Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-13

r. AhC otbhy h1A VI ulVC WCiV hO"lliS y
around her mothers dwelling, driving the {
snow in drifts before II, and we were talking |
Of the lover of six months ago. But one let
ter bad been received from him since their
parting, and no intelligence of him, whether
living or dead, had been heard. The care
worn and woeful face of my friend but too
plainly told it had been ian affair Of the
heart with her, however it may have been
with the unfortunate one-or the deceiver-
whichever he was. l was endeavoring to
rally her from the dependency and despair
into which she was fast falling-for she be-
lieved that he was surely dead-when the
stamping of feet on the doorstep and the
quick ring Of the door-bell announced the
visit of a gentleman, for no woman would
venture out on such a night.
Matte arose to make her escape, leaving
me to entertain the visitor in the drawing
room. She had just entered the hall, when
she was caught up in the arms of a brawny,
bewhiskered man and smothered with kisses,
while she in vain attempted to scream and
make her escape from the embrace Of the in
truder, as she supposed.
"Why, sister dear, is this the welcome l
receive, after three years of wearisome hard
ships on the perilous deep ?" said a deep bass
voice, which though much changed, still had
some of the musical tones left of the rich fine
voice of Harry Sinclair:-for indeed it was
her much-loved brother, now a Lieutenantin
the U S. Navy.
/ pass over the scene of affectionate greet
ings and congratulations between the house
hold, and the snatched kiss imprinted on my
lips, "for old acquaintance sake,' as he said,
and pass on to the conclusion of my brief
story.
In spite of the real, heartfelt joy she ex-
perienced on the sudden return of her only
brother-and great as was the effort she made
to appear gay and happy, the eye of Lieut..
S. was quick in remarking the change which
the happy, sunny countenance Of his sister
had undergone and the wasted figure that
sat before him, instead of the full, plump girl
OF three years ago.
A few delicate inquiries through me were
answered by the facts in the case, given after
Matte had retired to have prepared a warm
supper for her brother, who had Just come up
from Norfolk.
While seated at the supper table he ven
tured upon a little railery with his sister up
on her "love affair."" as he termed it, ant
: then asked leave to relate an incident in Gu
" .;l1. oroD ryb:oh 10 IA NJ foIIourc
81 was passenger on board a steamer bound
: from Pensacola, where | was stationed, t
Mobile, a few weeks since, and one night wa
s attracted by the hilarity and boisterous mirt
O mems saloon. Approaching the group,
o found them engaged in card playing, Will
t the popping corks from champagne bottle
:. plainly told that wine, the usual ccompa
D. ment of gambling, was freely INDUCED in
n One of the company, who, to a practise
n eye could not be mistaken for a profession.
d gambler, was quite distingue in appearance
Is he was a handsome fellow, of fine address
a extraordinary conversational powers, wi
is magnificent whiskers and a perfect To-
it of a moustache-in short he was a real lac
j. killer. He was man of versatile genius, tc
err for he could pray like a saint or swear like
I'd Dragon; (and they out swear the sailors
~ assure YOU shipper like an old maid, or sec
A. like a termagant; dance like a Frenchma
a talk like a Chesterfield, or disgust the G
in with the most revolving yulgarity-al
in which characters he impersonated for
&c amusement of his crowd.
Ter He finally commenced spinning yarr
ry as we sailors call it, most of which consis
it of love exploits, in which he figured as
*. redoubtable hero. One of them, in whic
ter became peculiarly interested, l will try
the relate to you in his own words.
Of Last summer" he said, II went to the
famed summer resort in old Virginny,' ost
me sibly to recruit my health, but in truth tc
ted cruit the condition of a depleted excheq,
the not losing sight, however, of the excellent
vas portunity which my fine personal appeara
my always gave me of ogling the splendid G
lis which always there do congregate, and m
ily. hap of marrying a rich heiress and thus m
!, of my everlasting fortune at one turn of the c.
an. matrimonial.
ers, az had been there but a few days, W
win my eye iuxuriated upon the most beaut
DON woman the sun ever shone on. To be in
duced by one whose introduction would
most an endorsement of me as a gentleman,
in ms next step. This accomplished, / wa
once as much charmed by her cultivated
,o.r tellect as / was by her personal appeara
BY heaven, she was an Angel! Our acqr
-. tanceship soon ripened into intimacy, a
soon had the discernment to discover
!. she regarded me a real duck of man.
courted her, after learning she was the
daughter of a widowed mother of very
siderable estate. I was accepted and we
0. betrothed. l intended to accompany
. u home, but learned that a certain old frie
'Ver' mine, who knew me too well for my goC
gay pute, was on a visit from Pensacola to h
lations in that section of Virginia; a
n knew It would be rather dangerous for
loui" 90 where he could pass upon my chara
; inc as the Methodist preachers call it, (for
one Nv 'em' once.) / therefore prof
.ou'a that my business required my early pre-
10 hr- at home but that | would write to h
most daily, and that when the Autumn