again. Her sun
had gone down in darkness, and she patient
ly accepted the gloom which was destined
hence(orth to ovsrshadow her. She had no
hope in this life-and, alas | fear no hope
in the lie beyond and yet think that Alice
Waldron was humble, penitent Christian,
bearing meeky the dreadful punishment she
had brought upon herself, without repining
. at,el ~;ttt ----=r--s--:z 9
She endured my presence-she was kind
and gentle with me always and | was so
fascinated by the strange charas that iifi-
gered around her. that went to see her very
often-though, when | left her, she never
asked me to come again; and when begged
, permission, would always answer in her
5 drcary tones Better not-better not
1 Perhaps an older and more observant per-
r son than myself would have noticed her fail
r ing health-that her eye grew more Iarguid,
her step more painfully weary, and her
slight figure more frai day By day but did
not, until one day at parting she took my
e hand, which she had never done before, and
B. said:
= Good bye, and God bless you, Nelly =
S You have been very kind to me-I do not
= think shall ever see you again. shall not
\ be here long
Not he here long, exclaimed, where
i are yoa gOingY
4 She started as if an adder had stung her,
. and, caSping her hands together, repeated:
c Where am | gong? Where am gong
| am going TO receive fearful punishment,
, which, begun in this world-wil contipue
. forever and ever deserve it all, but how
can hear it Oh how can | bear it ?
5 made faint effort to calm and comfort
/, her though knew it was beyond my pow
= er. | begged her to see the physician, the
I clergyman, but she was reSolute IN refu
d sal ; aud left her, inwardly resolving to see
It her again the next day. | was, however
l prevented by a violent storm of wind anc
1t rain, which lasted for two days wi hout IN
C termsSion but the morning of the thirC
t day the sun shonc clear and bright, anC
| went to gather my customary bouquet o
lie flowers to take to her. | found that the vio
Il lent wind and rain had beaten ihem ali dow
Is to the ground, soiling the delicate blossoms
n and trailing them in the black mud and mirt
Of the garden. | then had recourse to thu
"a, conservatory, but as most of the plants hat
le been removed, found only a few white rose
" and camelias and gathering a handful Of tn
N pure, pale flowers, / started for the gorge
II | knocked several times for admission bu
le receiving no answer, lifted the latch an
I'll entered Everythng was in its accustome
order, but the curtains were closely drawn
ne almost excludin the sunlight, and the Dir
n seemed dropping, now and then giving low
faint chip, as if calling for food or water
IN | approached the recess, and drew aside tn
OF curtain which concealed the small low bed
he and there pale calm, and still, and dead, la
all that remained of poor, suffering Alic
ed Waidron.
st An open Bible lay by her side, with he
a hand upon the leaves and it seemed, iror
all appearances. that her life had Geparte
he without Il struggle. She could not have bee
cd dead many hours for a faint soft smile sti
fingered upon her lips, and her countenanc
in, wore far happier look than had ever see
lat it in life
| was alone with the dead yet | felt n
* terror-but only kind OF sad happiness th,
ed one had loved and sorrowed for, was at res
er | snoothed her pillow, folded the covelin
straight over her bosom, placed the flower
i in delicate PaIian vase, and put Them on
IN little table by her side; gave some seed an
water to the bird, and was about leaving ii
a room, when | discovered, lying Gn tue w
at ting-desk bundle of Ms. directed to IN,
OF self | put it carefully in my pocket, al
We, closing the door, and taking the key vii
In, me- | went back to the village for assiStanc
10 After Alice was buried, the package VI
ng opened, and we found few brief, but affe
nd tionate words, bequeathing all her effects, t
re- getheI with a few hundred dollars to me-
me then, few sheets of MS. bearing date fe
weeks back, written especially for my per,
al sal 1t ran thus!
lett i had thought to have died, and made
sign, trusting that my poor erring, suft
ma ing body would have been placed in the
svl som Of its Mother Earth, unrecognized a
ste, unknown-and that none should know.
a. even guess, Il the sins or the undying