Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-12-01

4" So you leave US to day, cousin Willie,
to enter the service of your country and
to protect the loved ones at home from
the cruel enemy, who seek to invade our
fair land, despoil our homes and degrade
us as people. part from you with a sor-
rowful pride-sorrow, because we shall
miss thee so much in our homes and hearts,
and pride, because | know you will reflect
honor upon yourself and us, if
And the beautiful Cecil Clare hesitated
to finish the sentence as though some
dread forcboding impressed it as prophecy
upon her troubled heart. -
"And are you really sorry l am going,
Cecill" The large brown eyes, with their
silken lashes, were raised to his own, and
Willie gazed into their depths and read
"Can you doubt it 2!
They were beautiful pair of eyes-so
Willie thought as he stood gazing thro'
them into the depths Of the little heart
below that was resting SO close to his own.
Twas heart few could read save him.
But that significant, dubious if'.--
what wouldst then have said to complete
your sentence, sweet Coz 2"
"Pardon me, dearest Willie, while
make one request of you"
You know | can refuse you nothing,
my own sweet cousin,' he said, as he took
her slender fingers between his own.
willie do you love meg
'Dearer than life ITSELF
Then by your love for me entreat
you never to touch the intoxicating cup
Remember the fate of Archie, my own
darling brother, and do not break nv
heart. You will be exposed to many
temptations and alurements in the camp
and elsewhere, but l feel you will pass
through them all, if the cursed Circean
cup shall never press thy lips. Dost thou
promise dearest one? .. M
Cecil, my own sweet cousin Cecil,
swear it--I will never touch the yfnc cup
from this hourp and mounting his horse
he rode away.
Months passed away. William Mcclure
had won honors and distinction in the gal
liant corps of which he was the beloved
Commander. He was wounded in one
of the great battles around Richmond and
was carried to the elegant and hospi:ablc
all the attention that skill and kindness
could suggest. .... .- ..a
His generous host had lovely daugh-
ter, who was not sparin9 in her attention
to the wounded North Carolina Captain un
der her fathers hospitable roof Softly sh
dressed the shattered arm and begnie,
his weary hours with songs and reading
from her favorite authors.
Weary weeks passed by, and the inva
lid had been restored in great measur
to his wontcd health, and his strong righ
arm was ready to WELD the sword again i
defence of his country and the fair on,
who, now was his affianced bride
Alas for mans constancy And W;
sweet Cecil so soon forgotten No; at th
dim twilight hour, when other memoir,
were busy at his heart, when The lare
brilliant eyes of his betrothcd were 4
longer fixed on his, he could hear tt
soft sweet tones of Cecil murmuring
Do you love me, cousin Willie? Ar
then he would fly and Danish memory
the smiles Of the beautiful Edney Belmou
To morrow, and he was to leave, to 10
his command in Northern Virginia: al
tonight VIC find the fashion and beauty
Richmond in the brilliantly lighted dra,
ing rooms Of his reverenced host. Durir
the evening his intended presented hi
with glass Of wine, saying" Let
pledge eternal constancy to each oth'
in the bright ruby wine !" a.. g.
only for once, as he whispered
VOW never to touch. He could not r
fuse and the glass was drained to t
bottom. Did rot something whisper
your ear, Willie, of Cecil and the brok
vow? Methinks SO, else you would 1
have started and colored so. .# ..a
Morning came, and with it partings a
VOWS of love and ccnstancy. But inste
Of fastening to his regiment, he tc
lodgings at Hotel in the city, and '
soon surrounded by wild, dissipated co
panions. Having broken his VOW of
tai abstinence, it was easy for him to
persuaded to repeated draughts of
damning fluid. "
For weeks and weeks he fingered arc,
tho gambling hells and places of lower
pute, scrupulously avoiding all cont
with any OF the family of the kind fri
who had so faithfully nursed and ten
him. . a -a aea aaa
Bot what of poor Cecil all this tir
She had heard of Willic'S wound, of
fair ono who had nursed him. She
heard of his faithess betrayed both OF