Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-10-02
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A LOVE LOST AND WON.
I [

Months passed on, and still Mrs. Beresford
md Flora were located in London. Evelyn
heard from her friend occasionally, but as
the time of their separation heightened, Flo
ra's letters came less frequently. And when
they did come, they contained nothing but ,
accounts of her gayeties," and these were
little interesting to Evelyn. No word of
Eustace Fame had been mentioned since the /
first two or three epistles, in which he had |
been casually adverted to, as a visitor at her
aunts.
EVELYN sat in her fathers study one May |
morning. musing on the contents of Flora's
last letter. which lay before her. She heard
voices in the hall, and started from her seat,
and gathered her papers together, but she
was prevented leaving the room by the en-
trance of her father, and gentleman.
Here is an old acquaintance Of ours said
Mr.. Lester, gayly. Mr. Eustace Fame has
come to stay week or two at 4, as ne
did last summer
Eustace took Evelyn's cold hand, without
noticing any thing strange in her look How
should he? He had not learned to watch
her looks with jealous care But when ne
turned away, she sank on chair helplessly,
her sight darkened, and the sound of the two
voices fell on her ear in drowsy, indistinct
moved slowly across the room, left it, and fed
up stairs Poor child, she was very young
and trouble was now new to her.
The little chamber witnessed another
struggle of the poor weak, trembling heart,
and another victory. After that day Evelyn
learned to bear his presence calmly, even to
talk with him composedly and without en-
barraSsmeat Sometimes when, together
with her mother, they walked in the green
ls- sand. Elstace gave utterance to some of
the poetry with which his nature was over
flowing, it was a strange pleasure for him to
read in the eyes of the quiet girl beside him
how well he was understood They seldom
smoke OF Flora. Once, her name was men
toned by Mr. Lester, who happened to say
something about the Beresfords, and he asked
Evelyn if she had heard from Flora lately
She ayertei her head from Eustace before she
answered in the negative. She was afraid to
see how he looked on hearing her name. The
next moment she was surprised by his speak
ing on the subject of Flora.
DO you, then, correspond with Miss
BereslordY ? he asked
Mr.. Lester was just leaving the room, bu
turned back to answer with growl-' It's
correspondence, which, like the lrishman,
reciprocity, is all on one side. How long i
~. W. y
EVELYN. panied and embarrassed, did no
speak. She thought she detected some bit
terness in the tone with which Mr.. Fame mex
said:
Miss Beresford is too deeply immersed
gayety and dissipation to have much tim
for letter-writing.
Il am certain replied Evelyn earnestly
that no London gayeties, however brllliar
and fascinating they may be, will ever cauS
Flora to forget that she loves
To forget ?-perhaps not and Eustac
smiled on the sweet face, with its pleadir
eyes, and calm clear brow, but neglect is tt
stepping-stone to absolute forgetultness. Ar
some natures so soon cease to love tho:
whom they find they can do without
Perhaps So But that does not apply
Flora, said Evelyn, unsuspicious of his fl
meaning, but apprehending that there exist
the shadow of some pretty misunderstan
ing between the two lovers. She is so sc
erous in her affection, so frank-hearted,
candid, so impulsive, and yet sojust. 81
might be wrong unknowingly, for a time b
her true heart would find the right at la
and once convinced, would persevere in
EVELYN was unconscious of the look tn
Eustace cast upon her, as she thus spoke !;
look ful, of that reverent admiration that
undetermined man always feels when a spa
shines out of that Divine halo of love viii
surrounds the natare of pure-hearted "
man.
There are some natures like sunligh
said EuStace Fame, slowly, after pause
some minutes; they cast their own brig
ness and holiness over all they look on.
tits only reflected light that makes the da
cloud glow with gold. The gold is the su
beams, the darkness is its own
Eve!yn's heart throbbed with sudc
strange emotion, she should hardly tell wi
The next moment, she reproached hers
and though; of Flora. 'Tney have quar-
Cd though she, how unhappy they m
bel Poor Flora
But aeev that evening the subject was 7
ar resumed. SILL be came to their hous
stl,l Ae sought all opportunity Of seeing i
r., &c bo;1- with hnr She herself did