Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-01-30
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THE SECOND MARRIAGE.

1t was a most delicious day in June, when
life simply seemed luxury. The glad sun
had been shedding pure halo of real JOY all
day, as if rejoicing that another day had |
been given to earth.
| had been leaning back, in the most de
lightful reyerie, in a luxuriously cushioned |
easy-chair, not SO much as thinking-fer the
faculties of neither soul, mind, nor spirit |
were the least engaged; memory only was
busy, floating back over the past in kind
of musng, indolent reverie-when | was
suddenly aroused and brought back TO the
realities Of the present by the entrance of
the penny postman, bowling silently, and lay
/ ing lwn more than usually large amount
! Of post Office matter.
Mechanically | commenced examining let
ters-there were quite number-until my
attention was attracted to neatly-folded en-
velope, endorsed in familiar hand. | should
have known sister Kate's chirography among
thousand. Running my eyes hastily over
the lines, had taken in their contents in a
moment; but then it all puzzled me- There
were but few lines-only saying, so briefly
and unsatisfactory
DEAR BROTHER HARRY i am commits
stoned to bid you come to the old brown home
stead, on Thursday ofnext week, at o'clock.
All well, and the friends send kind remem-
brances.
Remember four o'clock but not one mo-
ments sooner. Ask no questions make no
conjectures; all mysteries will be explained
in due time.
Yours till Thursday, KATE HARR1SGroN'
WE'LL now, that didn't explain itself. Did
, it?
! And what did it all mean? Kate was
dealing in riddles for once. And | was to
1stif5akept in miserable suspense five whole
i 1NNDoHhyes, Thursday of next week, it said
' su7Asfng over the envelope, | found the
t motto (Kate always uses mottoes). contained
D two tiny hearts united together by. band Of
r black. Make no conjectures," Kate had
! said
n But in the quiet sanctum Of my bachelor
i dom couldn't help remembering a mourn
e full day, four years before, when slender
t fragile form had hung upon my arm. Anc
e Kate's heart strings had bent and swaycd al
, most to bursting as the hollow sounds rover
e berated back when the clodS first fell upor
D, Henry's coffin lid.
le And since that time, how | had neve
A. made visit to the cherished homestead
IS without spending the first evening, after tea
A. in long walk to the same hallowed restin
Id place. Kate had always proposed it. An
es then she had always so loved to talk of a
IS the bliss Of her young wededd life; and ho'
ve altogether and entirely different Henry wa
d. from all the gentlemen she had ever met.
If When bad only limited the propriety
changing her sombre garments she ha
l., said:
= = Don't, Harry don't ever ask me agar
oo . l wouldn't feel natural in anything else
81 These bestsssuit my feelings and wh
"a shouldn't SlwayS wear them =
at Kate was young. Not yet half way @
IN the gloomy side of twenty; and to me it d
:, seem like an unnecessary entombiDg of IN
70 young affections. But when bad venture
y, to rally her on the frequent visits of you1
&c clergyman, with a VI idowed heart also, 81
=. had always shaken her head So mournfull
to saying:
20 Harry don't ever say that again. 1t
- so like sacrilege Never, Harry, never
I'D Don't you know my affections are all buri'
~ in Henry's grave 1t is our minister
-. 80 Can't he come without suspicion ?"
And felt condenned when | saw t
:" moisture gathering in Kate's eyes. Bu
then, the two hearts united by the bla
en- band was very significant But | was n
zee; to conjectuie; and SO laid it all away, ju
IS there, ard tried to wait patiently until Thu
are day Of next week.
had been standing at the depot full L
ceq parts-of the last hour impatiently waiti
hey TO hear the shrill whistle of the locomoti
ave when it came, putting and steaming up, i
this a thing of life At the cry of "all aboar